Joseph Turner did what many others did around the turn of the last century; he invented a safety razor. A safety razor that was, according to the patent, easily manufactured, as well as efficient and convenient in use. It is also a very workmanlike1 razor to my eye. And I believe a similar razor could be manufactured today, possible for the GEM blades.
Continue readingRazor: Gillette 1958 TV Special
Blade: Treet Platinum
Brush: Vie-Long #14033
Lather: Palmolive Sensitive w/ aloe vera
Aftershave: BullDog Sensitive Aftershave Balm
Additional Care: Alum Block
Razor: Parker 22R
Blade: Wilkinson Sword
Brush: Wilkinson Sword Badger
Lather: Mike’s Natural Soaps Pine & Cedarwood
Aftershave: Barber No3 Marmara
Additional Care: Alum Block
Back in 1909 Herr Georg Friedrich Hofmann, from München, Germany, saw that there was little to improve on when it come to the Gillette-style double edged safety razor. So he did the perhaps not so logical thing and tried to improve on the blade instead. And by improve I mean make them harder to manufacture, more expensive, and quite possible less durable. In hindsight not the best of improvements.
Continue readingRazor: Parker 22R
Blade: Wilkinson Sword
Brush: Vie-Long #13051M
Lather: Mike’s Natural Soaps Hungarian Lavender
Aftershave: Barber No3 Marmara
Additional Care: Alum Block
Sometimes you find an old patent that is amazing. I mean, I’m amazed as to how Rennie E Billingsley could ever think his invention was a bright idea. I’m amazed his lawyer didn’t talk him out of spending time and money on a patent application. And I am utterly not amazed that it seems to have sunk without a trace.
Continue readingRazor: Parker 22R
Blade: Wilkinson Sword
Brush: Vei Long “American style” 50/50
Lather: Mike’s Natural Soaps Peppermint & Rosemary
Aftershave: Barber No3 Marmara
Additional Care: Alum Block
Razor: Gillette Single Ring
Blade: Wilkinson Sword
Brush: Omega #10048
Lather: Goldex Nova Fórmula
Aftershave: Barber No3 Marmara
Additional Care: Alum Block
According to the patent filed by John Rieger in 1921, a razor that is reciprocating rapidly as it moves over the face of the user will effectually remove the beard without irritation. Consider me not entirely convinced that this is the case. After all; as another John pointed out in a 1845 pamphlet, a razor is not a saw.
Continue readingRazor: Gillette Single Ring
Blade: Wilkinson Sword
Brush: Semogue TSN LE 2012
Lather: Proraso Menthol & Eucalyptus
Aftershave: Barber No3 Marmara
Additional Care: Alum Block