The Big Fellow

The Big Fellow. A new – in 1920 – Old Type. Even if no one called it an Old Type back then, because the New Type wasn’t even a twinkle in Gillette’s eye.

So what is a Big Fellow, and how did I learn about it? Especially seeing as how I’ve not heard the term before, at least not used on a razor?

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Shave of the day 26th July 2024

A fine and slightly experimental Friday shave.

  • Razor: Gillette 1958 TV Special
  • Blade: Lord Platinum
  • Brush: Semogue TSN LE 2012
  • Pre-Shave: Peanut Oil
  • Lather: Arko Shavestick
  • Aftershave: Barber No3 Marmara
  • Additional Care: Alum Block

While using peanut oil as a preshave worked well enough, it was messy enough that I won’t do it again.

Shave of the day 24th July 2024

Another fine midweek shave.

  • Razor: Gillette 1958 TV Special
  • Blade: Lord Platinum
  • Brush: Artesania Romera Manchurian Badger, imitation horn
  • Pre-Shave: Proraso Pre Shave Cream
  • Lather: Pereira Shavery Orange Blossom w/ activated charcoal
  • Aftershave: Barber No3 Marmara
  • Additional Care: Alum Block

Shaving brush with interchangeable bristles

I have pointed it out before. Perfection is not achieved when there is nothing more to add – but rather when there is nothing more to remove. Seen through that lens, John B Lydiards 2020 patent for a shaving brush with interchangeable bristles is far from perfect.

The idea is simple enough. Different shaving brush knots have different qualities, and people prefer different knots. Some likes the softness of badger, some prefer a scritchy boar. Me, I like a good horse. But to get back on track, let us see what John had to say in the patent text

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A brush with a notch, with soap cup and lathering bowl

One would thing there would be little left to invent, at least as far as shaving brushes goes. One would be wrong. Over in Japan, Mrs 由美子 井上 – or Yumiko Inoue for those of us who don’t read Japanese – recently got a patent for a shaving brush with a notch.

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