Sandford Fleming

In 1845, an 18 year old apprentice surveyor named Sandford Fleming emigrated from Scotland to Canada. Endowed with great intelligence and ambition, Fleming soon became prominent in his field, and in 1849 he co-founded the Royal Canadian Institute for scientists and engineers. Fleming’s primary career was as a railway engineer, surveying for the Grand Trunk Railway, which ran from Quebec to Vermont, and in 1855 he became the chief engineer for the Northern Railway of Canada.

But Fleming’s interests were much wider than railways. He created Canada’s first postage stamp, known as the Threepenny Beaver, and in 1876 he invented international standard time zones to solve the problem of co-ordinating railway timetables across continents, after he had missed a train while traveling in Ireland.

In 1897, 18 years before his death, Sir Sanford Fleming was knighted by Queen Victoria.

Bearding Beyond Assumptions

by Bill Alley, Broadcast Host, Wordsmith and Beard Advocate

Growing facial hair, especially for first timers, is endless curiosity. For guys who never made the decision to see what their face looks like in full whiskered splendor and are looking for an adventure that will be a sensory marvel, take the time whenever they ask about how you mastered the whisker.

We know each guy’s growth journey is unique, as are the results they get in a few months of steering clear of shaving. Part of the problem most men have when they want to grow is a hidden ‘fear’—that the time put in will not yield a good result. I had that stigma for 14 years.

A moustache was becoming prominent at around age 14, and back as early as 12 stout whiskers were appearing among the peach fuzz. Those I foolishly plucked. By age 14 there was evidence of more stout hairs, and as I had no intention of shaving the upper lip by that time, the growing journey was partially underway.

The rest of the beard took time to take a good form. At 27 there was enough growth to make a fairly good connection in my weak areas: moustache mouth-side to goatee and beard growth had made enough of a climb to where it was full in a medium band (under chin to lower cheek). The hair was workable enough at a longer length to cover bare patches. Time and supplements helped the whiskers fill in, but in all honesty my best beard has been achieved over the last 10 years.

When aging is too long to wait, and you don’t want to spend the mortgage on hair transplants for your face, a bit of research might help you grow quicker or thicker if you understand what your body needs in the prone areas of little growth. This month’s podcast has Chris Staples sharing a technique he and a close friend had in their early growing years to stimulate follicles where their patches existed—Chris at the mouth edges and his friend on his chin by the lower lip. The friend suggested something he heard that instructed vigorous massage in the lacking growth areas. Both young men made the massage a regular habit; they took a bit of ribbing from onlookers who thought their intent was a granted wish—like that of a magician. They were aiming for ‘wizard beards’ at the time, and voila...they got them!

The body typically responds well to touch and massage as it happily accepts the routine. Stimulation below the skin aides in many things, including easing of tension in muscles and joints, plus increased blood flow (and its oxygen) tipped the growth cycle. The body’s optimum performance happens when things ‘flow’; stagnancy is often connected with stalled or reverse trends, and as I found out last year being very ill, that movement restriction resulted in hair loss on a number of places on the body. The body is truly made to be in motion; that energy is part of what will help make your facial hair goals achievable; with renewed health and movement all the old hairy places are restored—better than ever.

Whiskered Titans Of The 19th Century:
A ‘Top 5’ Short List Of Creators And Innovators
by Bill Alley, Broadcast Host, Wordsmith and Beard Advocate

History for me is an endless fascination. One of the hardest decisions made on whether or not a degree in some form of History as the ‘major’ major (I double majored) came down to simple math: how many historians get employed and enjoy a lifetime of their passion compared to Broadcasters? In the 1970s that decision tilted easily in the media’s favor. Looking back so much has changed: some wish to re-write, even eliminate, the past, and if they succeed, history’s importance would eventually fade. Big mistake; we learn from the past—even with beards. That’s the reason why we’re virtually dusting off some notable titans of the 19th century which shaped fame and fortune as well as facial hair.

Elisha Graves Otis, founder of Otis Elevator Company, is often mistaken for being the inventor of the elevator. In fact, he was an inventor of a component much more important for elevators—a braking system that would prevent a detached hoist from causing the elevator compartment to sending the contents of said elevator to certain doom. The portrait most seen of Otis is linked to the late 1840s when he would have been in his mid-to late-30s. His whiskers when captured on a picture medium (rendered, typically) always appear full and proportional, a classic full beard that allows for a sweeping, broad moustache and compliments Elisha’s facial features.

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John Pemberton became a certified pharmacist by age 19, Chemistry being his specialty. Pemberton became wounded during Confederate service at the end of the Civil War and was treated with opiod-based medicine. He experimented with coca wines to seek alternates; these prescribed beverages were touted as better choices for addicted pain sufferers. The Kola Nut and flowering Damiana became the key ingredients, along with seltzer, which became Coca-Cola. Pemberton’s whisker display, a ‘strap and goatee’ appearance, details his jawline which frames an excellent, fuller goatee perfectly aligned with his eyes.

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Robert Koch, distinguished Getman Microbiologist and Physician, established the groundwork of verified infectious disease research in the late 1800s with Tuberculosis, Anthrax and Cholera being three of four defined segments. His work is foundational to present-day understanding of infectious disease, how it forms and multiplies; the process of understanding is known as Koch’s Postulates. Dr. Koch is depicted typically with a sweeping moustache and slightly tapered goatee with loose-formed chinstrap whiskers along the lower cheeks and jawline. Distinguished and older gentlemen can often keep a wiry whisker presence which adds allure—if not wisdom—earned by one’s avocation.

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Clement Studebaker also enjoys German heritage connected to innovation; he and his brother Henry were the H&C in the H&C Studebaker Company. Famous for their automobiles and ‘bearded family’ of men working at the company for many years, the Studebaker line originally served the Pennsylvania Dutch / Amish community with dependable horse-drawn carriages enjoyed for comfort and Conestoga wagons built for terrain endurance. Clement keeps the ‘extra large’ version of Koch’s whiskers in all photos I’ve found, and with his elongated and angular features the full styled beard and generously large moustache in wiry form give whimsy to the overall polished look with rugged flair. This beard look is the perfect compliment to his heavy band of eyebrows.

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Elijah McCoy was one of the great African-American inventors of a component that solved a dilemma. His design for the lubricator became standard equipment for locomotives and steamship engines to keep them continuously lubricated, allowing for these machines to reach maximums in capacity and drive. These inventions are some of the 57 patents he earned, along with the distinction of reference as ‘The Real McCoy’. Elijah kept full and somewhat tailored facial hair, typically thick and full but closer cropped by the cheeks for a great ‘boxed’ look that compliments his facial characteristics.

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