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Canthrox Granular Shampoo

American History Museum

Canthrox Shampoo, front
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  • Canthrox Shampoo, front

    Object Details

    maker

    H.S. Peterson & Co.

    Description

    Canthrox was sold by H. S. Peterson and Company of Chicago, Ill., from 1909 until the mid-1930s. The product was marketed to prevent dandruff, falling hair, and graying. Canthrox was always packaged in a tin box. In 1911 a tin of Canthrox, good for fifteen shampoos, cost fifty cents. It was advertised as a "pleasure and a delight," and would clean your hair "Completely, thoroughly and satisfactorily—yet easily and gently."
    The company claimed that hair shampooed with Canthrax would dry more quickly and streak-free. In the mid-to-late 1920s, this quick-drying quality was used to appeal to women with the new short haircuts, or "bobs." Canthrox would "Make the bob more becoming." Advertisements often appeared in newspaper ‘amusement’ sections alongside news of the latest movies and plays and the celebrities who had helped popularize the bobbed style.

    Location

    Currently not on view

    Credit Line

    Gift of Robert Grodanz, David's Pharmacy, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

    date made

    ca 1930

    ID Number

    2002.0138.139

    accession number

    2002.0138

    catalog number

    2002.0138.139

    Object Name

    shampoo
    hair care product

    Other Terms

    Cosmetics

    Physical Description

    paper (packaging material)
    metal (container material)

    Measurements

    overall: 3 1/2 in x 2 1/4 in x 1 1/2 in; 8.89 cm x 5.715 cm x 3.81 cm

    place made

    United States: Illinois, Chicago

    See more items in

    Medicine and Science: Medicine
    Health & Medicine
    Beauty and Health
    Beauty and Hygiene Products: Hair Care and Enhancement
    Hair Care Products

    Data Source

    National Museum of American History

    web subject

    Hair Care Products

    Metadata Usage

    CC0

    Link to Original Record

    https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746aa-9cb7-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

    Record ID

    nmah_1215659

    Discover More

    Health and Hygiene objects from the collection

    Hair Care

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