…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!
Razor: Parker 22R
Blade: Treet Platinum
Brush: Vie-Long #14033
Aftershave: BullDog Oil Control Moisturiser
Additional Care: Alum Block, Gentlemen of Sweden Original Beard Oil, & Pereira Shavery Boomerang Beard Comb
Had another barbershop experience yesterday. Still smooth cheeks, so the shave of today will be tomorrow.
Razor: Cadet TTO-13
Blade: Treet Platinum
Brush: Wilkinson Sword Badger
Aftershave: Myrsol Formula K
Additional Care: Alum Block, BullDog Original Beard Oil, & Pereira Shavery Boomerang Beard Comb
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:
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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.
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
Razor: Cadet TTO-11
Blade: Treet Platinum
Brush: Omega #10048
Lather: Proraso Menthol & Eucalyptus
Aftershave: Proraso Liquid Cream After Shave
Additional Care: Alum Block, BullDog Original Beard Oil, & Pereira Shavery Boomerang Beard Comb
Bottom line up front; It’s a comb. I got better ones for my short goatee.
I bought the BullDog comb as part of a package deal along with beard shampoo, beard oil and beard balm, and didn’t actually realise the box contained the comb until I came home and unpacked it.
This comb is shaped more like what I think of as a ‘normal’ comb, with a pronounced wedge shaped profile. The teeth narrows to a point, but are several millimetres thick at their base. The shape seems to help it untangle long beards, but also makes the comb slightly more awkward to hold in my opinion.
I honestly have no idea what sort of wood the comb is made out, but it seems quite strong.
For the most part this beard comb sits in the back, unused. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not a bad comb… it’s just that I got better ones, and the shape of this one don’t work as well for me as the one I looked at last week. If I had a longer beard it would probably work better.
Razor: Cadet TTO-11
Blade: Treet Platinum
Lather: Dalane d’men Energenic
Additional Care: BullDog Original Beard Oil & Pereira Shavery Boomerang Beard Comb