Thread: Sun April 29th - Sat May 05th

Juan Vollmer Palmera 14
Shaving Shop Club So. Cal Hipster
Declaration Grooming Hucklaration

Originally Posted by celestino

4 May 2018

* Blackbird Black Oxide OC 85
* Wizamet Iridium Super
* Chubby 2 Synthetic Faux Sapphire
* Mystic Water Brown Windsor
* Unrefined Shea Butter
* Bergamot/Vetiver EO

I wondered what happened to the blue box. Beautiful photo, Celestino.

Caties Bubbles Tonsorial Parlour~Paladin Chief Select~Filarmonica 13 Doble Temple~Lime Sec

Buyer Beware

So this is a PSA about 8/8 Henckels razors (and some 7/8ths, if you are particularly unlucky). Several years ago, a cache of more than two thousand "8/8" (I'll come back to the airquotes in a moment) blanks was found in Solingen.

These things happen. Solingen's inner city (if you want to call it that, because Solingen is tiny) was razed in October 1944 https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luftangriffe_auf_Solingen. But a few production sites miraculously survived. And sometimes, if you rummage through old attics or basements, you find 1940s packing crates full of cutlery (including razors).

Either way, these 8/8 blanks were auctioned off, and someone bought them. There are several stories who ended up grinding, and finishing, them, but I have been assured by several Solingen razor makers (people, not companies) that they were not finished in Solingen.

Initially, they were sold on eBay with a BIN offer of less than US$100. We ended up buying a handful. Their fit and finish is hit and miss. I have an 8/8 square point with scalloped back (like the one in the picture, but with the cheap plastic scales with which they were sold), and it is good. I also have two 7/8 ones (the blanks for 7/8ths are actually the same as for 8/8ths, so there is that) that are not very good.

So, back to the PSA: If you come across a 7/8 or 8/8 vintage Henckels with either nondescript black plastic scales, or funky aftermarket scales, steer clear of it. Unless you can find one for something like US$50, in which case they are worth the gamble.

Other than that, Heinrich L. Thäter GmbH two band 32mm brush, Meißner Tremonia Mint Ice Menthol. Good stuff.

Originally Posted by evnpar

I wondered what happened to the blue box. Beautiful photo, Celestino.

Thank you, my friend.

5 May 2018

* Muhle Rocca + Stork Aristocrat 1 Titanium
* Wizamet Iridium Super
* Shavemac D01 2-Band Jade
* Mystic Water Vanilla Sandalwood
* Unrefined Shea Butter
* Bergamot/Vetiver EO

Originally Posted by celestino

5 May 2018

Beautiful image, Celestino! I love this one!

Filarmonica Doble Temple 13
Gillette Slim
CRSW Puro Fresco
Cold water

Razor: Wacker Chevalier
Strop: Mastro Livi loom
Brush: Wolf Whiskers 26mm Black Wolf
Pre-shave: Castle Forbes
Soap: D.R. Harris Arlington
Balm: La Toja
Finale: Halston

Caties Bubbles Tonsorial Parlour
Antica Barbieria Colla
Erusta 69 Bohlersteel
Virgin Island Bay Rum