A fast Friday shave on a very cold morning.
Every age has its share of cranks and quacks. These are usually found peddling the miracle cure of the day – be it radioactivity, magnetism, or – as it was in the middle of the 19th century – electricity. And after reading the patent description for a metallic hone, I’m unsure if old William was a crank or a quack.
William was awarded his patent in 1855, making this one of the oldest patents I’ve looked at so far. And to William’s defence, this is one of the more straightforward and easy to read patents I’ve seen in a while.
Continue reading
A shave and a warm shower is just the thing after shovelling snow for two hours…
I imagine that ever since the invention of shaving cream in a tube, people have been wanting a way to get the cream from the tube and onto their face. Preferable without getting soapy fingers, or accidentally squeezing out too much. Luckily George E Carlson1 had a solution in the form of a rotary spreader.
Carlson wasn’t the only man with a solution, of course. The same year Carlson filed the application, C W Brynan patented a shaving cream spreader. And a few years later N Testi secured a patent for a dispensing tube.
Continue readingRazor: Parker 22R
Blade: Lord Classic
Brush: Wilkinson Sword Badger
Pre-Shave: Proraso Pre Shave Cream
Lather: Williams Mug shaving soap
Aftershave: Barber No3 Marmara
Additional Care: Alum Block
New week. New year. And a new shave, on this very snowy morning.
Today marks the end of another year. Tomorrow I have to remember that it’s 2024.
I’m not going to harp on about all that is wrong in the world – anyone who isn’t living under a rock has to have noticed that the world have not become a more peaceful or more prosperous place the last year. Quite the opposite in fact.
There are some bright spots though.
I got hold of not just one, but two of my Holy Grail razors. Well… three, actually.
I also managed to find a New-in-Box promotional Tech, which is a smooth little shaver.
And I got a lot of lovely shaves, a fair number at work while my bathroom was torn out and rebuilt.
My blog had more than seventy-six thousand visitors, who between generated well over half a million page views. I sold a few books, and gave away some too.
All in all it has been a year that can summed up as “not great, not terrible”. And in the grand scheme of things, that is more or less the best we can ask for in this day and age.
A good shave on a snowy Friday.
We have all been there. Looking for a gift for that special someone. Or that less special someone. The person who has everything – expect perhaps somewhere to store it all.
But fear not; Gillette know what the ideal gift to every man would be. Or would have been, back in 1929.
Continue readingRazor: Gillette Old Type
Blade: Lord Classic
Brush: Semogue TSN LE 2012
Pre-Shave: Proraso Pre Shave Cream
Lather: Asylum Shave Works Flying Mango
Aftershave: Barber No3 Marmara
Additional Care: Alum Block
A wee Wednesday shave on a cold and snowy morning.
The gift he would choose himself. At least if this Australian 1950 advertisement is to be believed.
Continue reading