Thread: When country wasn"t cool

Hello everyone,
I started straight shaving at the age of twenty. I learned from a old barber in Tyler, Texas on Saturday"s after he closed his shop. I would come in after lunch and sweep and clean the shop, and in return, he would teach me about razors and how to use and sharpen them. He also tought me the very basics of cutting hair.
It is wonderful to find a website like this, as there was nothing that was usefull to young and old on the art of straight shaving to be found.
I would welcome any questions and email that one might send,

The very best regards to one and all, Wildhog my email is [email protected]

I wish more of us could have learned that way instead of struggling along on our own until we find this place. I look forward to finding out more about your genuine knowledge of straight razors.

Hello Utopian, thanks for your reply. Well, I don"t know about tons of knoledge, but I AM 61 years old now. Learning about razors from a old barber was indeed a great experience. His name was Bill Vermillian, and he passed away about fifteen years ago. I have missed visiting with him on my trips to Tyler ( mother in law lives there). I remember my first lesson in honing. Having shown me how, Ha Ha , he opened a cabnet, and there must have been 15 to 20 razors there, and he wanted me to fresh all of them!!! Well, needless to say,in about an hour,ll I had managed to do was make a TOTAL mess of razor number ONE!!! But, the skill did come, and only through practice did I get it right. First lesson to new shavers, is use a minimum of strokes. Dont know how many? Take what you think might be right, and devide by four!!! Really though, get Lynns dvd and watch the honing section at least four times before EVER putting your razor to the stone!! Need to go now. Best regards everyone, wildhog

Hello, Wildhog:

Welcome to Straight Razor Place.

Your illuminating post sketched a sweet picture of your start as a straight razor shaver. I loved every word. Thank you for sharing the experience.

We can learn a great from you, sir, so keep on writing. I am delighted you have joined us.

Regards,
Obie

Thanks for the reply OBIE. I have a good bit of trouble with computers, in fact, you could say that I am computer DUMB. Some of my generation didn"t need to be educated in there use because our jobs didn"t require them. So if I am a little slow in responding to notes and letters, Please forgive me.
In all of my years, I never got into collecting starights, and after finding this website, I am for sure going to get into it!!! I have already purchased several razors from members, and about a week ago a friend guided me through the process of logging on to and buying from Ebay. OH MY GOD!! It"s a good thing my wife wasn"t home. Well, need to go now. I will try to be more prompt in replying to yall. Best regards, and no nicks to everyone, Wildhog

Hello, Wildhog:

You are welcome. I am computer-challenged as well.

Yes, Straight Razor Place is habit forming.

One of the truths you will be advised here is to be careful buying on eBay until you get to know your way around straight razors. Beware especially of grandiose descriptions of razors given on eBay.

We are delighted you have joined us.

Regards,
Obie