How did the barber sign get started?

the red, white and blue cylinder -that circles around --what has that to do with babering?


Its just weird!


other business don't have signs--should bars have a sign too, video stores and restuarants?How did the barber sign get started?
The origin of the barber pole is associated with the service of bloodletting. During medieval times, barbers also performed surgery on customers as well as tooth extractionsHow did the barber sign get started?
The blue was added to make it american, but the red and white reflec tthat barbers were surgeons, so it is the wrappings and the blood stains.





keep in mind that when barbers were about, Illeteracy was at 85% or so, thus a worded sign is worthless
Barbers used to be responsible for doing surgery - hundreds of years ago. The red and white stripes symbolise blood and bandages.
Stephen is wrong, I bet he gets all his info from wikipedia. People were more literate(proportionately)during Christendom than they are now.