Granddad's Straights

Printable View

03-01-2009, 02:54 AM
TomPike

Granddad's Straights

Hi All,

I thought you'd all enjoy seeing these. My dilemma: trying to figure out which one to send to hi_bud_gl after receiving his very generous PIF of a free honing. I'm leaning towards #8 right now, but though I'd ask for input.

First, the great old rollup case that Grandpa stored these in:

http://home.comcast.net/%7Eleadalto/...es/razors3.jpg

Unrolled:

http://home.comcast.net/%7Eleadalto/...es/razors2.jpg

And the razors open , after a good cleaning with scrubbing bubbles:
http://home.comcast.net/%7Eleadalto/...es/razors1.jpg

Starting at the top and working left to right:

1) 4/8 Wester Bros. Anchor Brand
2) 4/8 Bowdin's Wedge; Scales Marked: - Minneapolis, Minn -
3) 9/16 George Wolstenholm and Son, Sheffield - England
4) 5/8 Wester Bros. Booster
5) 4/8 Bowdin's Art 300 (also a wedge for the most part)
6) 5/8 Stiletto; Blade etched with Celebrated Hollow Ground; a little crack in the toe, above the edge by 1/8"
7) 5/8 Adolf Blaich San Francisco; J.S. Holler & Co. Germany
8) 5/8 United Special - Guaranteed English Steel

Cheers,
Tom

P.S.: I was born in '59; Mom was born in '17 (yes, she was 42 when I was born); Granddad was born in 1894... I think that some of these may have belonged to his father, but have no way of knowing...
03-01-2009, 03:13 AM
nun2sharp

If it werent for the crack in #6 it would be my first choice, then #8.
03-01-2009, 04:06 AM
Disburden

That's a great piece of family history you got there. I wish I were that lucky to have something my grandfather used for a shave. Shame about #6 since those are great razors.

I say get #8 done first, since you like it, and then get them ALL done eventually! :rock:
03-01-2009, 04:14 AM
Shooter

nice collection i would definitely do #3 but i am partial.
03-01-2009, 04:31 AM
Tonsor

Hey Tom, great to see you here. You've got a tough decision ahead of you. Luckily, you can't lose, however you choose. :tu
03-01-2009, 04:38 AM
kenneyty

I'm with Shooter. Wolstenholm is good Sheffield steel.

Great setup! Love the case.
03-01-2009, 07:21 AM
Utopian

Could you elaborate on the "scrubbing bubbles?" Did you use a bathroom cleanser to clean your razors?:eek:

I don't actually know that it would be harmful, as I don't know what's in the stuff, but I would be afraid of it being corrosive. How did it work for you?

BTW, congrats on having, and more importantly, appreciating, your Grandfather's razors. They will mean far more to you than any other razor you could ever find and fortunately for you, they all appear to be in great shape.
03-01-2009, 11:38 AM
riooso

Boy he had a bit of RAD going on there!:D Nice that you have picked it up.

Take Care,
R
03-01-2009, 12:13 PM
rsrick

Quote:

Originally Posted by Utopian

Could you elaborate on the "scrubbing bubbles?" Did you use a bathroom cleanser to clean your razors?:eek:

I don't actually know that it would be harmful, as I don't know what's in the stuff, but I would be afraid of it being corrosive. How did it work for you?

BTW, congrats on having, and more importantly, appreciating, your Grandfather's razors. They will mean far more to you than any other razor you could ever find and fortunately for you, they all appear to be in great shape.

Scrubbing bubbles is a popular cleaner for DE's and doesn't cause any negative effects (drop the razor into a bowl of it and go to town with a toothbrush to clean up the gunk) . However, DE's are generally plated .... I've not used on a straight. Not sure what the effect would be, particularly on the edge? :thinking:

ps. Tom, Great collection you have there. Very nice piece of family history.
03-01-2009, 04:14 PM
Blade

Thats a fine collection.
I would go for number 3 since sharp Sheffield steel feels super on your skin :-)
03-01-2009, 06:59 PM
TomPike

Quote:

Originally Posted by Utopian

Could you elaborate on the "scrubbing bubbles?" Did you use a bathroom cleanser to clean your razors?:eek:

I don't actually know that it would be harmful, as I don't know what's in the stuff, but I would be afraid of it being corrosive. How did it work for you?

BTW, congrats on having, and more importantly, appreciating, your Grandfather's razors. They will mean far more to you than any other razor you could ever find and fortunately for you, they all appear to be in great shape.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rsrick

Scrubbing bubbles is a popular cleaner for DE's and doesn't cause any negative effects (drop the razor into a bowl of it and go to town with a toothbrush to clean up the gunk) . However, DE's are generally plated .... I've not used on a straight. Not sure what the effect would be, particularly on the edge? :thinking:

ps. Tom, Great collection you have there. Very nice piece of family history.

Thanks, guys. I feel very lucky to have these. It's an honor to be their temporary keeper until I can pass them on to my son.

Yep, scrubbing bubbles is a bathroom cleaner, popular for DE cleaning. These were all pretty crudded up, especially between the scales. I think granddad must have put them away oiled, and then they sat for 32 years or so, sometimes in a fairly humid environment. The steel was dull and the insides of the scales were covered in gunk. I didn't really soak them as much as clean them up with a toothbrush and q-tip, then rinse them well with cool water and dry them thoroughly. The edges seem none the worse for the cleaning and there's no more layer of crud.

For future reference, what's the right way to do this?

Thanks eveyone for your kind comments and suggestions. I'm torn between sending #3 and #8. I've always thought that the Wostenholm was the nicest blade in the bunch. Someday, I'll get them all back up to speed. Still undecided, but will ponder this through the afternoon.

Cheers,
Tom
03-01-2009, 07:08 PM
Del1r1um

I'd send the Wostenholm if it were me... great collection!
03-01-2009, 07:08 PM
kenneyty

I have usually used alcohol for that type of cleaning. The "right" way is whatever works! I'm always glad to hear about something new.
03-01-2009, 11:09 PM
Truckman

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomPike

I'm torn between sending #3 and #8.

I've said it before Tom, nice set. :rock:

:hmmm: I'd send them both out at the same time. Since you're torn, and it seems the people that replied are torn, too, send them both. That way, too, you'll have two shave ready blades. You still can't beat 2 for the price of 1!!!
03-02-2009, 04:59 AM
Utopian

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenneyty

I have usually used alcohol for that type of cleaning. The "right" way is whatever works! I'm always glad to hear about something new.

Agreed. That was why I asked about it! I've never used it for cleaning in the bathroom but I'd consider buying it if it had some magical effect for cleaning razors.