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The Handlebar Club, Founded 1947. | Heralded for their determined co-operative self-denial in the use of the razor.

February 7, 2010 by JP

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“The object of the Handlebar Club was, and still is, to bring together moustache wearers (beards being strictly prohibited) socially for sport and general conviviality.”

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Members of Handlebar Club posing for photograph, UK, July 1947.  — Nat Farbman

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Members of Handlebar Club comparing ties, UK, July 1947.  — Nat Farbman

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Member of Handlebar Club holding drink, UK, July 1947.  — Nat Farbman

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Member of Handlebar Club kissing woman, UK, July 1947.  — Nat Farbman

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Woman reacting to kiss from Handlebar Club member, UK, July 1947.  — Nat Farbman

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Member of Handlebar Club looking up with mustache swept up, UK, July 1947.  — Nat Farbman

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Close-up profile of member of Handlebar Club, UK, July 1947.  — Nat Farbman

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Close-up of member of Handlebar Club, UK, July 1947.  –Nat Farbman

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Members of Handlebar Club sitting at table and having formal beer session, UK, July 1947.  — Nat Farbman

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From The Handlebar Club Archive–

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WE TAKE OFF OUR HAT TO –
THE MEMBERS OF THE HANDLEBAR CLUB

For their determined co-operative self-denial in the use of the razor.

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The Handlebar Club was inaugurated on April 21 by Windmill Theatre comedian Jimmy Edwards.  Its flowing moustachio appeal is directed primarily to serving and ex-members of the Forces, particularly those of the Prune school.  Readers will remember his loose brushlike appendage.

Many of the founder members are former R.A.F. men; including famous personalities.  The President is Raymond Glendenning, B.B.C. commentator.  Bill Hooper created the wartime character Percy Prune.   Other members include– Captain Hare; Allan Edwards; Raymond Glendenning; George Hoffman; Baron de Bere; Anita d’Ray; Bill Hooper; H. Lestocq; Jimmy Edwards; Russ Allen;  and Founder Frank Muir, of the B.B.C.

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Posted in British, fashion, grooming, history, LIFE archive, lifestyle, pop culture, style, vintage | Tagged 1940s, 1947, club, England, grooming, Handlebar Club, LIFE, LIFE archive, London, magazine, menswear, moustache, mustache, photos, style, United Kingdom, vintage | 8 Comments

8 Responses

  1. on February 7, 2010 at 8:43 pm eli

    Genius, all I can say


  2. on February 7, 2010 at 10:25 pm M.Lane

    We need to establish a North American chapter!!

    ML
    mlanesepic.blogspot.com


    • on February 7, 2010 at 10:30 pm JP

      Indeed.


  3. on February 11, 2010 at 8:23 am Jon Watson

    Great Blog Great article. Jimmy Edwards was a star of radio in the 40s & 50s, a nationally loved icon of ‘Take it from here’, ‘The Glums’ and ‘Whacko!’ (the first two were co-written by Frank Muir, who kept up a dapper tache/bowtie combo til his death in the lates 90s)

    If you want to join the Handlebar club, it’s still going! Here’s the obligatory webpage: http://www.handlebarclub.co.uk/index.php

    For those of you wanting more…check out these hirsute appendages at the world championships in Brighton, England 2007: http://www.handlebarclub.co.uk/wbmcwinners.shtml

    the most recent championships were in Alaska last May.

    Keep up the great work.


  4. on April 10, 2010 at 8:19 pm brohammas

    This is why Salvador Dai was in fact the greatest artist ever, why Great Uncle Corlnelius’s beverages are my favorite, and why “My Name is Earl” was a great tv show… the first season.

    Long live mustache may and movember.


  5. on April 20, 2010 at 4:57 pm dandy

    jealous of these bros’ testosterone


  6. on May 2, 2010 at 4:28 pm David Dade

    To Mr JP, the poster:
    Thanks for the posting this interesting article, some of which came from our archives. However many of the photos you show are not, as far as I know as Webmaster, in our archive.

    Please could you put me in contact with the source of these images, presumably Nat Farbman, as I would like permission if necessary, to include them in our own Web archive?

    Thank you.
    David Dade – Webmaster
    The Handlebar Club – for men with graspable extremities…
    handlebarclub.co.uk


    • on August 12, 2010 at 3:47 pm JP

      Dear David Dade,

      These images were all sourced from the LIFE photo archive hosted on Google.

      http://images.google.com/hosted/life/l?imgurl=d119a1a1c8505d58&q=handlebar%20mustache%20source:life&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dhandlebar%2Bmustache%2Bsource:life%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26biw%3D1529%26bih%3D763%26tbs%3Disch:1

      Best,

      JP



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