Thread: Cutting Through Time

Cutting Through Time

I am sitting here in Long Island, NY basking in the glow of a fresh shave. This done with a straight razor who's origin pre-dates this country.
To me, this is amazing! Straight shaving has always carried a certain nostalgia for me, but this is a new level.
I was born after the idea of a straight razor shave as a regular occurrence. Not so my grandfather, who lived through the safety razor shift, or my great grandfather who lived with a straight the better part of his 92 years.
And here I am in the new millenium, the age of the multi- bladed, lazer-sharp throwaways, with a drawer full of straights. Each and every one older than me. Most are older than anyone on the planet.
This started me thinking about the men who wielded this razor, and the times in which they lived.
I sit here surrounded by hone stones from China, Europe, and the United States. I have balsa wood from South America, coated with African diamond dust in various micron sizes. I have incandescent lighting, running hot and cold water, heat and A/C at the flick of a switch.
1770 was a time unlike our own.
It preceeded antibiotics, matches, zippers, cement, dental anesthesia, baseball, pneumatic tires, light bulbs, and toilet paper---really!
There were no states yet, only 13 colonies. The areas of present day Florida, and the entire southwest belonged to Spain.
This was the year of the Boston Massacre, which set the scene for a final seperation from England. Speaking of England, home of my razor, the life expectancy of a wet razor grinder was 35 years. Less for a dry razor grinder. The work day in Sheffield might go 16 hours, and possibly for 7 days. They were compensated between $2.00 to $16.00 dollars a week.
In the colonies men lived to about 53 years. This would later drop to about Sheffield's level during our own industrial revolution.
Despite all the negatives presented, there were contented people, and times most pleasant.
There was pride in being the first owner of this razor. There was pride in passing it down to a son at some point.
I'd like to imagine a settler shaving by a streamside with a 'looking glass' hung on a branch.
It is likely that the truth of this razor's history is both greater, and more tragic than I can conceive. It has had 240 years of interaction with people, and a growing nation.
I am proud of my razor for its' longevity and remaining ability to perform. I am thankful to the craftsman who produced it.

In the end I hope to keep unbroken this congruence of razor, and man, by passing it on to my nephew who is now 7 years old.
I can wait.
My razor surely can.


Ed

Bravo! Author!Author! Similar thoughts go through my head everytime I choose the razor of the day!

Beautiful post, Ed. Thanks for the great read.

You are a lucky one to be surrounded by all those tools! The feeling of a BBS shave with a straight razor is tops!

Pabster

I believe Obie might have some competition on the Forum.

Very nice picture you painted... makes me want to leave work early so I can go home and tell my razor that she is special too

Nahhh !! no competition to Obie... these guys are on the same team

Great post Ed. Thank you.

Well said! I have these same thoughts,but have never tried to put them into words.You've done it beautifully.Thank you.

I love this feeling too.

I have to admit though, what I really love is rediscovering this lost art. My family came to the US at the beginning of the 20th century, and to the best of my knowledge none of them used a straight razor after that. I have been gifted old SE and DE razors, but no one took shaving with a straight razor seriously.

I picked up a straight razor for the first time last month, and I fell in love with it. I honestly feel like I have discovered a lost art. I just hope that one day I can pass it on to the next generation.

Nicely done. Thanks for the good read.

Very well done Huzah,huzah