Moderators: Mike, Cajunkraut, Tennessee Smith
The safety razor with the red tipped handle is an exact ringer for the one my Pop has used since at least 1950 when he went into the Army.
It's a certificate from the Royal Institute of Public Health and Hygiene stating the quality, etc., of the brush. The brush was made in London, England. I've been watching some great tutorials, etc., on youtube regarding the use of safety razors. If you're used to modern disposable or track razors, you have some deprogramming to do or you're likely to hack your face off with the safety!Tundrarider wrote: Just curious, what does the little certificate certify?
Thanks, Michaelson! That's what I hear regarding blades, but I'll be danged if I can find any in the local CVS or drug stores.Michaelson wrote: Great grouping there, Bink. You can still find double edge replacement blades for your handles at any Wal-Green or CVS stores.
There are plenty of places to order them online, though. 
Ew, antique man cooties. Gross.binkmeisterRick wrote:There's no Walmart near me, but I've checked several CVS stores and all I can find are blades for track razors, but no double blades. I haven't exhausted my local search yet, though. I suppose I could always use the old blade that was in one of the holders when I got it... NOT!
The razor handles have been thoroughly cleaned and sterilized, including a five minute boiling bath as a final touch. Once I get new and unused blades, they're good to go!Well, for lunch today, I'm heading out to the local antiques store to see if I can grab some accessories that may be Indyesque for shaving kits. Anything you interested in me looking out for? I know for a fact they have blades there.binkmeisterRick wrote:They sure don't make cooties like they used to!
If you're looking for shaving kits, keep an eye out for badger brushes (as opposed to boar hair, if it's labeled), shaving mugs, brush and razor stands, and razors like the ones I posted above. You may be able to come across a travel razor. Keep in mind that I literally paid just a dollar or two for each razor, so there's no need to spend $30 for an antique razor. At that price, you may as well buy a new razor from one of the sites I listed above. As for the blades themselves, you're best off buying new and fresh blades as opposed to antique ones, even if they're still in the packaging.maboot38 wrote: Well, for lunch today, I'm heading out to the local antiques store to see if I can grab some accessories that may be Indyesque for shaving kits. Anything you interested in me looking out for? I know for a fact they have blades there.
There was an old parody commercial which came out (maybe on SNL) after the dual blade razor was introduced which touted a 5 blade razor. It's more poignant that funny now!generalFROSTY wrote:Could you imagine what someone from the 'old days' would say if you went back in time and showed them one of the most modern 'vibrating' quad-blade razers?
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). The problem is I always do every thing whole hog. One week I get a DE razor, soap and brush, the next I'm making my own Bay Rum (just like sailors used to!) Oh well, the obsessive mind of a gearhead is not an easy thing to deal with... I just found some generic drug store blades, but they are not individually wrapped. Instead, they are stacked upon each other. Should they be avoided?Michaelson wrote: Even new blades today are sold in containers that separate each blade from each other. There's a method to the madness.....so don't take chances with old blade material.
Wow, I never knew about this. Many thanks for sharing this information. One of the things I love about this site, is that it's so informative!Michaelson wrote:Well, whatever you do, be sure to always purchase sterilized blades when you can for these old razors.
One of the biggest problems folks had with these were from septic infection when they knicked themselves with a non-sterilized/unwrapped blade. That's why Gillette became as big as they did, as they sold 'safety razors' with individually wrapped double edged blades. The 'safety' part was not only regarding not cutting yourself, but not infecting a cut with a dirty overused blade.
(An example and right on target for our crew: Lord Canarvon, financier of the King Tut Expedition died an agonizing death from septic shock/blood poisoning after nicking an infected mosquito bite with a dirty straight edge razor! There were no antibiotics that could fight such a raging infection in Egypt at the time of his death.
This was also carried over in barbershops and shaving mugs before the introduction of the safety blade systems in the late 1800's.
Many shops kept a mug for each of their customers who came in for a shave. This was to keep from having cross contamination from other men's shaving nicks being carried over to another from a reused mug/brush combination. Ironically, they got most of it right, as each man had his own mug at the shop....but the barber used the same brush on every man.
Those old personalized shaving mugs are a collector field all to itself. Most men had their name and craft placed on their personal barbershop mug, and they now sell for hundreds of dollars, depending on what craft or profession is shown on the mug.......anyway, I digress, as usual
Even new blades today are sold in containers that separate each blade from each other. There's a method to the madness.....so don't take chances with old blade material.
The handles are fine....it's the blades that can give you problems if you don't use clean stuff.
Just a word to the wise.
Regards !Michaelson
Very happy I joined this site! 
Hollowpond wrote:* 4 Ounces Vodka
* 2 Tablespoons Jamaican Rum
* 2 Dried Bay Leaves (Don’t use the bay leaf they sell at the grocery store. While it’s good for soups, it’s not good for bay rum. Make sure to use Pimenta racemosa, sometimes available at natural food stores)
* 1/4 Teaspoon Allspice
* 1 Stick of Cinnamon, broken in pieces
* Fresh Zest from a Small Orange
No. If you look closely, you'll see they still have a bit of space between each blade, so they're fine...especially if you found them around the shaving supplies.binkmeisterRick wrote:I just found some generic drug store blades, but they are not individually wrapped. Instead, they are stacked upon each other. Should they be avoided?Michaelson wrote: Even new blades today are sold in containers that separate each blade from each other. There's a method to the madness.....so don't take chances with old blade material.
I first started using the Williams soap since it was available in every drugstore you can imagine. Over the past year or so I've been using the Caswell-Massey 1752 Sandalwood Shaving Soap. But yes, trying out different soaps and the like is a good idea. The disposable razors I used had an aloe strip above the blades which I liked. I may look for something similar in the soap or after shave department.Michaelson wrote: Just a sidebar, if I may.....don't let anyone tell you one shaving mug soap is like another. It's not true. There are as many types and grades of soaps out there as there are razors, iso t's well worth exploring and experimenting.
That's great advice Michaelson. Each soap is different. Right now I'm into Williams soap, but of course that may change down the road. I like the williams because it smells great, it has a nice lip on it so you can leave hot water on it and let is soak into the soap for a while, and best of all, it is NOT expensive at all.Michaelson wrote: Just a sidebar, if I may.....don't let anyone tell you one shaving mug soap is like another. It's not true. There are as many types and grades of soaps out there as there are razors, iso t's well worth exploring and experimenting.
My personal favorite that I received as a gift from my sister when she visited London last year was an Arlington shaving bowl from the Dr. Harris and co. They've been around since the 1700's, by appointment to the Royal House for centuries, and I'll have to say some of the best shaving soap I've ever used. I have no clue what they use as ingredients, but when ever I need a REALLY smooth shave, that's the one I reach for.
To repeat, if you're serious about using mug and brush on a regular basis, do some research and experimentation. There's a lot of good (and bad) stuff out there. Find what works best for you and your face.
Regards! Michaelson
I think that he would've carried a safety razor. Blades would've been easy to find and there wouldn't be a need to carry a strop on your person. A straight razor requires cleaning and maintenance, while cleaning and swapping out blades on a safety is easy. They were also issued to the military, so with his service record, he would've carried one, anyway. Referring to HarryStreet's Secret of the Incas clip above, a safety razor would be easy to carry in your kit.maboot38 wrote: Here's a question, when Indy as asking shorty where his razor was, was he talking about a straight razor or a double edge safety razor?
I have my great grandfather's straight razor, but I'm not planing on giving it a go! 
HarryStreet wrote:In fact, I should probably go get showered, shaved and dressed right now, instead of idling my time away at COW
