A Message from your WWII era bobby pin supplier…Rationing metal and the salon

Rationing made its way into every aspect of citizens lives in WWII. Metal rationing was one of the biggest. In the beauty industry it affected a woman’s access to many hair tools, especially her hair pins. Women were expected to save their hair pins and bring them back to the beauty parlor for each new hair set. See more about this practice here.

The advertisement mentions the War Production Board also restricted how many hair pins could be in a single box for sales.

So when the announcement came in 1943 that the WPB would be releasing more metal to be used in the hair industry, I am sure salon owners around the country breathed a sigh of relief.

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“Yes…it’s Good News…BUT-
The recently amended War Production Board order, L-104, increasing the quantity of steel wire allowed the hairpin industry for the manufacture of bob and hair pins is GOOD NEWS, but we ask your patience for a little while – because

1. The present labor shortage means that it will take time to get the increased allotment of steel wire from the mills.
2. It will take time to fabricate it into pins. There is not enough labor available today to take care of this sudden increase in our operating schedule.
3. It will take time to distribute the increased quantity of pins to your jobber and then to you.

Therefore, it may be 30, 60, or 90 days before YOU, as a hairdresser, will benefit by this increased production of bob and hair pins.

SO…conserve your present supply as long as you can – make it last. If you do this, it will not be necessary to seek black market sources, as we expect that increased quantities of Scoldy Lox bob and hair pins will soon be available.

Thanks- for being patient with delays in the delivery of merchandise. The war effort comes first – our gratitude to you for having cooperated so splendidly.”