Razor: GEM Micromatic Clug Pruf
Blade: GEM Single Edge Stainless
Brush: Artesania Romera Manchurian Badger, imitation horn
Lather: Pereira Sample
Aftershave: Barber No3 Marmara
Additional Care: Alum Block
Shave of the day 9th August 2021
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Category Archives: Wetshaving
Raymond H Wilhelm and the bright idea
Raymond H Wilhelm wasn’t the first nor the last man who got a bright idea while shaving. He wasn’t even the first or last to get the idea to put something bright on his razor. Before I’ve mentioned patents from Lester E Norquist1 and F Pollifrone,2 as well as an aftermarket brightness enhancer.
The idea seems bright enough; the place you’ll need the most light where shaving is just where your hand and razor will shade for the light. The solution – the light bulb idea, if you will – is to place the light in or on the razor. And that is what Raymond H Wilhelm did in his patent application one hundred years ago.
Continue readingThe Retro Wet Shaving Podcast
Dave Dhannoo – known as @DyspraxicShaver on Twitter – is putting out a regular podcast. Known as The Retro Wet Shaving Podcast it is quite regular and regularly features manufacturers and artisans I enjoy. As an example, he recently featured Tatara Razors from Portugal.
Continue readingProraso Green – a new arrival
Back when I got my first traditional shaving kit – eleven years ago – one of the items in that kit was a tube of Proraso Green shaving cream. It didn’t last too long – it was more than half empty two years later – but I did enjoy it.
Continue readingGillette Techmatic advertisment
I am unsure if I should be amused or slightly freaked out by a talking, badly animated razor. The early 70’s was an odd time…
The 16.8 second shave
I honestly do not see the point. After all, there is a lot more to a shave than getting lather of the face, and it is something I want to spend time at instead of rushing through.
The pyramid of shaving advice
Shave
Experiment
Experiment more
Enjoy the moment
Keep experimenting
Your mileage may vary
Find what works for you
Find what don’t work for you
Try a new soap, blade, brush, or razor
Make many mistakes, and learn from them
High end and bargain bin can be just as good
New razors can be great – so can vintage ones
Embrace your Acquisition Disorders – within reason
Try your very first soap, blade, brush, and razor again
A shave can be a moment of Zen and a mental recharge
Shaving is most enjoyable when it is about the process, not the goal
Dr Scott’s Magnetic Safety Razor
I stumbled over an old advertisement today… and it is a long time since I’ve been looking at the woo-woo magnetic razors.
On the surface, it seems to be the same pseudo-science as the other crankcases. I’m pretty sure that if I dig down deeper, it will still be the same pseudo-science as the other crankcases. The more things change etc.
At least this one came in a stylish tin box. And given that it has been patented… I feel a follow on post coming on sometime in the future.
Up or down?
The secret is the sharpness of the blade, and the reason of the sharpness is the stropping.
At least according to the people extolling the benefits of the Valet Auto-Strop razor, a safety razor that was designed to make stropping easy.
That is a very tiny barber…
Some vintage advertisements have weird taglines, at least when viewed through the eyes of 2021. Like… well, like this one for the new GEM Micromatic.
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