bebo sher electric dry shaver, cased

Object/Artifact

-

Archive of Cuban Socialism

Name/Title

"bebo sher" electric dry shaver, cased

Entry/Object ID

2025.1.270

Description

East German foil-type electric dry shaver in its fitted presentation case. The shaver has a black ribbed plastic body with a cream/ivory upper section and a single rectangular metal-foil cutting head; a small white "BB" roundel badge (Bergmann-Borsig) is set into the body. The hinged case has a mirror in the lid, a red flock-lined interior, and brass/gilt metal edging; a coiled black mains cord is stowed alongside. The case lid exterior is embossed "bebo sher."

Use

Belonged to José A. Cabrera Pérez

Collection

The Cabrera Arús family collection, José A. Cabrera Pérez collection

Acquisition

Accession

2025.1

Made/Created

Manufacturer

VEB BERGMANN-BORSIG

Place

City

Berlin-Wilhelmsruh

* Untyped Place

G.D.R.

Region

Central Europe

Continent

Europe

Edition

bebo sher

Notes

Date: Circa 1960s–1970s (the bebo sher line was produced 1962–1991

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Type

Inscription

Location

case

Transcription

bebo sher

Material/Technique

Painted

Dimensions

Dimension Description

13 x 10 x 5.5

Height

5.5 cm

Width

13 cm

Length

10 cm

Parts

Electric dry shaver (body with foil cutting head) with power cord (coiled, with plug) Fitted case with hinged lid, inset mirror, flock lining, brass edging, and clasp (A small cleaning brush and a spare foil were typically included with these sets but are not present.)

Accessories

Accessory

Case

Materials

Material

Plastic, Metal, Wire, Synthetic

Material Notes

Materials: Molded plastic (shaver body); metal (foil screen, trim, case edging); glass (lid mirror); leatherette over card (case); textile flock (lining); rubber/plastic-insulated cord. Technique: Mass-manufactured molded-plastic and stamped-metal appliance; oscillating-armature (Schwinganker) foil dry shaver; supplied in a fitted presentation case.

Condition

Overall Condition

Fair

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

José A. Cabrera Pérez

Notes

owner

Related Places

Place

City

Havana

Country

Cuba

Region

Caribbean, Central America

Notes

ownership

Place

City

Berlin-Wilhelmsruh

* Untyped Place

G.D.R.

Region

Central Europe

Continent

Europe

Notes

production

Research Notes

Notes

"bebo sher" (usually lowercased) was the brand name of a model series of razors in the GDR, manufactured in the millions at VEB Bergmann-Borsig from 1962 to 1991; both "bebo" (Bergmann-Borsig) and "sher" are acronyms, and the razors were a fixture of GDR everyday culture, regarded as a positive example of GDR design. Sigmund Bergmann AG, later VEB Bergmann-Borsig, was a heavy-industry firm making turbines, generators, and power-plant components; following a 1953 GDR decree obliging large enterprises to also make consumer goods, it began producing everyday items, with the first razor reaching the GDR market in 1956 and the oscillating-armature bebo sher trademark registered in 1962. The redesigned series was exported to Eastern Europe, and the shaver department at Bergmann-Borsig closed in 1991.

Created By

María A. Cabrera Arús

Create Date

March 31, 2022

Updated By

María A. Cabrera Arús

Update Date

June 15, 2026