Old Fashioned Safety Razors?

Great topic. I haven't used a modern razor in years. I started with safety razors like this.
85f7dd19c432c7b25980a7256cf924e7.jpg

I got into collecting and amassed a large collection. Then I discovered straight razors and use them almost daily.
457450a49e56b4baa7d9225bce7d525a.jpg

I get great shaved and have never looked back.
 
I started with the safety razor, brush and soap mug and used them for many years, long after the multi blade disposals came out. I eventually switched to multi blade disposables. Still used the brush and mug. The multi (3) blade disposables just work a lot better, other than getting clogged easier. Now I don't shave and just use an electric beard trimmer. I think I did the daily shave thing long enough. I'm sure I still have an old safety razor or two laying around somewhere.
 
Have been using a 1940 or so Gillette safety razor that I picked up for the grand price of Sixpence in the UK when I was 10 (70 years ago). Started using it around 65 years ago and it moved with me to the US 51 years ago. Have a large supply of Wilkinson Sword double-edged blades that will probably outlast me that I picked up at Boots (LV Steve will recognize the name) and brought back around 15 years ago. Brush, shaving soap in bowl and it works well. My wife has even been known to "borrow it" on occasions and then complains about the odd "nick". Tried to persuade my son (41) to use one but he still sticks to the multiblade type.

Remember, "the Gillette form of marketing" is still alive and well. Give away the ink-jet printer for pennies and then sell the ink for pounds!! Dave_n
 
The multi blade razors are the scam of the century! The secret to their short-lived usefulness is not that the blades get dull so much as the gap between them gets clogged with crud.

Ye olde double edge blades last longer because you can effectively rinse and clean the razor. You can get a dozen blades for about the price of one of the multi-blade refills.

So when it is simply impractical to use a straight razor...

1958-d1-gillette-red-dot-fat-boy_1_f6afaa98ec63ea0d7ee61bfc16aa310c.jpg
 
My vague recollection is that a Trac II was better than anything that preceded it. That was quite a few years ago, and I haven't shaved since. AFAIK, not shaving has not been improved upon. Hard to improve on the original design, although I know that some disagree.
 
I used a safety razor until 1972 when I got a Trac II.
I tried the safety razor again in 1978 and that was the last time, the Trac II was so much better.
Now I use a five blade razor and it's best shave I've ever had, and the blades don't get clogged if I rinse it every two or three strokes.
 
In the 1970's I did a market research for Gillette. The razor was their first that had a sliver of soap behind the blade. I used the same razor for two weeks and the last shave was as close as the first. The sliver of soap left a slick film on your face that did rinse off when you washed up afterwards. I couldn't wait to buy some when they hit the market. About a year later they were available. The sliver of soap was not as I had tested and the blades didn't give as many close shaves as I had experienced during testing. Guess they wanted only to sell more razors.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
Another thing that I have learned over the years. Only shave with the grain of the beard, and not against it. You may get a closer shave if you go against the grain, but you are more prone to have ingrown hairs. That is another reason why I don't like the new fangled 5-6-7-8 bladed razor cartridges. Yes, you get a closer shave, but how much closer do you need than a couple of passes with a good DE blade?
 
Rustyt1953 said:
Dad started me with a safety razor, Barbasol, Mennen skin bracer and a styptic pencil. Then on to disposables.

Since most of my cheek and neck follicles were euthanized a Bic lasts me a year.
Click to expand...
Bic razors. Cut me to pieces! They remind me of when the first zip tab beer cans came out. Someone said it was the only time they lost a pint of blood trying to drink a can of beer.:eek:
 
Yes Harrys

RobertJ. said:
Everyone's mileage varies, of course, but a couple years ago my wife bought me a Harry's Razor, and I'll never look back. It feels like scraping my face (around the edges, anyway) with a smooth piece of cardboard.

I certainly understand using something considered out-dated because it works (I DO shoot a revolver!), but when it comes to a razor, I'll go with new-fangled.
Click to expand...

I picked up a Harry's also and really like it. And I shoot revolvers. Listen to Guy Clarks song "Things that work". By the way I've heard a man should be able to throw a curve ball, cast a baitcasting reel without making a birds nest and shave with a straight razor. Still working on a couple of these.
 
delcrossv said:
...I will say that with Feather brand blades, I've never had a closer shave.
Click to expand...
Agreed! I learned to shave 50 years ago (:eek:) with a Gillette safety razor but eventually "graduated" to the double-edge Atra II and similar "land-fill specials." But a few years ago my regular razor finally died and I went to find a replacement. Double-edge razor, you say? Whazzat? No, sir, you need a THREE-blade razor! The stuff I was looking at looked more like candy than a razor.

Long story short, since Gillette stopped making safety razors in the mid-80s, I went online and ended up getting a Merkur safety razor, a decent badger-hair brush and Feather blades on the advice of the website I was on. (Classic Shaving in CA, I think.) Haven't looked back since.

Can't remember what soap I was originally using but they stopped making it and I settled on Kiss My Face, which, despite its "metrosexual" name, is really good and not expensive. Unfortunately, the company is under new management and the product is not currently readily available. In the meantime I got some Proraso. They've been making this since about 1907 so they know their stuff.

And Feather? I recall looking them up, as I figured they couldn't make ends meet just making old-fashioned razor blades. Nope- I think their main line is surgical scalpel blades, so they know about sharp.

There's quite a brisk market in double-edge razors, as well as open (cut-throat) razors and all the accoutrements. And I see lots of old Gillettes in second-hand stores. They were made to last. I think King Gillette sold them as almost a loss leader, but made his fortune on the blades.

The idea of needing a three- or even four-edge blade is a load of horsepuckey, IMHO.
 
Last edited:
I"ve found that with the disposable razors that if they get clogged up and this is what I do. Run the hot water as fast and as hot as you can. Swish back and forth to dislodge any crud. Take an old tooth brush and work the bristles at the top of the razor to get rid of the junk that is packed in there.The most shaves I'ever gotten was 3-4 and the last one goes in the trash.Frank
 
I too have shaved most of my life with the double edge safety razors. Although I have a collection of shaving apparatus that includes many old Gillette razors, I shave daily using a good English badger brush, Tabac shaving soap, a German Merkur long-handled razor, Kai stainless blades, and finish up with Ogallala Bay Rum aftershave.
Dave
SWCA #2778
 
Luddites! I started with the double edged safety razor and used them for many years. Still have them somewhere. The new 3 blade razors just work a whole lot better. A better shave, quicker and without cuts. What more could you want. I like old stuff but I'm also practical. Currently using Harry's stuff for when I actually do use a blade but I'll use use whatever is the best combination of safe, effective and economical. There's no way an old safety razor or even a straight razor wins that specification.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

ACORN
Bought a new razor
Replies
5
Views
531
mrchick
mrchick
oldbrownhat
Reconnecting with Mr. Gillette
2 3
Replies
57
Views
5K
Golddollar
Golddollar
RM Vivas
The value of gun books
2
Replies
20
Views
2K
rockquarry
R
Marcus von W.
  • Locked
60+ YEAR COLLECTION OF FIREARM PARTS, ACCESSORIES, MILITARIA, & ARTIFACTS
Replies
11
Views
3K
Marcus von W.
Marcus von W.
B
Introduction-LONG post warning
2 3
Replies
43
Views
2K
ISCS Yoda
ISCS Yoda

Latest posts

Back
Top