Hello from Colorado (non-native!)

Hey guys. Been lurking for a while, finally decided to join in the discussions. I'm brand new to straight razor shaving but I've been shaving with a Gillette Super Speed (black tip) and finally decided to move to straights. I basically grew up in my Dads barber shop. He's been a barber for over 40 years now in Illinois and bought the shop back in the 70's from a guy who owned it for another 40+ years before him.

I spent a lot of time sweeping hair, cleaning ashtrays (back in the day!), and playing with strops, empty Pinaud bottles and watching my Dad cut hair and shave lots of guys. I recently refurbed his old Marvy barber pole to working condition.

Now that I'm out in Colorado, I wasn't able to raid his shop but did ask him if he had anything laying around I could have. He sent me five razors, three boxes, not belonging to the razors, an old strop and a small hone. I'm sure theses all spent a lot of time in Barbicide.

Pearl Dry/Schmidt & Co. St. Louis
Permedge/United Drug Boston, St. Louis
Top Flight/Burrell Cutlery Co. Ellicottville, NY
Gold Beetle/Manganese
Estas 14/W. Eickenburg. Solingen-Wald (I love this one but don't think it was ever used in the shop)

He always used the large Red Imp strops but didn't want to give those up! While home for Thanksgiving I'm gonna head up for a haircut and ask for some shaving tips (maybe look for more old razors too).

Enjoy the pics and thanks for a great website!