Just some pictures of an antique carved shaving brush I found on etsy
Santa shaving brush
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Shave of the day 23rd December
Pre-shave: Dr Bronners Eucalyptus Soap
Lather: Crabtree and Evelyn Sandalwood
Brush: Semogue “The Shave Nook 2012 Limited Edition” mixed boar-badger
Razor: German Bakelite Slant with a Wilkinson Sword
Post-shave: Cool water rinse, alum, and Myrsol Agua Balsamico
Beard care: Big Red Beard Oil and Big Red No7 Beard Comb
Glass monoblock razor
From time to time someone patents glass razor blades.. in 1985 James Haythornthwaite did one better and filed a patent for a whole razor made out of glass.
A razor is formed entirely of an inexpensive glass material. In one embodiment the razor is formed as a single piece of material which includes a handle portion, a blade portion and an arcuate intermediate portion interconnecting the handle and blade portions, with the blade portion being provided with a sharp cutting edge. In another embodiment the razor includes a handle and an essentially cylindrical blade received between clamping jaws at one end of the handle, with the blade being provided with opposed cutting edges.
The idea has some good points – simple construction, only one material in use, long lasting edge. On the less good side is the fact that it’s essentially a section of straight-edge – having no safety bar – so the risk of cuts and nicks would be rather higher than Joe Average might be prepared for.
In genera, a razor in accordance with the invention comprises an elongated handle portion and a cutting blade portion having first and second surfaces which intersect to define at least one sharp cutting edge. The handle portion and the blade portion, including the one sharp cutting edge, all are formed entirely of a glass material.
More specifically, in one embodiment of the invention the handle portion and the blade portion are interconnected by an arcuate intermediate portion, with the handle portion, blade portion and arcuate intermediate portion all forming parts of a single integral body of glass material. Further, the handle portion and the blade portion of the razor extend essentially perpendicular to one another.
In another embodiment of the invention, the elongated handle portion includes a pair of arcuate opposed clamping jaws at one end thereof, the arcuate opposed clamping jaws being integral with the remainder of the handle portion and having spaced opposed ends. Further, the blade portion is of elongated essentially cylindrical construction and is formed with an axially extending gap between spaced opposed ends thereof to define elongated edge portions extending in spaced opposed parallel relationship for the length of the blade portion. The spaced opposed elongated edge portions have respective intersecting surfaces which define first and second opposed sharp cutting edges. The blade portion is removably and rotatably received in the arcuate clamping jaws of the handle portion with the opposed elongated portions and the sharp cutting edges of the blade portion projecting beyond the clamping jaws of the handle portion.
The second version described – the cylindrical glass blade – has the benefits of not just a rudimentary guard, but also the more questionable benefit of being able to shave on the opposite direction without changing the grip.
FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a first embodiment of a razor in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 2 is a view of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1, as seen along the line 2–2 in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a handle member of a second embodiment of a razor in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a blade portion of a razor for use in the razor handle shown in FIG. 3; and
FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the handle and blade portion shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 in assembled relationship.
Shave of the day 21st December
Pre-shave: Dr Bronners Peppermint Soap
Lather: Col. Conk Bay Rum
Brush: Vie-Long #14033 mixed horse-badger
Razor: German Bakelite Slant with a fresh Wilkinson Sword
Post-shave: Cool water rinse, alum, and Krampert’s Finest Bay Rum Aftershave
Beard care: Big Red Beard Oil and Big Red No7 Beard Comb
Shave of the day 18th December
Pre-shave: Dr Bronners Peppermint Soap
Lather: Wet Shaving Products pre-production soap
Brush: Wilkinson Sword Badger
Razor: Merkur 45C Bakelite with a Feather Hi-Stainless
Post-shave: Cool water rinse, alum, and Thayers Original Witch Hazel with aloe vera
Beard care: Big Red Beard Balm and Big Red No7 Beard Comb
An 00’s folding matchbook razor
On Tuesday I shared with you a folding razor from 1931; today I have found the updated version of the naughties… at least I think that is what the first decade of this millennium is called.
Back in February of 2000 James Luke Bickers and Cecil Boyce McCary patented what they described in the patent claim as:
A folding disposable razor is disclosed having a razor head and a flexible razor body attached to the razor head. The razor body preferably includes a first cover panel and second cover panel, each panel hingedly attached to an opposite end of a first hinge portion. In a storage configuration, the first cover panel and second cover panel fold relative to the first hinge portion such that the first and second cover panels are substantially parallel to each other and define a storage area there between.
Interestingly the patent makes no reference to the one I posted about on Tuesday, despite the basic idea being very similar. I guess the examiner either didn’t find the other patent, or though them dissimilar enough not to cite it.
Something that wasn’t addressed in the ’31 patent was the need for lather, but this newer patent has that covered as well:
It would be desirable to provide a razor that includes a storage area for carrying a single use packet of shaving cream therein.
Judging by the drawings, this space is within the folded up handle.
It is envisioned that this product would be especially useful for preparing patients for surgery. The shaving cream and razor can be provided as a unit. The handle provides sufficient stability to ensure a safe shave and the entire unit can be disposed after a single use. In addition to the medical field, the present invention can be used as an amenity provided by the hotel industry. Its compact design is desirable for travellers and for military personnel who are not afforded much room for packing personal items. The list of uses for the present invention is not exhaustive and there are numerous other applications for which the disposable folding razor could be used.
Shave of the day 16th December
Pre-shave: Dr Bronners TeatreeSoap
Lather: Prairie Creations KISS cream w/ tea tree oil
Brush: Vie-Long #13051M unbleached pure horse
Razor: Merkur 45C Bakelite with a Feather Hi-Stainless
Post-shave: Cool water rinse, alum, and BodyShop Maca Root Energetic Face Protection
Beard care: Big Red Beard Balm and Big Red No7 Beard Comb
A “matchbox” folding razor
Bouncing around on Google Patents is fun… sometimes I find brilliant ideas, sometimes I find goofy ones. I’m not sure if Burton Christmas’ idea is one of the later or former… it definitely have elements of both.
This invention relates to safety razors and is herein disclosed as embodied in a razor adapted to be cheaply manufactured and also adapted to carry advertisements, so that it may be sold at a nominal price or may be given away.
As herein illustrated the razor blade lies in a pocket or enclosure formed by folding a sheet, and the other end of the sheet forms a cover or flap which may serve as a handle adapted to be folded into about the same space as an ordinary card of cardboard matches.
A pretty neat idea, and while waste is an issue in this day and age it would make for a neat razor that a hotel or motel could leave in the bathroom along with the ridiculously tiny soaps they place in there…
Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the razor folded.
Figure 2 shows the razor opened.
Figure 3 is an enlarged side view of the folded razor.
Figure 4 is a side view of the razor showing the parts in the position they assume when grasped by the hand.
Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the razor grasped by the hand for use.
Shave of the day 14th December
Pre-shave: Dr Bronners Orange Soap
Lather: Mike’s Natural Lemongrass & Eucalyptus Soap
Brush: Turkish No7 ‘horse hair’
Razor: Merkur 45C Bakelite with a fresh Feather Hi-Stainless
Post-shave: Cool water rinse, alum, and Myrsol Agua De Limón
Beard care: Big Red Beard Balm and Big Red No7 Beard Comb
Shave of the day 11th December
Pre-shave: Dr Bronners Peppermint Soap
Lather: LEA shave stick
Brush: Omega #50014 Boar Bristle Travel Brush
Razor: Gillette “Khaki” Old Type with a fresh Lord Super Stainless
Post-shave: Cool water rinse, alum, and LEA after-shave balsam
