Tuesday, 5 November 2013

Vintage Shaving Kit

As a collector you often find 'precious things' and realise you 'need' them before you really have a genuine need or use for them!
The above happened to me a few months back when at a car boot sale I purchased an old travelling shaving set in a leather and cloth case.(Sunday, 19 May 2013)Sunday, 19 May 2013)))0)It was an old set but not that old, so I then 'needed' an older version.... a bit of Internet based research later into such things opened up a whole new world of possible collecting interests of shiny things!
Being of a curious nature I had to try out the Gillette Tech razor with one of the unopened but old blades, having used it once I decided it was easy enough to get on with so bought some brand new blades off of a well known internet auction site and yes surprisingly they do still make them!
With the new blades(Astra's or Derby's IIRC?) I found I could get a shave every bit as good as a modern cartridge system razor at a fraction of the price though you have to shave slightly more frequently.
As for the shaving experience, well compared to squirting gunk out of a can onto your face and then flicking a 3 or 4 bladed modern techno razor over your chin or hot flannelling  your face then lathering up your face with a bristle brush and some Arko soap or similar and then using an aesthetically pleasing 60 year old weighty vintage razor ...well for me it's no contest....the constant lure of trying out all the various blades still available from all over the world wins hands down and it's good bye 2013 hello 1950!

Here's a few pictures of some of my rapidly growing 'vintage' shaving stuff.
 
A 'Rolls' razor on it's honing stone

 
A 'Rolls razor travelling set in it's mock crock leather case

 
Two Rolls razor sets, the leather cased set is alloy bodied from around 1948-ish, the one behind is a silver plated 'Imperial' from around 1938.

 
A 1950's leather cased travelling shaving set

 
and it's as new contents with a 'ball end' Tech.

 
A Gillette later 'Tech' razor c 1960s



 
A Gillette 'Flare Tip' Made in England c 1960's, these give great shaves...the knob at the end of the handle twists to open the 2 'silo' doors on the head so you can insert a blade you then twist it shut and shave away!



 
A Cussons 'Chubby' shaving soap container.

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