Or, more correct, a reproduction of one?
Ravn Forhistorisk Støbeteknikk (Raven Prehistoric Casting Technique) offers many neat reproductions for sale, and this bronze age razor (13-1200 BCE) caught my eye. One can be yours for just 44€ – cheap all things considering. If I was into straights, I would be ordering one right now – but even if I’m not I can show of a shiny piece of workmanship.
Pre-shave: Dr Bronner’s Liquid Teatree
Lather: TFS Bergamotto Neroli, sample
Brush: Vie Long 13051M pure horse
Razors: Merkur 39C slant and Parker 22R TTO, both with a fresh Lord Super Stainless blade
Post-shave: Cool water rinse, alum and Krampert’s Finest Bay Rum
Continuing on from Tuesday…
From what I can tell, the head of the TechMatic was replaced with every cartridge – which means that the shave could change from cartridge to cartridge. We all know that the quality control on disposable cartridges isn’t always top notch and it would only take a couple of misaligned cartridges for the razor to gain a reputation as a face-shredder. Since cartridges are no longer made for them, there is basically no way to know today if the reputation as a horrible razor is deserved or not.
Looking at an open cartridge, it’s obvious to me that keeping tension on the band will be a major challenge – and one more place where quality control can fail.
Also, I have learned that there were many band razors out there in addition to the Gillette TechMatic;
The Wanie Rollband was razorblades on a roll for use in your regular razor.
The Razor Six had positive control of the blade and tension via a toothed wheel, but required the user to snap off the used portion of the band.
The Reel Watch Razor had a take-up spool like the TechMatic
The Warder-Hudnut Reelshav looked like a audio cassette.
And the Schick Auto-Band which was Schick’s counter to the TechMatic, and even looks much the same.
People been spending a lot of energy making the basic idea work over the years…
Pre-shave: Dr Bronner’s Liquid Eucalyptus
Lather: TFS Bergamotto Neroli, sample
Brush: Semogue TSN 2012 LE
Razors: Vintage GEM 1912 with a GEM
Post-shave: Cool water rinse, alum and Krampert’s Finest Bay Rum
Pre-shave: Dr Bronner’s Liquid Orange
Lather: TFS Bergamotto Neroli, sample
Brush: Vie Long 14033 mixed horse/boar
Razors: Vintage GEM 1912 with a GEM
Post-shave: Cool water rinse, alum and Krampert’s Finest Bay Rum
Pre-shave: Dr Bronner’s Liquid Peppermint
Lather: TFS Bergamotto Neroli, sample
Brush: Vie Long 13051M pure horse
Razors: Vintage GEM 1912 with a GEM
Post-shave: Cool water rinse, alum and Krampert’s Finest Bay Rum
Over at my favorite shaveforum, there is a short article on the how and why of horse hair brushes, by none less than the owner of Vie Long. A bit on the short side, but a good read.
Did I mention I love my Vie Long brushes?
Pre-shave: Dr Bronner’s Liquid Peppermint
Lather: Lea Shave Stick
Brush: Omega #50014 travel boar
Razors: Merkur 985CL Open Comb travel razor
Post-shave: Cool water rinse, alum and Krampert’s Finest Bay Rum
There is one added benefit for using proper shaving creams, as opposed to the canned goo; so called friends can never freeze your creams, use a hacksaw to open the can, and dump the resulting mess in your car where the resulting mess will thaw, expand and fill every nook and cranny…