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Going back in time .

Well I am starting this blog to record my return to an older type of shaving . Like most of us I at present use the ubiquitous supermarket disposable razors , and have done so for , well I don't really know how long . When did these disposable and cartridge type of razors come about ? I guess I have been shaving regularly since I was around 16 which ,as I was born in 1953 , make it around 1969 when I started . I have a memory a very faint one I admit , to having a razor that twisted to open and receive a double edge blade of the kind that came in little rectangular boxes . I remember that the blades came wrapped in paper and the used blades were posted into a slot in the back of the box . Now that is all I actually remember of these things and as soon as the more modern types , disposables came out I started using them. Well you would wouldn't you how many teenagers want to do things as their Fathers do most of us wanted to look modern I guess , well I did anyway .

So where is all this rambling leading to , I am glad you asked ! As I am getting somewhat better at sharpening knives My poor weak mind seems to be taken with the idea of buying a straight razor from an antiques centre ,something from the 1880's to around the demise of the Old Queen , in 1901 I think . I admit that I only knew the date of Queen Victoria's death from watching my favourite John Wayne film The Shootist . So the thought of going from a modern razor to an inexpertly sharpened cutthroat is for me a daunting prospect and unusually good sense has prevailed and instead of leaping straight back to the end of the nineteenth century perhaps the 1950's may be a better place to start .

I have now checked out a few video's on YouTube and have found that the razors that I remember from my youth are indeed called DE or double edge . In fact this whole retro shaving lark is alive and kicking without me knowing anything about it . Youtube is awash with helpful young fellows scraping the whiskers off their finely honed chins with razors that they certainly don't remember from the first time round . Mind you I have learned an awful lot more about shaving than my Father ever taught me ,I guess it must have been him that showed me the ropes though I don't remember the lesson .

So I now have an Edwin Jagger DE89 razor and am waiting for those fine folks at Amazon to deliver the rest of the not inconsiderable amount of gear that it seems I must have . A styptic pencil ,what a word from the dawn of history , anyway I have forgotten to order one so in the short term things may get bloody !! The razor looks nice and I am thinking that it is probably of a lot higher quality than I would have had in the late sixties. I would likely have had an old one of my Dad's to start .

I hope to return to this blog in the future , blood loss allowing , and record my return journey to the shavings of my youth and hopefully back in time to the days of the Old Queen and a wonderful straight razor . Got to get through my lack of a styptic pencil first , can't imagine what a young girl in the chemist will think if I ask for one of those .

Tags: ., DE, Ramblings, Razors, Shaving, Time, Travel

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Comment by John Bamford on June 17, 2016 at 9:02: I've never ridden a Harley Allan but I can see the point of the seating position now that my legs and hips have gotten stiff !

Comment by allanm on June 17, 2016 at 8:33: To many here in the US I'm a blaspheming savage since I have no interest in a Harley. :-) I like the look and sound of a good, "purring" sport bike. A Harley that sounds like it is in serious need of some tuning to stop engine clatter, and the potato-potato sound they make, along with needing a proper exhaust/silencer system to me is a huge turnoff. But we're all different.

Many criticize the "crotch-rocket" style as being uncomfortable to ride, leaning forward and somewhat crouched, but that crouching is mostly by racer "wannabes". With my body aches/pains the way they are, the sport bike leaning into the handlebars was actually a very comfortable posture for me.

One thing I always liked the sound of more than a typical Japanese bike engine, was the sound of a bigger bike - 1,000cc+ with shaft drive. Some people think it's a whining sound, that was for me like the sound of a big muscle car engine to many others.

Comment by John Bamford on June 17, 2016 at 8:23: Just wanted to add a link to a video of Dr Mat using the ILR stone with some great micro photo's of the edges he get's from this , let's face it , economy stone . Oh yes I should have said it only cost me £20 /$29 it has been used but very little it looks as good as new .

https://youtu.be/cXVW_S6VaBw

Comment by John Bamford on June 17, 2016 at 8:22: Thanks Allan , I did like that old Beemer but times got tough for a while back in the mid nineties and she had to go .

Ninjas were very popular at one time over here and I did have a Kawasaki GT550 at one time but I always liked a big twin engine , I am basically lazy I guess .

Comment by allanm on June 17, 2016 at 8:11: I'm enjoying reading your updates John, keep them coming!

Seeing the BMW - I was never in that league, our of my price range, I used to ride a Kawasaki Ninja. Most people who know me were shocked when I turned up one day riding a Ninja. :-)

Comment by John Bamford on June 17, 2016 at 5:51: Just bought a new , well new to me , sharpening stone from the auction site . It is an "Imperia La Roccia" which is at least an interesting name ! It is claimed to be between 12/15K but as it is a natural stone then it doesn't really mean that much . I have heard mixed reviews on the various forums but as some of these guys have their heads so far up .... you know what I mean . You get the impression from some people that you can't sharpen a razor on anything less than a whole string of Japanese Naturals each one costing a thousand $$ or ££ . I think that some people are too precious about this sort of thing as I am getting very good shaves from a straight sharpened on a Belgian Blue and a home made strop with red and black Dovo pastes then a few strops on a very cheap hanging strop . The hanging strop is the only thing I am keen to change , I bought a cheap one cos they say you will cut your first one and that at least is true ! Anyway I will try the new stone later but here it is ,

Comment by John Bamford on June 16, 2016 at 10:14: What have I learned from using a straight razor so far ?

The inevitable wee knicks don't hurt , well not too much , but keep the styptic pencil to hand !

Don't rush , it is a great sense of accomplishment to shave with one of these old razors that someone last used in maybe the 1930's .

Sharpening one is no more difficult than sharpening a knife despite what they will tell you on the shaving forums . You don't need to use a stone made from unicorn dust on a full moon . But and it is a big BUT you do need finer stones and you do need patience when things don't quite work out . These things must be SHARP very sharp you can't use pressure to make them work , if you value your face !

I think riding a motorcycle has a lot in common with shaving with a straight razor . If you don't watch what you are doing things will become painful . On the other hand when it works it is far more fulfilling than sitting in a car and every journey is something special .

Yes I did have a bike or two though it has been a while now , the last one was just like this ,

Comment by John Bamford on May 19, 2016 at 13:35: Just had a shave with that new razor , well it is sharp ! Now it is either much better quality than you would think , or I am beginning to get the hang of this razor sharpening , I hope it is the latter !!

Comment by John Bamford on May 19, 2016 at 12:15: The new razor arrived yesterday with surprisingly little comment from my better half , think she has lost the will to fight in such an unequal struggle . It was quite a cheapy just to allow me to practice "establishing the bevel" as they say on the forums . I got a nice equal bevel on it with a couple of japanese waterstones and put it to dry outside my shed on a stool to dry in the sun , whilst going to make tea , being English I need to drink tea constantly . It wasn't a good idea to put it on that stool because coming back with the tea I managed to trip over the stool and the razor clattered to the floor , edge first of course !!

It is a good idea to learn how to repair a damaged razor blade , so I did and it looks quite good . Will try it soon even though it isn't a very expensive looking razor it does seem to be very hard steel and although I don't know what age it is , from thirties to the sixties at a guess , it will go into the rotation if it shaves okay .

Comment by John Bamford on May 17, 2016 at 11:03: If anyone wishes to know about sharpening a straight razor with the Edge Pro then this is a link to one mans experience .

http://straightrazorplace.com/honing/97386-straight-razor-sharpenin...