The Camera Store Clerk

by Jim Brown

Many years ago, in a camera shop I frequented, there was a counter clerk who had a most unusual head of slicked and elaborate styled hair. To this day I often imagine accompanying him to the barber shop to watch each step...

First the barber would cut it - not too short. It would be cut to be greased with lengths cut so comb lines would be strong and have a paten leather look - none of that layering stuff. He would cut it wet, using some Vitalis instead of water.

The barber himself would also be a sight to behold. He would have a head of heavily greased black hair combed straight back and pressed tightly to his head like a paten leather cap!

Then the barber would open a large jar of Dixi Peach Pomade and scoop out a generous fist full of grease. He would proceed to work it into the man's hair. He then reached for a bottle of Vaseline Hair Tonic or some other old-fashion oil based hair tonic and wet it all down, then massaged it in some more.

He then proceeded to comb it down over the man's eyes so it laid over the man's nose so he could get the sensual smell.

He meticulously formed a clean and ever so straight part down the left side, combing the hair across the top. He then made a second part midway across the center of the top, at a 90 degree angle to the first, combing the top hair down over the face again and the other side of this center part straight back. He would comb and press it firmly with his palm to create a paten leather shine.

With the hair over the left ear, he swept it slightly upward and way back to the center of the back of the head.

With the hair in the front, he began to form a most spectacular three-wave pompadour. (I don't know how this would be achieved, so if anyone wants to post that part of the story, I'll let you have that pleasure.) After forming the pompadour he would complete the right side by combing it upward and back over the ear and way to the back.

He then formed a duck tail in the back!

After pressing and smoothing it out to make every hair lay in exact place, he used a lacquer spray and it seemed he was spraying forever!

This is not the camera store man but a shot we come across that is similar. The only difference is that the camera store clerk has a bigger pompadore that has three waves in the front. Notice the second part which goes along under the pomp. On camera store man, this part is a litter further back and more of it visible.

FOLLOW UP

After nearly 25 years since my frequent visits to this camera store, I took the need for a new camera bag as an excuse to travel about an hour and visit the shop and see if this man still worked there. I figured that he must have retired or if he still worked there, he surely would have gotten rid of the "old fashion" hairstyle. After all, it a new century and "nobody" wears their hair that way anymore. It is hard to maintain and is out of style.

Upon entering the shop, it was like stepping back in time. The camera store clerk was still there and with the SAME hairstyle. The same pompadour, the same swept back sides, the same part across the side and another one across the top behind the pomp, and the same aftershave or tonic smell that filled the air throughout the store. Only difference was that there was a slight more gray hair mixed in. He even attended the same department counter -- the camera sales area.

I approached him, trying not to appear nervous, and asked if he carried the Nikon bags for the CoolPix camera. Apparently they do not make enough commission on the CoolPix or its accessories, because he abruptly said we do not carry anything to do with that and most photographers don't like it. To get him talking I asked what objections his customers have to the CoolPix. His answers were short and unconcerned. I was having a hard time keeping things going till I could figure something to say regarding his still having the wonderful old style men's haircut. If only I could have commented that I remember him with that haircut and his working there and at another shop before this one many years ago. That might have broken the ice to further discussion of slick hair and this website.

To make matters worse, another customer approached who was very interested in high-end cameras, and must have had the bucks, and was a repeat customer, because the camera store clerk was off to greener pastures.

I'll just have to look for another chance to forgo on-line shopping for a return visit to the camera store.

The author can be reached at: optisonics@aol.com

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