Thread: Milwaukee Barber Shop Score

So as some of you know I am currently in Milwaukee helping my mom with some health issues. I used to be part owner of a construction business and we did tons of work around the Milwaukee/Madison/Chicago areas so I've spent time around here before. I've been killing time lately by revisiting antique stores that I haven't been to since I moved away 2 years ago (and have nabbed some great razors but without my camera have been waiting to post anything). Today I went by a small store that I hadn't been to before and found that 2 houses down was another I hadn't been to as well. So after browsing through the first one and finding a cool old short jar that will make a mighty fine home for some shaving soap, I wandered down to the second one.

This one turned out to not be an antique store but an actual barber shop! I have to go back to take some pictures before I go back home to Minnesota....this guys got TONS and TONS of mugs, hones, DE's, straights, photos, old jars and bottles....too much to describe. Old oak and brass barber chairs, old oak cabinets and cases. Very very cool place....and the owner was super nice as well. We talked for over an hour about razors and antique furniture and stuff before he invited me to his basement. It was there that he introduced me to a small portion of his razor collection. This was the "used" part but he had a lot of nice stuff. He then told me that I was welcome to look through and see if there was anything that interested me and if there was he'd sell them to me for $5 each! Needless to say I looked at each and every one and walked out with 20 nice razors to work on/add to my collection. Most of the others he was willing to sell were honed out....the poor things had obviously seen many many faces.

Two Henckels, 3 Genco's, a Wade & Butcher, an old Duck and many others now sit in my bag awaiting a nice cleaning tomorrow. This guy was so nice to me....just because I sat around and talked to him about shaving stuff - which I genuinely like and enthusiastically collect - he offered to sell some of the razors that he, his father and his grandfather all used in their barber businesses. His shop is located at approx. 98th and Forest Home Ave. and is called "Your Fathers Mustache".....if you're in the area you should stop and get a cut and talk to this guy. He really loves his job and enjoys talking about it. It was the highlight of my entire time in town so far! Once I get home again I'll take lots of pics and post them - I've picked up a dozen other straights and probably a 1/2 dozen DE's and some mugs and a hone and who knows what else....lol......oh, some more very cool South American wood from Woodcrafters for custom scales too!

score indeed. Jealousy will abound.

Sounds great! Be sure to check out his hones!

Eric,

Sounds awesome! Can't wait to see some pictures. Just goes to show that being nice, and spending time listening to people can be rewarding for all.

Finally, a few pics.....more tomorrow.....keep in mind these were all $5 each....

J. A. Henckels Twin Works No. 50

Fox Cutlery No. 244

Genco Henry's X
(I actually have 2 of these - both sets of scales were cracked - but both blades were intact...since they are identical I'm just posting one of them)

A.W. Wadsworth & Son "Boss"

stop cleaning out my turf!

Nice score crichton. I gotta go lookin' at antique stores by me!