Category: Beauty Products

Barbo Compound

A 1942 report by the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station [link] describes Barbo Compound as a “pale yellow powder slightly acid to litmus” which is slightly alarming. Even more alarming: this statement in 1919 in the Michigan Food and Drug Monthly calling Barbo “poisonous” - it was roughly 1/3 lead acetate. “Little wonder…that in their circular they state specifically that they ‘assume no liability for the results of its use by anyone.”It was made by the Barbo Manufacturing Co. in New York City and was sold until at least 1955. The ad pictured above dates from 1917.
Barbo Compound was made by the Barbo Manufacturing Co. in New York City and was sold until at least 1955. The ad pictured above dates from 1917.
A 1942 report by the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station [link] describes Barbo Compound as a “pale yellow powder slightly acid to litmus” which is slightly alarming. Even more alarming: this statement in 1919 in the Michigan Food and Drug Monthly calling Barbo “poisonous” – it was roughly 1/3 lead acetate. “Little wonder…that in their circular they state specifically that they ‘assume no liability for the results of its use by anyone.”