The history of our iconic "Scully"

Commissioned at a young age in Her Majesty's Royal Navy at the height of British Imperial reign, "Scully" served with distinction as an apprentice surgeon. He traveled the world, immersed himself in local cultures, befriended officers and enlisted men, gentlemen and rogues.

He had a surgeons steady hand and an eye for detail but he could not stand the sight of blood and was discharged. By fate or circumstance, Scully was posted to Bytown (Ottawa) and forced to work as a digger during the construction of the Rideau Canal.

During this time he was surrounded by disheveled men with unruly hair and beards. Children were accustomed to their mothers placing porridge bowls on their heads and trimming around them. There had to be a better way. Determined to make a difference and improve the lives of his fellows, Scully set up a humble chair and diligently worked days and evenings. He did not rest until every last man looked his best. Having secured his reputation as an excellent Barber, confidante, and upstanding member of the community Scully retired at an old age. Today his legacy lives on with our new generation of Barbers at Imperial.


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The History of the Barber Pole

If you’re interested in reading about the origins of that whimsical red and white pole fastened to the outside your favourite barber shop, be warned: It’s bloody. REALLY bloody.

During medieval times, bloodletting — the practice of drawing blood from a patient to cure an illness — was prescribed widely by surgeons, and barbers were often responsible for carrying out the procedure.

While the barber pole looks pretty simple, it’s actually a combination of four separate medical implements used to treat someone suspected of having weakened, or bad blood.

The basin at the top represents the brass vessel barbers would use to keep leeches; dark, ugly, segmented worms with a talent for sucking human blood.

The red and white pole is equally as unpleasant. Although it was only gripped by patients to increase blood flow, its red and white colours represent bandages — red for (you guessed it) blood, and white for clean bandages.

If you can get past having leeches clamp onto your skin, bloodletting was actually pretty clean. But leeches weren’t used all the time … and that meant the blood had to drain somewhere. Enter the brass basin at the bottom of the barber pole; used specifically to keep barbershops from looking like the set of Johnny Depp’s 2007 horror flick, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.

Thankfully, medicine has changed, and so has your barber’s range of talents. Now the only thing you lose at the barber shop is your hair.