Thread: What did grampa do ??

Chances are that they were using double-edged razor blades, if we are talking about most of our parents or grandparents. My grandfather is 91 years old, and I don't think he ever picked up a straight razor.

As for way back in the day, I was under the impression that barbers were mostly the ones utilizing straight razors. I assume that, those being their tools, they would take pretty good care of them (I am sure some kind of rest preventative was around, like some kind of oil.) People also might not have cared as much back then about aesthetics of their razors. Also, straight razors were convenience items at one point, not hobby items. If you had a razor go bad for whatever reason, just buy a new one.

Just some thoughts.

Don't know about grampa but the instructions I received with my first strop in '83 was don't oil or grease the working side only the reverse side & in a pinch lard would do if leather conditioner was not handy.

My grandfathers would probably been in their mid twenties when the Gillette safety razors started to appear. In all surviving photgraphs both have large moustaches. I think we underestimate the ability and resourcefulness of people back then.
I don't know what would suprise them most about today; computers, modern medicine and air travel or that men enjoy shaving as a hobby.

Back then , men were made of iron and the ships were made of wood.
Our grandfathers and fathers would look at many men today and think that the opposite now applies.

Originally Posted by altshaver

If you had a razor go bad for whatever reason, just buy a new one.

Thats was what I thinking.
I am sure back then razors didn't cost as much as they do now. The re-introduction into society and the collecting habits of most I think is what makes the price of a straight razor what it is today.

I think some of you're thinking with today's mindset. Back then we didn't have the throwaway society we have now. You bought something and it was made to last. Razors were more of a luxory item back then (Before the time of DE and the throwaway blade) and would have been almost essential to helping get cleaned up for the all important sunday services. The local barber wouldn't have been able to cater for everyone, so some of them had to own there own. I think they may have had more respect for them than some here believe, possibly as much as we have for them ourselves today.
To get back to the original idea with a little modification, how would you look after your razor in a given situation? And let's simplify by thinking along the lines of Great Grampa who was shaving before the advent of the DE...If that's OK with you NightBlade.



Mick

Current data is only available till 2009. $39.50 in the year 2009 has the same "purchase power" as $1.5 in the year 1900.
From:
Measuring Worth - Home

Originally Posted by TSasser

Thats was what I thinking.
I am sure back then razors didn't cost as much as they do now. The re-introduction into society and the collecting habits of most I think is what makes the price of a straight razor what it is today.

Originally Posted by Geezer

Current data is only available till 2009. $39.50 in the year 2009 has the same "purchase power" as $1.5 in the year 1900.
From:
Measuring Worth - Home

Things that were not considered before. Good find, I can see not just going out and buying like that now.

My grandfather lived in Alaska when I've heard of him shaving with a straight. There were no barbers in his town and he had to stay clean shaven for his job. He was extremely poor therefore had to treat his razor with the utmost respect. Unfortunately in the environment they lived the razor wouldn't last long despite his attempts. He would then retire them to his leather kit as a strip knife. His methods were to soak the razor everyday in an oil that he brought home from work (grandma thinks it was mineral). His strop was treated with his palm just like we do now (he used to rub his neck first). He had a couple of strops with powders sprinkled on them (grandma didn't know what they were). He made his own strops and had two of what we would call bench strops that were treated with a "soot" and a crushed rock of some kind. That's about all grandma knew.
My other grandfather I don't know much about, but he would be the type to have his properly honed and stored alongside a moisture wicking substance. I do know that he preferred the DE and when canned goo came out he said it was better suited to clog a drain than shaving cream.

-G

Thanks MickR and Deighaingeal you were right on the money with this topic. Try to keep more simple with the facts as I was hoping for more of a historical factual sort of info as opposed to DE info or speculations or what you think you would have done. Thx again.

Originally Posted by Geezer

Current data is only available till 2009. $39.50 in the year 2009 has the same "purchase power" as $1.5 in the year 1900.
From:
Measuring Worth - Home

I have a straight razor manufactured by "Salem Markos and Brothers" that has engraving on the blade, faint but legible, that says "$3.00 Razor" so apparently this one cost (then) $3. I can't come up with a date for this manufacturer, though.