Wahl "Clip-Pet" Small Animal Clipper Set in Original Box, Model 9160, c. 1950s–60s

The Piece

A charming, complete piece of mid-century pet-grooming nostalgia. The Wahl "Clip-Pet" small animal clipper comes in its original two-part box, wrapped in wonderful period graphics — a red-and-white barber pole, the slogan "keeps pets neat 'n' trim," and a chorus line of cartoon poodles, cats, and pups in ruffled collars. Inside is the glossy black clipper itself (Model 9160, marked Wahl Clipper Corp., Sterling, Ill.), its cloth-era cord, a set of spare cutting blades, and guide combs — the whole kit, still together after all these years.

It's the rare vintage find that works as display, collectible, and conversation piece all at once: the graphics alone earn it a spot on a shelf.

History & Provenance

Wahl Clipper Corporation of Sterling, Illinois — founded on Leo Wahl's electromagnetic clipper patent in 1919 — became a household name in barbering and grooming. The "Clip-Pet" line brought that expertise to the family dog and cat in the postwar decades, when pet keeping and home grooming boomed. Complete boxed examples like this, with the original blades, combs, and that irresistible mid-century package art intact, are increasingly hard to find — most were used up and thrown away. A small, joyful artifact of American consumer design at its most charming.

Product Details

Please note: offered as a vintage collectible. As with any vintage electrical appliance, have it inspected by a qualified person before any use.

Why It Belongs in Your Home

Almost too charming to put away. Style it on a shelf for the graphics alone, display it in a grooming salon, pet shop, or vet's office, or add it to a collection of vintage advertising and Americana. The barber-pole box and cartoon pets bring instant mid-century cheer — the kind of small, specific, joyful object that makes a space feel personal and collected.: