Talcum powder also went by several different names. Originally sold as "Talcum for Men" in 1938, it was briefly known as "Skin Tone Talcum" in 1954 and 1955. In 1954 the first metal can with a shaker top was introduced as "Body Talcum" and "Skin Tone Talcum" was renamed "After Shave Talcum." The Tin container of Body Talc eventually was replaced with a plastic shaker. From 1964 to 1982 "Deodorant Powder" was sold in a blue plastic shaker.
Quick Picks: Hull Pottery Talcum Bottle, Glass Talcum Bottle, Gray Tin Body Talc, Red Plastic Body Talc, Blue Plastic Deodorant Powder, Lime Talc, Burley Talc, British Examples
Hull Pottery Talcum - 1938 to 1946
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Manufactured by the A.E. Hull Pottery Company in Crooksville, Ohio, these original bottles were made of pottery and showed the Ship Grand Turk on the front. They were fitted with a metal stopper and held 4 oz. of talcum powder. |
Glass Talcum Bottles - 1946 to 1980
 1946 to 1950 |
 1950 to 1956 |
 1956 to 1972 |
 1956 to 1960 |
 1960 to 1972 |
 1973 to 1981 |
The first glass talcum bottles were made by the Wheaton Glass Company in Millville, New Jersey to resemble the Hull Pottery bottles using a proprietary mixture for Shulton called "pottery glass." The box used in the 1940s and 1950s looks like the one sown for the 1956 to 1960 bottle. The bottle graphics change in 1956 with bolder colors and the words "Old Spice" and After Shave Talcum" appearing below the ship. In 1960 the box was updated and in 1973 the volume was added to the bottle. The volume in the glass bottles was 3 oz. The product id was 373 until 1962 after which it was product id 3730.
Gray Tin Body Talc - 1954 to 1960
 1954 to 1956 |
 1956 to 1960 |
The first metal shaker can was introduced sold from 1954 until 1956 (product id 393). The ship is gold and the American flag ensign can be seen off the stern. "Old Spice Body Talcum" appears across the bottom in red script. The tin held 6 ounces of talc and has a sliding brass top that reveals small holes. In 1956 the graphics were changed. The ship hull is red with white sails and the American flag ensign is missing. It sold from 1956 to 1960, also product id 393.
Red Plastic Body Talc - 1960 to 1991
 1960 to 1968 |
 1969 to 1972 |
 1973 to 1980 |
 1981 to 1992 |
Plastic packaging for talcum shakers was introduced in 1960, first with a metal slide cap that was later replaced by a plastic slide. The product id was 393 until 1963 when the red shaker shown at top left became product id 3740. This shaker overlapped for a few years with the 1969 version shown next. From 1969 to about 1973 the talcum shakers took on a new shape and were molded with a burlap texture. By 1973 the container went back to smooth solid red plastic. The last change occurred around 1981 with the "new logo." Over time the volume of powder gradually diminished from 7 to 5 ounces.
Blue Plastic Deodorant Powder - 1964 to 1982
 1964 to 1972 |
 1973 to 1982 |
In 1964 a Blue Plastic shaker labeled Deodorant Powder was introduced (product id 3744). Originally holding 7 ounces, the volume eventually diminished to 5 ounces. The deodorant powder was sold until 1982.
Lime Talcum 1967 to 1976
 1967 TO 1972 |
 1973 to 1976 |
Lime Talc came out in 1967 in the burlap style shaker (product id 3540). The shaker changed in a uniform manner with other talc products in 1973. It came off the market around 1976.
Burley Talc - 1967 to 1973
 1967 to 1972 |
 1973 to 1976 |
Burley talc was introduced along with other Burley products in 1967 and sold until 1970 (product id 3140). |
Oriental Spice Man Talc
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Sold in the 1970 as part of the Oriental Spice product line. |
English Talcum Powders
Examples of Old Spice powder containers sold in the United Kingdom. Dates are approximate.  1950s Front |
 1950s Back |
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 1960 |
 1960s |
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 1980s |