Kico Plastics dressing comb (peine), black

Object/Artifact

-

Archive of Cuban Socialism

Name/Title

"Kico Plastics" dressing comb (peine), black

Entry/Object ID

2025.1.171

Description

A one-piece molded black plastic dressing/combination comb (peine), with a row of coarser, wider-set teeth across roughly half its length and finer, closely set teeth across the other half, and a plain spine. Molded into the spine are the legends "HECHO EN CUBA" and "KICO PLASTICS." A circular ejector-pin mark is visible on the spine (a molding artifact). The comb shows surface scuffing, whitish residue/soiling, and general wear.

Collection

The Cabrera Arús family collection

Acquisition

Accession

2025.1

Made/Created

Manufacturer

Kico Plastics

Place

Country

Cuba

Region

Caribbean, Central America

Notes

Maker: Kico Plastics — a Cuban plastics company owned by Enrique Kalusin (per the Cuba Material project). After the 1959 revolution Kalusin emigrated to the United States and re-registered the company there, where it remained active until 1964; in Cuba the plant may have continued under state control. The comb is marked "Hecho en Cuba" / "Kico Plastics." Date: Undetermined — Could be pre-1959 (Kalusin's Cuban factory), or post-1959 (made in Cuba after nationalization under the same name); the US-registered Kico firm operated until 1964. A "Hecho en Cuba" Kico comb cannot be confidently dated to the 1959–1990 window. Flagged (see Research Notes).

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Type

Inscription

Transcription

HECHO EN CUBA KICO PLASTICS

Language

Spanish

Translation

MADE IN CUBA KICO PLASTICS

Material/Technique

Embossed

Dimensions

Dimension Description

20 x 4

Width

4 cm

Length

20 cm

Material

Plastic

Condition

Overall Condition

Fair

Relationships

Related Places

Place

City

Havana

Country

Cuba

Region

Caribbean, Central America

Notes

use

Research Notes

Notes

"Kico Plastics" was a Cuban company of Enrique Kalusin, documented by the Cuba Material project. Kalusin emigrated to the US after 1959 and re-registered the firm there (active until 1964). The Cuban plant may have continued, possibly nationalized, under the same name. (Cultural note: "kicos" became the popular Cuban word for plastic shoes, after this company.)

Created By

María A. Cabrera Arús

Create Date

March 31, 2022

Updated By

María A. Cabrera Arús

Update Date

July 17, 2026