Abarber’s poleis a type ofsignused bybarbersto signify the place or shop where they perform their craft. The trade sign is, by a tradition dating back to theMiddle Ages, a staff orpolewith ahelixof coloredstripes(often red and white in many countries, but usually red, white and blue in the United States). The pole may be stationary or may revolve, often with the aid of anelectric motor.^[1][2]

A “barber’s pole” with a helical stripe is a familiar sight, and is used as a secondarymetaphorto describe objects in many other contexts. For example, if the shaft or tower of alighthousehas been painted with a helical stripe as adaymark, the lighthouse could be described as having been painted in “barber’s pole” colors. Likewise, borders may be marked and warnings highlighted.

Origin in barbering and surgery

During medieval times, barbers performedsurgeryon customers, as well astooth extractions. The original pole had a brasswash basinat the top (representing the vessel in whichleecheswere kept) and bottom (representing the basin that received the blood). The pole itself represents the staff that the patient gripped during the procedure to encourage blood flow.^[3]

At theCouncil of Toursin 1163, the clergy was banned from the practice of surgery.^[4]From then, physicians were clearly separated from the surgeons and barbers. Later, the role of the barbers was defined by theCollege de Saint-Côme et Saint-Damien, established byJean Pitardin Paris circa 1210,^[5]as academic surgeons of the long robe andbarber surgeonsof the short robe.

After the formation of theUnited Barber Surgeon’s Companyin England, a statute required the barber to use a red and white pole and the surgeon to use a red pole. In

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France, surgeons used a red pole with a basin attached to identify their offices. Blue often appears on poles in the United States, possibly as a homage to its national colors. Another, more fanciful interpretation of these barber pole colors is that red representsarterialblood, blue is symbolic ofvenousblood, and white depicts the bandage.^[6]

Prior to 1950, there were four manufacturers of barber poles in the United States. In 1950,William MarvyofSt. Paul, Minnesota, started manufacturing barber poles. Marvy made his 50,000th barber pole in 1967, and, by 2010, over 82,000 had been produced.^[7]TheWilliam Marvy Companyis now the sole manufacturer of barber poles in North America, and sells only 500 per year (compared to 5,100 in the 1960s).^[8]In recent years, the sale of spinning barber poles has dropped considerably, since few barber shops are opening, and many jurisdictions prohibit moving signs. Koken ofSt. Louis, Missouri, manufactured barber equipment such as chairs and assorted poles in the 19th century.

As early as 1905, use of the poles was reported to be “diminishing” in the United States.^[9]

InForest Grove, Oregon, the “World’s Tallest Barber Shop Pole” measures 72 feet (22 m).^[10]

The consistent use of this symbol for advertising was analogous to anapothecary‘sshow globe, atobacconist‘scigar store Indianand apawn broker‘sthree gold balls.

Use in barbering

Possibly as early as the later Roman Empire, and certainly continuing through the Renaissance into Industrialization (maybe even until the 1700s in some places) a “barber-surgeon” also performedtooth extraction,cupping,leeching,bloodletting,enemas,amputations, etc. However, today’s barber poles represent little more than being a barber shop that cuts hair and does shaves.^[11]Barber poles have actually become a topic of controversy in the hairstyling business. In some states, such asMichiganin March 2012, legislation has emerged proposing that barber poles should only be permitted outside barbershops, but not traditional beauty salons. Barbers and cosmetologists have engaged in several legal battles claiming the right

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to use the barber pole symbol to indicate to potential customers that the business offers haircutting services. Barbers claim that they are entitled to exclusive rights to use the barber pole because of the tradition tied to the craft, whereas cosmetologists think that they are equally capable of cutting men’s hair (though many cosmetologists are not permitted to use razors, depending on their state’s laws).^[12]

Use in prostitution

InSouth Korea, barber’s poles are used both for actual barbershops and for brothels.^[13]Brothels disguised as barbershops, referred to as 이발소 (ibalso) or 미용실 (miyongsil), are more likely to use two poles next to each other, often spinning in opposite directions, though the use of a single pole for the same reason is also quite common.^[14]Actual barbershops, or 미용실 (miyongsil), are more likely to be hair salons; to avoid confusion, they will usually use a pole that shows a picture of a woman with flowing hair on it with the wordshair salonwritten on the pole.

Visual illusion

A spinning barber’s pole in front of a barber shop in Tokyo, Japan (video)

A spinning barber pole creates avisual illusion, in which the stripes appear to be traveling up or down the length of the pole,^[15]rather than around it.

The Publishers of ALPHA-PHONICS are pleased to bring this article on the very many occurrences where the symbolic Barber’s Pole is found  worldwide.

We would also like to bring to your attention that ALPHA-PHONICS is also ubiquitous, appearing in many countries round the world.

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