I SHAVED WITH A CENTURY OLD KING THUS MORNING!

[chief38]

King Gillette that is. One of my good friends recently gave me a NIB vintage Gillette razor and a 5 pack of King Gillette blue carbon steel blades that dates back to the late 1920's or early 1930's I do believe. 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 - it is just a daily shaver and is probably from the late 1940's. That is what I used this morning.

I have been shaving for well over 54 years now and always used a double edged razor, shaving brush and mug soap, other than for a few months in college when I tried a Trac - Two. Didn't care for that an went right back to my Double Edge Razor so I am extremely used to shaving with a double edge razor.

I use a good mug shaving soap that provides plenty of lather and slickness and I did not really know what to expect out of this close to century old new in the box, blue carbon steel blade.

My experience with it this morning was very exiting but I actually got a pretty "grabby" and rough shave. I did not cut myself as I was being very careful and I did get a somewhat close shave but nowheres near what I normally get with modern double edged stainless blades! I got the sense that back in the day, they used steel that was just not able of being sharpened as well and was not coated with anything on the business edges, therefore were just not capable of the shaves they provide today.

All in all I really got a thrill out of shaving with a century old blade but will more than likely change it tomorrow morning. I know there are some older fellas here who might get a kick out of this so that is why I am posting it. Now I know why the actors in the movies from back in the day usually has a 5 o'clock shadow - lol!!

 

[ACORN]

When I started shaving, my Dad told me I had better start calling the hospital to make sure they had enough of my blood type each morning.

 

[glenwolde]

I think the plain steel blades of old were quick to corrode just a tad. I remember my grandfather used to coat his blades with a q-tip and just a touch of mineral oil to keep them sharp. Over the years yours have probably lost their edge due to environmental exposure.

I shaved with those years ago and I remember them as being hella sharp. But it's been a long time.

As a sidebar my grandfather used the strangest razor I've ever seen, and it's the only one I've ever seen. It looked like a straight razor but the "blade" was two pieces. One piece was the base and the other was removable. The blade went between the two. It used a double edged blade that was longer and narrower than the usual blades. The removable piece had curved combs on both edges. Odd looking thing.

Now I went looking for it and this is it!

Vintage Durham Duplex Straight Shaving Razor w/ Beard Comb & Replaceable Blade | eBay

 

[Onomea]

I think I remember, very vaguely, those individually paper wrapped Gillette blades. Must have been my dad's. By the time I started shaving, those double edged Gillette blades came in slip out dispensers.

 

[jeffrefrig]

Those boxes look like pretty cool harmonica boxes! I have a couple/few cardboard boxes that are long over-due for a ride in the garbage truck. I don't think they have revolver box values. If so, I don't want to know! (Eyeglass cases are probably cheaper.) I'm 66 and still waiting to grow a full beard, minus the crop circles!

 

[Igiveup]

I started with the Gillette Blue Blades, same ones that sponsored the Friday Night fights on black and white tv. The used blades went into a slot cut in the back of the bathroom cabinate. I guess they just stacked inside the wall.

 

[SweetMK]

My mother's cousin (he passed in the late 1960's or early 1970's)
claimed that he, in fact, "invented" the double edge razor.

He accidentally loaded two of the blades shown in Post#1 in his double edge razor handle.

He said that there was a sudden improvement in his shave,,
he had not realized that he had loaded two blades.

He said after that, he always used two of the double edge blades in his safety razor!!

I never tried it, as I had already switched to disposables.

 

[67tempest]

My dad used to shave with one of those when I was a kid, I remember he always kept a styptic pencil handy!

 

[Rustyt1953]

Radiation killed most of the follicles on my cheeks and neck.

I use this once a week.

 

[BKLooney]

I've always used a double edge safety razor, mug soap, and a good brush for the fact that it gives me the best shave. I have some old razors here somewhere but don't use them, I use a long handle Mekur with Personna blades.

I remember the old slots in the medicine cabinet well, now I just use one of the big fat prescription bottles and when they get full I just toss the whole bunch...I think I've been filling one for a few years now.

 

[Rustyt1953]

Mom hated dad's Bay Rum.

 

[oldbrownhat]

I've always used a double edge safety razor, mug soap, and a good brush for the fact that it gives me the best shave. I have some old razors here somewhere but don't use them, I use a long handle Mekur with Personna blades....

I went to a Merkur many years ago after my old 2-blade Atra II died. I use old-fashioned Proraso shaving cream, a brush and Feather blades. Those "high-tech" multi-blade contraptions are for yuppies and hipsters!

I may have started shaving with an old Gillette, but the blades were always stainless steel as I recall. I think SS blades were introduced just a few years before that.

King Gillette was clever- make a high-quality razor, sell it at a low price, then make money on the blades. I see those old Gillettes in the secondhand stores. They were built to last.

When I started shaving, my Dad told me I had better call the hospital to make shure they had enough of my blood type each morning.

You must have been using a straight razor!
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.

 

[chief38]

I started with the Gillette Blue Blades, same ones that sponsored the Friday Night fights on black and white tv. The used blades went into a slot cut in the back of the bathroom cabinate. I guess they just stacked inside the wall.

That is exactly where they went!! I did the same in my old house. After doing it for 26 years (the medicine cabinet had no wiring near bye) I sometimes wonder how many blades are in there!

 

[chief38]

I've always used a double edge safety razor, mug soap, and a good brush for the fact that it gives me the best shave. I have some old razors here somewhere but don't use them, I use a long handle Mekur with Personna blades.

I remember the old slots in the medicine cabinet well, now I just use one of the big fat prescription bottles and when they get full I just toss the whole bunch...I think I've been filling one for a few years now.

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!

 

[chief38]

I went to a Merkur many years ago after my old 2-blade Atra II died. I use old-fashioned Proraso shaving cream, a brush and Feather blades. Those "high-tech" multi-blade contraptions are for yuppies and hipsters!

I may have started shaving with an old Gillette, but the blades were always stainless steel as I recall. I think SS blades were introduced just a few years before that.

King Gillette was clever- make a high-quality razor, sell it at a low price, then make money on the blades. I see those old Gillettes in the secondhand stores. They were built to last.


You must have been using a straight razor!
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.

I thought about getting a straight razor after I sharpened a few for one of my friends who uses them. Never got around to it but like a jerk, I once shaved with a Spyderco knife to prove a point - smart enough do do that only once - HA!

 

[Nevada Ed]

I had to have that razor on my beard a few years ago, when I was in the hospital, when I finally got of my full neck and face brack, from my neck surgery, after 18 days.

Ended up with 4-5 "Nicks" but it sure felt great, to get rid of my beard and
get my face and neck, washed !!

I do have one as a "Option" if needed, though.

It was a good razor but in high scool, I swiched to a singe side blade, Gem, razor, due to the feel and better shave, for me.

Nice gift, by the way.

 

[ACORN]

You must have been using a straight razor!
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.

I bought a straight razor years ago.
I shaved my cheeks with it, but when I got down around my neck and carotid arteries the pucker factor took over and I switched to my Atra.
My Dad bought a house to renno and found a brand new Gillette with the numbered adjustable wheel on the handle and gave it to me. I took it when we went on a cruise and haven't seen it since.
I'm going to have to locate it.

 

[Onomea]

I thought about getting a straight razor after I sharpened a few for one of my friends who uses them. Never got around to it but like a jerk, I once shaved with a Spyderco knife to prove a point - smart enough do do that only once - HA!

Or, how about the cowboys sitting around the breakfast campfire in the movies shaving with a hunting knife....

 

[chief38]

I had to have that razor on my beard a few years ago, when I was in the hospital, when I finally got of my full neck and face brack, from my neck surgery, after 18 days.

Ended up with 4-5 "Nicks" but it sure felt great, to get rid of my beard and
get my face and neck, washed !!

I do have one as a "Option" if needed, though.

It was a good razor but in high scool, I swiched to a singe side blade, Gem, razor, due to the feel and better shave, for me.

Nice gift, by the way.

Yes - a very nice gift! The vintage Gillette razors in excellent condition have gotten very pricy now that the younger generations have seen the light! I LMAO when I hear the younger guys complain about the price of the new Track 5 blades that only last a few shaves.

 

[Bugkiller99]

I've gone back to soap, mug, brush, and a double edge razor. Simple, and for me, a less irritating shave.
As I shave my head, that's important!