Resisting a rabbit hole…

…so, I figured that since the old Sensor handle broke after a mere twenty five years, I should check out what wood turning kits there might be for turning handles for cartridge razors – the Sensor in particular – since, y’know, wood turning is fun.

Bad idea. I fighting a severe case of Kit AD right now, there are so many razors and brush kits out there and I do NOT have the time to do much about them… nor do I find any for the Sensor.

Newfangled cartridge razors break after no time at all…

…I mean, just look at this!

One of the tabs that holds the cartridge on the Gillette Sensor I got as a freebie when I was in boot camp back in early 1993 snapped! Just a little over twenty five years and it is now useless, while my Khaki Gillette is still going strong after a hundred years… good thing I have a second Sensor handle so my Better Half can still shave her legs.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to tie an onion to my belt and chase some kids of my lawn!

Trav-a-long razor

Time to head down the the rabbit hole of old razors again, this time looking at a travel razor that differs significantly from the more common types.

A while back I found this old advertisement on the ‘net, and decided to start digging a bit. After all, a razor that folds flat, fit in your pocket and carries a total of five blades sounds wonderful, right?

Covered by US patent 229844A, the Trav-a-long – or Travalong, as it’s described in Waits’ Compendium – folded into a neat rectangle measuring 1 by 2 by ¼ inces (2.5 by 5.0 by 0.6 cm).

The Travalong sold in a cardboard box or a leather pouch with a snap, and was available in either chrome satin, silver, or gold finishes – and to make things more complicated it was also sold under the name of Tru-Flex.

Based on how many pictures there is online of the Travalong, the razor must have sold reasonable well, but most probably didn’t see too much use. It is, after all, a travel razor and not a razor for every day use.

Speaking of pictures, here is a few I found online:

From a mechanical and technical point of view it is a very interesting and somewhat challenging design, relying on using the two arms that hold the razor head as flat springs to hold it securely – which means the tempering of the two arms are critical to get just right.
From a shaver’s point of view the handle shape will be a radical departure from the norm, but for the occasional use that shouldn’t be a major issue.
The patent have – obviously – lapsed, so if any aspiring machinist or CNC-operator out there want to have a go at this, it’s a free and already proven concept.

Shave of the day 6th August

Razor: Cadet TTO-13
Blade: Treet Platinum
Brush: Vie-Long #13051M
Aftershave: BullDog Sensitive Aftershave Balm
Additional Care: Scotch Porter Beard Balm,Gentlemen of Sweden Original Beard Oil, & Pereira Shavery Boomerang Beard Comb

(trying a new soap – might be able to tell you about it later)