I SHAVED WITH A CENTURY OLD KING THUS MORNING!

The appearance of stainless safety razor blades back in, I think, the 1950s, was considered a huge advance in shaving technology. I believe Wilkinson Sword was the first on the market, they came from England. A blue blade might work for two or three shaves, stainless blades were good for maybe 8 to 10. I have written earlier about the Rolls Razor, sort of a combination of a straight razor and a safety razor. They worked pretty well. At one time they were fairly common, but I have not seen one for a long time. A very ingenious design.
 
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I've got my original Ball End Gillette Tech from 1970, my Dad's (same razor) from the late 30's and one from my Grandfather (single edge blades) from who knows when. I've got others that I bought over the years on eBay that were NIB but from the 20's, 30's and 40's. No new ones. Got 4 really good brushes (one was my Dad's) and use 6 or 7 different mug soaps.

I must have over 800 - 900 bladces that I puurchased about 10 years ago when an online supplier went out of business. I paid under $10 per 100 blades and they are really good blades. Mostly Persona, but some Gillette 7 o'clock, Wilkerson, Astra and Murkur.

I have a fairly heavy beard and have to shave everyday. There are sometimes when involved in a project on the new house I will skip a few days. The wife complains a bit about that but gets over it. LOL!

That was a great deal on the blades, and that many ought to last a bit! I bought 100 of the Personna ones on Amazon a couple of years ago, I think they were about $15.
 
Was using a mekuur that I bought when I went back to blades until I found a '40's gillette in an antique store about 10 years ago. That and gillette blue blades are my daily shave.

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Started with an Edwin Jagger about 10 years ago. Found that the Feather blades were about the best followed by the Wilkerson blades. Was at a thrift shop about a month ago and bought a no name non-adjustable safety razor. Works even better. I use the C.O. Bigelow and a badger brush. The C.O. Bigelow last about 4 months.

I stopped using those multi blade gel stripped expensive blades because they never last and cost too much. .50 for the most expensive safety blade that lasts several weeks at least. 1 tube of shave cream-4 months and about $5 for the razor. Never going back thanks.
 
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Years ago I discovered my grandfather's old straight razor, a beautiful Böker with an ivory handle. I was able to sharpen it and did learn to use it but it just took too long and was awkward on the lumpy bits.

You're a much braver man than I. I would never have the nerve to let a straight razor get near my lumpy bits.
 
Riddle me this; what constitutes a "good shave"?

Do you use a mirror and a magnifying glass and feeler gauges to measure the cut?
Do you stroke your cheeks to determine the coarseness?
Do you drag a nylon stocking across your face to see if it snags?
Do you wait for people to approach you and say "pardon me old chap but your stubble is showing"?

 
You're a much braver man than I. I would never have the nerve to let a straight razor get near my lumpy bits.
Well, I was younger and more adventurous then :) I figured if my grandfather could survive shaving with one during the horrors of WWI, I could probably do so in peacetime. I went very slowly and tried not to think of Sweeney Todd :eek:
IAM Rand said:
I stopped using those multi blade gel stripped expensive blades because they never last and cost too much.
a.k.a "landfill specials." When I innocently went to the store to replace my recently-deceased Atra II, I looked at the gaudy, plastic-encrusted merchandise, which had THREE blades (because the Gillette Institute of Marketing and Research had determined that TWO blades were clearly insufficient for today's modern fella) and thought, "Am I supposed to shave with this or eat it? It looks look like candy!"
 
Riddle me this; what constitutes a "good shave"?

Do you use a mirror and a magnifying glass and feeler gauges to measure the cut?
Do you stroke your cheeks to determine the coarseness?
Do you drag a nylon stocking across your face to see if it snags?
Do you wait for people to approach you and say "pardon me old chap but your stubble is showing"?

Dear boy, such irreverence is quite unbecoming. This is serious business. For instance, may I direct you to this article on shaving in The Chap Magazine {"A Quarterly Publication for Gentlmen")

Even gentlemen must endeavour to maintain their standards under unfavourable circumstances:

river-razor.jpg
 
a.k.a "landfill specials." When I innocently went to the store to replace my recently-deceased Atra II, I looked at the gaudy, plastic-encrusted merchandise, which had THREE blades (because the Gillette Institute of Marketing and Research had determined that TWO blades were clearly insufficient for today's modern fella) and thought, "Am I supposed to shave with this or eat it? It looks look like candy!"

I, too, use an Atra. I've had it at least 25 years, and it's still going strong. I've gotten my last two orders of 100 Personna two-blade gel-stripped cartridges from Amazon for less than 12 cents per cartridge. They were shipped by a Mr. Zippy, who lived up to his name -- they arrived very quickly. The Personnas shave very smoothly, and I get 10-12 shaves per cartridge. Because I don't shave every day (I'm retired and don't have to shave if I don't wanna!), a cartridge will last me about three weeks. Thus a 100-pack is about a five-year supply. I just checked on Amazon, and while Mr. Zippy seems to have vanished, 100 count Personnas are still available for about 14 cents per cartridge. If you think three blades are ridiculous, the Dollar Shave Club cartridges have six blades.:rolleyes:
 
The razor & box of blades were also in the hard covered original box and they had not been opened. NOTE: The razor itself in the photo is not the one that came in the box
Razor packaged separately within the hard cover box? I have my FIL's gold Gillette, any chance for a pic of the other vintage razor?
 
Riddle me this; what constitutes a "good shave"?

Do you use a mirror and a magnifying glass and feeler gauges to measure the cut?
Do you stroke your cheeks to determine the coarseness?
Do you drag a nylon stocking across your face to see if it snags?
Do you wait for people to approach you and say "pardon me old chap but your stubble is showing"?


For me, a good shave is one where the skin isn't irritated afterwards. I very rarely draw any blood.

I don't go for BBS - that just results in irritation.
 
I, too, use an Atra. I've had it at least 25 years, and it's still going strong....
I was impressed with how long my Atra II lasted. And the blades seemed to last pretty well. But I converted to "the old ways" years ago once the new "confectionery" appeared and there's no going back now.

A few years after buying the Merkur, Gillette reintroduced the traditional- style safety razor, which they had discontinued sometime in the 80's. "Improved". of course! :rolleyes:
 
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