Ron the Yarn Spinner

 

Flowbee

                                                                                 

Back in the early 1950s,  comic books were  still around. My Favorite was the Katzenjammer Kids,  although those were hard to find. In the back of the comic, I would always like to look to see what quirky items were being advertised:

 

X-Ray Glasses: These were  classic comic book ad staples, promising the ability to see through objects, although kids soon found they were  just cardboard with a few colored lenses. A real gip.

 

Invisible Ink Kits: These kits included pens and special ink that could be used to write secret messages, which would only be visible under certain light conditions.

 

Giant Insects and Reptiles: Ads often featured rubber or plastic models of enormous insects or dinosaurs, which were marketed as  collectibles.

 

Magic Tricks and Illusion Kits: These ads offered a variety of magic tricks and illusion equipment, including the classic "magic" set with tricks and props for aspiring young magicians.

 

DIY Rocket Kits: Some ads promised the chance to build and launch your own model rockets, reflecting the blossoming  fascination with space exploration.

 

Fortune-Telling Kits: These included cards, crystal balls, and other items promising to reveal your future or provide mystical insights.

 

Sea Monkeys: Advertised as "Instant Pets," these were brine shrimp that came in a kit and were marketed as magical, interactive creatures that would "grow" in a few days.

 

Many years later, I realized that one item that would have found its way into the quirky class of comic ads would certainly have been the Flowbee, but  back then it was still in the future. For those who have at best a passing familiarity with the Flowbee, (I never knew anyone who had one) here is  the story:

 

The Flowbee is a  hair-cutting system that combines a vacuum cleaner with clippers, allowing users to cut their own hair at home with less of a  mess. Invented by Rick  Hunts a carpenter from San Diego, CA. in 1986 . He patented it in 1987.

The device works by attaching the Flowbee to a vacuum cleaner, which sucks hair into the cutting head where it is trimmed by blades. It comes with various spacing dividers to control hair length, making it suitable for simple haircuts.  As you might imagine, there’s something of a  “learning curve” involved in cutting hair with a Flowbee and  you would think ease of use would require a canister “vac”  with a long  hose, say …ten feet.  Mishaps are common, but many have been sold over the years with sales unexpectedly going  up in 2020 thanks to an actor: George Clooney.

Clooney known for his paid testimonials for Nespresso, Omega Watches, Casamigos Tequilla, Mercedes – Benz, and Norwegian Cruise lines to name a few, gave a “nod” to Flowbee during an interview.

George Clooney's informal endorsement of Flowbee was prompted by his personal use of the product. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when many people were worried about visiting  barbershops and hair salons due to social distancing measures, Clooney revealed in a television interview that he had been using a Flowbee to cut his own hair for several years.

Despite’s Clooney’s impromptu endorsement, over the years there have been mixed reviews about the Flowbee. While some users appreciated its convenience and cost-saving benefits, others  reported considerable dissatisfaction with the results. Complaints often included issues with uneven cuts, maintenance, and the need for substantial practice before you got the “hang of it.”  Trouble is, where do you find people  to serve as guinea  pigs? One young man who was a less than enthusiastic trial participant was questioned afterwards. “So how did you like the Flowbee?”  “It sucks,” came the reply. Guess so.

Another man offered his opinion:

“If you want a DIY haircut that looks like it was done by a toddler, the Flowbee is perfect.”

These and  other comments  reflect on  ongoing concerns about the product’s effectiveness and user satisfaction but if you want to experiment  at home– maybe on  the kids – you can pick one up one on Amazon for “only” $225  plus tax. (There is a free return.)  Other companies offer devices that are somewhat similar – and cheaper.

 

Meme:

 

Flowbee-like hair  cutting devices  are used by astronauts during spaceflight missions, including on the ISS, because hair particles are sucked into a container instead of floating freely inside the spacecraft in the absence of gravity.