Pifco electric hair curling tongs, about 1955. Part of the Bob Gray collection of electrical objects.

Pifco started out in 1900 as Provincial Incandescent Fittings Co, a merchant of lighting, stoves and household goods. By the 1950’s they were a well established manufacturer of household goods such as fairy light, lamps, hair and laundry products. As more households had electricity the electrical goods industry created more appliances that could conveniently be used at home. These were often marketed to women as time or money saving goods. These curling tongs are said ‘to keep every curl perfect’.