Thread: Where did men get razors 100 years ago?

In the absence of eBay, the internet, and SRP...where did men get their razors a hundred years ago? Especially when you remember this country was still more rural than urban then. We can guess, but I'm wondering if anyone has some evidence of where men typically got their razors, strops, etc. For instance, here's a link to some of the contents of a 1902 Sears Roebuck catalogue listing razors, hones, strops, even safety razors. Another clue I have is an old Keen Kutter str8 from Simmons Hardware in St. Loius...leads me to speculate that they could buy razors where they bought hardware.

Even further back (I should check some of the razor history timelines to see when str8s first were widely used) when long distance commerce was even more restricted and manufacturing less mechanized...before the likes of Sears Catalogues...where'd they come from?

I know getting shaved at a barber was more common then, but what about in between? I'm guessing most men still had a razor at home for daily maintenance.

What do you historians know about the pre-RAD methods of acquisition?

- Dale

I always just figured that they got them from their local hardware, mercantile, dry good or etc. stores. Growing up in a rural community, I can remember some of the off the wall and most unlikely stuff that you could find at the local feed store too (and that's only about 20 years ago). I bet that back in the days of old that most of the local stores mentioned above were sort of like your local Walmart--they had everything. And if they didn't have it, they'd get if for you.

-Pary

Is it not true that the beard was favoured back then? If so then would the difficulty in shaving have been a contributry factor. Perhaps barbers sold razors etc too.

PuFF

The first razor I bougt came from a cutlery store in San Francisco. They had a huge selection of straight razors hanging on the wall behind the counter.


Scott

Gee guys 100 years ago wasn't the stone age. Even in the 1880s people on the Prairie made it into town every month or so to buy the necessary provisions they couldn't grow or make themselves. The local drygoods store carried all the essentials and little luxuries of the day including straight razors which were a necessity. There were also itinerant peddlers who traveled the countryside selling wares of all kinds to the people who couldn't get to town because of isolation or whatnot.

As well as itinerant peddlers who offered honing services. My great grandfather who lived out in the boonies of Louisiana used to get his razors honed occasionally by the tinkers when they came around.

Ah yes, Tinkers and Carpetbaggers...I forgot about them. Reminds me of that traveling salesman (carpetbagger) from the movie The Outlaws Jose Wales.

-Pary

You might also notice there were more beards back then

Hi - though not overfamiliar with the US in the 1890's-ish (being from the UK) I would concur that hardware stores were the place to go. I've seen Simmons Hardware razors and of course S&R did them as did Shapleigh Hardware. The barber shops also sold them and I've seen razors made in Germany specially for US barber shop outlets. Over here when i was a kid in, er, 19andI'mnottellingyou, razors were to be seen in barbers and also shops that were selling hunting knives (yes we do have them here!) and farm equipment such as stockers and hedging machetes. Hope this helps!

Originally Posted by blueprinciple

. Over here when i was a kid in, er, 19andI'mnottellingyou, razors were to be seen in barbers and also shops that were selling hunting knives (yes we do have them here!) and farm equipment such as stockers and hedging machetes. Hope this helps!

I found a Gentlemans Barbers in St.Albans that sells straight razors! they had a 'Cyril Salter' and a 'Bismark' in the Window display, along with badger hair brushes and soaps. unfortunately the day I was there it was closed