Perhaps the most desired razor for any of us to have in our collection is one which one of our forefathers used. Heirloom razors hold a special place in our hearts because it transcends the simple act of acquisition and links us to beloved family members and allows us to directly link our love of these tools back to those who used them on a daily basis.
My father passed away a little over four years ago and I never questioned him regarding vintage shave gear simply because I never touched a straight razor until over a year and a half after his passing. I've spent a couple of years envying those who had an heirloom blade and knew that it was one of those things that I would never have.
...and then things got interesting.
A few weeks ago I was visiting my mom and was doing some work for her out in my father's office. While waiting for a few updates I decided to use my time to find a couple of tools in the workshop that I might be needing for an upcoming project. Dad's workshop is a pretty organized place, with drawers clearly labeled by category, although a few of those labels can be a bit esoteric due to some of the oddities that defy easy categorization. One of these is the drawer marked "Special." This drawer contains a hodgepodge of instruments from specialized tools (my father repaired office equipment for most of his life) to the ice pick my grandfather carried when he delivered ice as a teenager. It was in the back corner of this drawer, a drawer I've had open at least a dozen times since my dad's death, I spotted a razor coffin with the legend of Townley Metal & Hdw. Co. Kansas City, MO.
My great-grandparents began their lives in KC before moving east to St. Louis and the era of the blade and their time in the western half of the state match pretty well. Add to that the fact that my father was close to his grandparents (I have early memories of the special visits by great grandma and grandpa) and his efforts in his final months to rid the workshop of any extraneous "junk" and I am left with the conclusion that this razor belonged to my great grandfather.
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It's going to need some attention to be able to be returned to service but I'm hoping to once again put this blade back to use.
