Nicholas Testi’s “dispensing tube”

From time to time you might have good reason to use a brushless cream… but using your hand to put it on makes your hands all sticky and gooey. But the a solution to that problem was patented by Testi Nicholas back in 1939: a roller that replaces the cap of the tube, aiding in the even, controlled application of shaving cream. Or, in the words of the patent:

This invention relates to collapsible tubes for dispensing cream, paste, ointments and the like and consists in a unitary device which may be supplied as part of the tube structure or as an attachment thereto for effectively sealing the tube, except when it is subjected to a discharging pressure, and for controlling and distributing or applying the discharged contents uniformly to the treated surface. An important field of use of my invention is in connection with tubes for. dispensing shaving cream. For purposes of illustration, therefore, the invention will be herein shown as embodied in an attachment to be retained by the user and affixed to the tube in place of the usual screw cap.

The whole invention consists of a frame, into which a distributing roller and a slotted rubber disk sits. The rubber disk keeps the cream from leaking out when there is no pressure on the tube, and the roller is then used to spread the cream evenly across the face.
Even if the original patent was assigned to Gillette it is long expired, so anyone wanting to have a go at this can… someone with some skill and a 3D printer can probably make bespoke dispensing tubes.

Shave of the day 18th December

Razor: Asylum Shave Works Evolution
Blade: Astra Green
Brush: Semogue TSN LE 2012
Pre-Shave: The Lavish Gentleman Natural Strength Oil Cleanser
Lather: Jabonman Mediterráno L.E. BullGoose
Aftershave: Proraso Wood and Spice
Additional Care: Alum Block, BullDog Original Beard Oil, & Pereira Shavery Boomerang Beard Comb

’tis the season – better to give than to receive

This the season to give and receive gifts… and one gift that is certainly better to give than to receive is blood.
I’ve been giving blood for a while now, and passed a US gallon of blood today – 4 litres total so far.
If you are not donating – and you are capable of doing so – please consider doing so.

Shave of the day 16th December

Razor: Asylum Shave Works Evolution
Blade: Astra Green
Brush: Artesania Romera Manchurian Badger, imitation horn
Pre-Shave: The Lavish Gentleman Charcoal Mask
Lather: Asylum Shave Works Colonia
Aftershave: Proraso Liquid Cream After Shave
Additional Care: Alum Block, Gentlemen of Sweden Original Beard Oil, & Pereira Shavery Boomerang Beard Comb

Shave of the day 14th December

Razor: Mergress “Bling”
Blade: Astra Green
Brush: Vie-Long #13051M
Pre-Shave: The Lavish Gentleman Natural Strength Oil Cleanser
Lather: Krampert’s Finest Bay Rum Soap
Aftershave: Krampert’s Finest Bay Rum
Additional Care: Alum Block, Gentlemen of Sweden Original Beard Oil, & Pereira Shavery Boomerang Beard Comb

Shave of the day 11th December

Razor: Mergress “Bling”
Blade: Astra Green
Brush: Wilkinson Sword Badger
Lather: Mike’s Natural Soaps Orange, Cedarwood & Black Pepper
Aftershave: Myrsol Aqua De Limón
Additional Care: Alum Block, BullDog Original Beard Oil, & Pereira Shavery Boomerang Beard Comb

A Gift with a Purpose

An interesting angle on this one; using a safety razor would save you money! It might even been true in the days before Razor Acquisition Disorder…

The razors mentioned would peg this advertisement to the 1910’s, 1920’s, or thereabouts. One online resource – which didn’t mention sources – claims 1916 as the date. If that is correct, the claim of 40-50$ saved in a year equals about 950-1200$ today – not an insignificant amount by any stretch of the imagination.

Shave of the day 9th December

Razor: Mergress “Bling”
Blade: Astra Green
Brush: Vie-Long #13051M
Pre-Shave: The Lavish Gentleman Natural Strength Oil Cleanser
Lather: Pereira Oud
Aftershave: Nivea Cooling After Shave Balm
Additional Care: Alum Block, BullDog Original Beard Oil, & Pereira Shavery Boomerang Beard Comb