| Outside of almost every barber shop you will | | | | and others think it was a symbolic advertisement. |
| ever encounter you will see a barber pole. This is | | | | There is no documentation to substantiate either |
| a red, white, and blue sign that most people | | | | claim on record. |
| realize is a symbol that there is a barbershop on | | | | Ironically, barber poles are one of the most |
| the premises. However, the majority of people | | | | sought after collectors items around right now. |
| don’t really know what these barber poles | | | | The original barber poles were made from stained |
| represent. | | | | glass. They feature porcelain on the tops and the |
| Barbers no longer perform surgery on those who | | | | bottoms. If you aren’t an expert collector |
| come to them for services, but long ago they did. | | | | you just might pass up some of the very best |
| They also extracted teeth. The barber poles | | | | barber poles out there. The older style ones |
| represent the process of bloodletting, which we | | | | didn’t turn as the ones we see today do. |
| today call phlebotomy. The top of the barber pool | | | | Some people pass up these when they are for |
| held leeches and the bottom of it the blood they | | | | sale thinking they are a barber pole that is no |
| took out of the customer. The pole was used for | | | | longer in working condition. |
| customers to hold onto during the process. The | | | | The internet is a great place to find more |
| blue on the barber pool represents the leeches, | | | | information about barber poles as well as to find |
| the red represents the blood, and the white | | | | out where you can purchase one to have for fun |
| represents the bandages that were placed on | | | | or to add to your collection. The pickings are |
| them after the procedure was completed. | | | | getting slim when it comes to the early models of |
| Most people think that the barber pole colors are | | | | barber poles so hang on to any that you do have |
| to represent the United States flag. The reports | | | | and expect to pay quite a high price to add any |
| on this are conflicting as some say it was | | | | new ones to your collection. |
| coincidence that blue was chosen for the leeches | | | | |