M shaving cream metal tube

Object/Artifact

-

Archive of Cuban Socialism

Name/Title

"M" shaving cream metal tube

Entry/Object ID

2025.1.184

Description

A collapsible aluminum tube of men's shaving cream, with a white ribbed plastic screw cap and a crimped base; the tube still contains cream. The body is printed silver/white with a diagonal design: "SHAVING CREAM" runs vertically up one side, a stylized green-and-blue brand emblem reading "M" sits mid-tube, and near the crimped base are the octagonal Pharmachim logo with "PHARMACHIM / BULGARIA." Soiled and discolored, with darkened/greenish residue near the shoulder.

Use

Belonged to Leopoldo Arús Gálvez

Collection

The Cabrera Arús family collection, Leopoldo Arús Caraballo collection

Acquisition

Accession

2025.1

Made/Created

Manufacturer

Pharmachim AB

Place

Country

Bulgaria

Region

Eastern Europe

Continent

Europe

Edition

M

Notes

Maker: Pharmachim, Bulgaria — the Bulgarian state pharmaceutical enterprise/foreign-trade house (the pre-1989 system was fully state-controlled, including import/export; Pharmachim later became part of the Sopharma group). Per the "PHARMACHIM / BULGARIA" mark and octagonal logo. Date: circa 1970s–1980s (tentative). No date/batch code legible. Place of Origin: Bulgaria (Pharmachim).

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Transcription

SHAVING CREAM M PHARMACHIM BULGARIA

Language

English

Dimensions

Width

3.5 cm

Length

14.5 cm

Parts

tube, cap

Material

aluminum, Plastic

Condition

Overall Condition

Good

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

Leopoldo Arús Gálvez

Notes

owner

Person or Organization

Pharmachim AB

Notes

producer

Related Places

Place

City

Havana

Country

Cuba

Region

Caribbean, Central America

Notes

use

Place

Country

Bulgaria

Region

Eastern Europe

Continent

Europe

Notes

production

Research Notes

Notes

Brand (unverified): The green-and-blue emblem reads as "M," recorded as the apparent brand. A targeted search (including Bulgarian-language "крем за бръснене") found no documentation of a socialist-era Pharmachim "M" shaving cream — only unrelated present-day Bulgarian shaving products — so "M" is recorded as read from the tube, not externally confirmed; it may be a brand name or a maker/design logo. The firmly established elements remain the English "SHAVING CREAM" export labeling and the "PHARMACHIM / BULGARIA" maker mark.

Created By

María A. Cabrera Arús

Create Date

March 31, 2022

Updated By

María A. Cabrera Arús

Update Date

June 14, 2026