Thread: I think I have finally found a better word for "custom" razor

Originally Posted by 32t

You had me until you used the word industrial.

Easily mass produced and cheap designs are not necessarily the Best!

Tim

I don't know for a fact, and maybe the 'vintage' experts here can either corroborate or set me straight, but I posit that the straight edged straight razor came into popularity at the same time that the razor factories started grinding with double wheel grinders. Until that time when the razors were hand forged and free hand ground on single wheels, smiles were more the norm. The double wheel grinders do not easily lend themselves to mass production of smiling blades.

Originally Posted by bluesman7

I don't know for a fact, and maybe the 'vintage' experts here can either corroborate or set me straight, but I posit that the straight edged straight razor came into popularity at the same time that the razor factories started grinding with double wheel grinders. Until that time when the razors were hand forged and free hand ground on single wheels, smiles were more the norm. The double wheel grinders do not easily lend themselves to mass production of smiling blades.

Interesting thought.

And most straight edges after honing for a while end up with a smile.... Or a frown!

I am not saying that all mass produced things are bad but that design of them and materials used are a compromise and biased toward the mass production and cost thinking not the best overall quality.

Tim

Well, you can blame the industrial revolution for mass production and standardization and lower quality however if it weren't for that many of these items would be priced beyond the average person's reach.

I'm not sure it's all that bad though. I know with watches hand made pieces can almost be discarded when they need service unless you have very deep pockets and some complex items might not even exist.

I am not blaming the industrial revolution for mass production and saying that it is all bad. But to base the Ultimate design on what is produced by it is not necessarily the best choice.

Not all so called custom things are any better but if you truly want the best and have the deep pockets to afford it....

If you look at the evolution of straight razors they evolved to smaller, more hollow, thinner shanks and minimal embellishments. People today still chase vintage 10/8 wedges, 8/8 hollows, thumb notches, gold wash, etc. These things are not needed and were vanishing as straight razor shaving was at it's peak. "Chi-Chi" is always in demand whether custom or vintage.