Show and tell with an old timer barber.
Made a foray(thats metrosexual speak for trip) to a small town a half hour away(population 4000) to hit up the antique shop there. Picked up a Case Temperite #25 razor(by the way anyone know what the #25 means?), and an old Wiss strop for the hardware. The strops leather is shot I believe its very warped, but I wet it and laid it out with weighted material on top to attempt a restore.The antique shop owner referred me to a shoe repair shop for a new piece of leather. The gal sold me a nice piece 3"x29" for $5. and 3 ozs of neatsfoot oil for $2(but I had to supply my own bottle, lol). Well next door is an old barbershop, and I mean this building looked rough at first I thought they had been out of business for at least a dozen years. So after I finish up with the leather lady I wander in there to get a haircut on a whim. I engage him in conversation about razors, and the next thing I know I'm getting a stropping and honing lesson from him. They had a nice glass case with a dozen old razors(one a red imp completely rusted away made me cry), a beautiful old sheffield wedge about an 7/8, a brand new Otto Busch still had the packing grease on it, and several other beauties. Then he started pulling out hones and OMG I was heaven, an old glass hone(neat to finally see one in person),carborundums, and several others I couldn't identify. The honing and stropping exhibition was the most impressive, man he could he fly on my new strop. I plan to go back and speak with the owner(he wasn't in), and see if I can talk him out of a hone or two, and same on the razors. That Otto Busch was a beautiful piece. I apologize if this is the wrong forum, and for rambling but I had to share this priceless experience.
