Vintage shaving kit 2

Once you start collecting old shaving kit it quickly gets out of control, first it's for the whole kit, the leather case itself, then the different razors, then shaving brushes then the soap and brush container tubes, then you can't decide if you prefer the chrome plated ones or the earlier Bakelite...decisions, decisions anyhow it matters little as it appears my razor acquisition disorder is out of control an, here are a few recent finds I've gathered here and there about the shires;

A very nice and larger than usual gentleman's travelling shaving/bathroom set in calf hide case,the small tin on top contains an unused American made 'Eveready' 1912 razor bought at the same time.

contents, would originally have been two hair brushes, a long clothes brush in one of the side centre pockets opposite is the long cylindrical toothbrush holder, the two tubes in the centre contained a shaving brush in one and shaving soap in the other, also a brown plastic comb and opposite would be a nail fine, the two containers next to the comb are one for a bar of soap the other chrome tin contains the 3 piece razor, the brown bakelite box shown contains a Darwin razor and is not original that is where the other brush would be.

both razors, one is a rather rare Sheffield made 'Darwin' and the other another Sheffield made open comb 'Gillette' copy, also shown is the apparently unused badger bristle shaving brush.  

The Darwin bakelite box after cleaning/polishing.

The cap unscrews via the razors handle end allowing a blade to be fitted.

The nickel plated all brass 'Eveready' 1912 single edged razor.

This razor shaves beautifully.

A 'Two Tix' set found recently completely unused NOS.

Shaving soap still in it's gold foil, shaving brush and razor with 7 'o' clock blade in it's original case. 

The Sheffield made razor built up.

A very recently found and unused English made Gillette 'Rocket' Twist To Open(TTO)

Front end shot, you twist the handle end which opens the head silo doors allowing a blade to be inserted for shaving. 

A job lot bought cheaply off Ebay, the photo wasn't great but worth a bid as they were cheap and appeared to contain an Eveready 'Streamline' and an Eveready blade stropping machine, the left hand two...the three others are various incarnations of Eveready 1912's.  

The 'Streamline'

in component form with an unused NOS single edged blade.

The stropping machine.

and with strop inserted.

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.