Thread: For Old Times' Sake

Ladies and gentlemen:

Some things I keep around for old times' sake. I don't necessarily need them, no, but somehow I cannot be without them.

(A good example is my Comoy sandblast pipe with a silver ring. I bought it some 40 years ago as my first pipe, and although I no longer smoke, I keep it around for old times' sake.)

My focus in this thread, however, is the traditional shaving world. Some products I keep around for old times' sake.

This morning I shaved with my Edwin Jagger "Chatsworth" barley double edge. Although I shave with a straight razor, I will always keep one DE in regular rotation. Yes, I still like the DE, especially when in a rush.

For shave soap, I used Van der Hagen with my old synthetic brush. The lather was rich and comfortable, more than I thought it would be, but then I must partly credit experience in making lather. I did not have to use them, since my modest shave kingdom includes fancy brushes, creams and soaps. No, I used them for old times' sake. Those two I will always keep around.

For aftershave, I used the traditional Pinaud, even though I have some fancy aftershaves and colognes on the counter. Then again, that's another product I keep around for old times' sale and don't see myself without it ever.

In straight razors, I will never be without the Dovo "Perlex." I mean some things are sacred, the Dovo "Perlex" being one in my modest razor collection. Mine is a 5/8" and a great razor. I am blessed with a small parade of some gorgeous razors, yes, including Filarmonica, Wacker, Thiers-Issard, Dovo, and so on, but I keep the Dovo "Perlex" around and use it in rotation especially for old times' sake.

And so it goes with some things that I keep around — for old times' sake. Do you, ladies and gentlemen, do the same — keep some things around for old times' sake? Please keep in mind that my focus here is on the shaving world only. Many thanks.

Regards,

Obie

Obie, wrt shaving memorabilia, I like to collect fragrances from my youth. Just closing my eyes and inhaling deeply takes me back many years.

Hi Obie,

I'd never get rid of my DOVO Black Star. It was the first razor I ever got so it holds a special place in my heart.

To be honest, at the moment my razor collection is quite modest (I have 7, not including my DE) and all the razors I have, I got for a reason so I dont really want to get rid of any of them. Or maybe thats just my AD's talking..!

But my Black Star is a special razor for me. Sure, it doesnt have the horn scales of the Wacker, or the mirror polish of the TI, but it is the razor that set me on the straight razor path, and that means a lot to me.

All the best,

Stuart

I've got a shaving brush I bought at Hoffritz for Cutlery in 1972 or '73 and used exclusively for more than 30 years. When I upgraded to Simpsons, Rooneys and Plissons I stopped using it entirely but I keep it around for old times sake.

I've also got a Heljestrand MK 32 with ivory scales that I got from Alex Micah in Madison, NJ in about 1984 or '85. At the time he was the oldest practicing professional barber in the USA if not the world @ 99 years old. If I got rid of all of my other razors (over my dead body) I would hang on to that one.

Finally I have a large collection of slant head DE razors from various manufacturers and I would hang on to the one that I used as a daily shaver if I got shed of the rest of them.

When it comes to shaving there are three items that I will never part with:
1) My Grandfather's shavemug.
2) Mastro Livi 8/8 Bergam Damascus in Mammoth Ivory Scales
3) Martinez' custom: Chess King w/ 26mm silver tip badger.

When I was younger I worked for an old Italian barber in Chicago who with alot of patience took the time to teach me face shaving. When he semi-retired he gave me all (20) of his old straight razors . They were mostly Dovo,TI,Henckels and Shumates from the 30s and 40s and all in mint condition, honed, stropped and shave ready. He even included the original receipts and the original cardboard boxes.

Even though they are old, I can never part with these out of respect for him and I still use them on customers everyday.