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Visiting the annual Braun collectors fair

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Re: Visiting the annual Braun collectors fair

#41

Post by Reason077 »

shiroiushi wrote: post #37
Reason077 wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When? Maybe 10-15 years ago?

Germany: probably 2 years ago. Japan: right now. I just looked on amazon.co.jp: https://www.amazon.co.jp/%E3%80%90Amazon-co-jp-%E9%99%90%E5%... It seems they have both names.

Japan is interesting. Maybe the Braun brand is still pretty strong over there. But in Europe and elsewhere you no longer see prominent "Braun" branding on the packaging - and it's been that way for a long time.

You're right that the Braun logo co-branding still features on the devices themselves, though.

Re: Visiting the annual Braun collectors fair

#42

Post by gnabgib »

Reason077 wrote: post #40
gnabgib wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Tricky to confirm (no need to follow links), but the first hits on Amazon UK[0], Amazon AU[1], Amazon US[2] are clearly labelled Braun in the images. Amazon Germany[3] and Amazon France[4] too. [0]: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Oral-B-Vitality-Toothbrush-Includin... [1]: https://www.amazon.com.au/Oral-B-SMART-Electric-Rechargeable... [2]: https://www.amazon.com/Oral-B-1000-Rechargeable-Electric-Too... [3]: https://www.am…

Yes, but they still feature the "Braun" co-branding on the device, but the primary naming/branding is always "Oral-B".

The co-branding is because the device (electronics) are Braun, and the bristles/brush-heads are Oral-B.

Re: Visiting the annual Braun collectors fair

#43

Post by [deleted] »

Reason077 wrote: post #39
eru wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> [...] they shared the fate of all European household appliance manufacturers — increasing competition from Asian companies, so by the 1990s, Braun was dead. Miele and Bosch etc are still going strong. So I'm not sure what you mean by 'European household appliance manufacturers': they have faced the competition from Asian companies and survived.

> "Miele and Bosch etc are still going strong." Not to mention Phillips, Electrolux (still the world's 2nd largest appliance manufacturer after Whirlpool!), and relative newcomers like Dyson.

[deleted]

Re: Visiting the annual Braun collectors fair

#44

Post by imp0cat »

ghaff wrote: post #17
jrmg wrote: post #5

I’d love to read an account of the ‘fall’ of Braun. Through my adult life, basically the only thing it makes that are still ubiquitous are electric shavers - which are great shavers, but hardly icons of design. Was there internal drama that led to this contraction in the diversity of what they made? Did it happen fast or slow? I feel like there must be a good story in there.

Pretty much what happened more broadly. Brands got sold off to companies making goods in Asia for lower prices. Consumers mostly not willing to pay 2x to 3xand it’s often not even clear if the higher prices are worth the premium.

This. I don't mind paying more, but it must be worth it.

Re: Visiting the annual Braun collectors fair

#45

Post by imp0cat »

tcbawo wrote: post #19
Xenoamorphous wrote: post #12

I’m 44 and to this day I still use my very fist Braun electric shaver. I don’t even know the model, but it looks just like one with a blue button in the pic in the article, although the case is different and the blue is darker in mine. The only issue it has is that I have to place the connector in a very specific position or it won’t charge. I think it’s going to outlive me.

I had a Braun shaver for a very long time — long after the battery had died. It worked great while plugged into the wall, which was fine because I kept it in the bathroom next to an outlet. I switched to a new shaver after receiving one as a gift. I had no idea that modern shavers (maybe most electronics these days?) only run from the battery, rather than passing through from the wall. It’s a reminder of a time befor…

OTOH, not being connected to the mains is probably a lot safer, especially if you use it in the bathroom.

Re: Visiting the annual Braun collectors fair

#46

Post by imp0cat »

farslan wrote: post #6
RapperWhoMadeIt wrote: post #3

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Hi there. Thanks a lot for the kind words. One of the reasons I started to spend more time on my blog is because of the reasons you listed. I know X/Twitter has still its place, but I've discovered that people like to read long-form with nice pictures.

Subscribed!

I am more of a Bosch fan though. Braun appliances are a bit "too much retro" for me. ;)

Re: Visiting the annual Braun collectors fair

#47

Post by shiroiushi »

jolt42 wrote: post #34
shiroiushi wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, the electric toothbrushes are called Braun in markets outside the US. I've only seen them labeled Oral-B in the US. Also, they're pretty lousy toothbrushes IMO. I recommend Panasonic ones instead.

Yeah, the battery in the Oral-B toothbrushes are awful, sonic care are much better

That's not the problem I found. My problems were twofold:

1) The Braun toothbrushes are just nasty. No matter how much I rinsed them off after every use, they collected a bunch of nasty crap in the holder. My Panasonic toothbrush never does this.

2) The Braun toothbrushes only work on a single voltage, because their charger sucks. You cannot take the charger with you when you travel between continents. Any decent modern electronics these days don't have this problem. My Panasonic toothbrush's charger works with 100-240V, 50-60Hz power (worldwide), and this is a model that seems to only be sold in Japan.

Also, the Braun toothbrush is huge. My Panasonic is much more compact.

Re: Visiting the annual Braun collectors fair

#48

Post by keiferski »

itronitron wrote: post #16

It would be interesting if there was one major city that invested enough funds to organize thrift stores around particular design aesthetics or historic periods. So you could have a `50's thrift store, a `60's one, etc. Alternatively they could be organized around classes of goods such as clothing, household appliances, tools, etc. There is a lot of stuff out there but not enough incentive to bring it all together, r…

There a few places like this in Europe. In Berlin, for example, there are some DDR-era design stores.

Re: Visiting the annual Braun collectors fair

#50

Post by Reason077 »

gnabgib wrote: post #42
Reason077 wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, but they still feature the "Braun" co-branding on the device, but the primary naming/branding is always "Oral-B".

The co-branding is because the device (electronics) are Braun, and the bristles/brush-heads are Oral-B.

Well, yes, but both the toothbrushes and the brush heads are sold only with the "Oral-B" name in most countries. That is: Braun logo still appears on the device, but not in the product name, box, and marketing materials.
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