Doc's Thread of rediscoverd Facts!

[Doc]

As a few of you may know I am currently researching info that I hope to one day turn into a book on the history of Boker razors. So I thought I would start a thread and post interesting facts about shaving in our fathers and grandfathers time. I have decided to put it in the shaving forum because it will probably encompass the whole realm of straight razor shaving. I will not swear to the truth of this information except to say that all of this info has been found in source material. I would encourage anyone interested to try out some of it and report back your findings as well as discuss anything you find interesting. I would also encourage you to post things that you find in old text. All I ask is that if you post something you must give facts about where the information can be found as I only want verifiable information here and not hearsay or wives tales. Any information posted without sources will be removed. Hopefully over time we will be able to piece together some of the things our ancesters believed about straight razor shaving.

[singlewedge]

Are you speaking of shaving in general AND Boker razors, shaving in general, or Boker Razors.

I think the barber's text book at archive.org and in the WIKI would be a good place to start.

Good luck and I would love to read it.

[Doc]

Sears And Roebuck and Company Catalog Spring 1905:

Some Facts about a razor. A great many people spoil a good razor by the use of a poor strop. The majority of people strop a razor to much and bear to hard on the strop. When you first get a razor from us , it is in perfect condition and ready to use at once. if it shaves you well the first time you use it , if you keep it in the same condition, it will always shave you satisfactorily. if at first you are unable to do this,you should at once learn to keep your razor in good condition. The first thing is to get a good strop, Hold the blade lightly and evenly on the strop being careful not to drop the hand toward the end of the stroke. Dropping the hand pulls the edge of the razor across the rough edge of the strop which usually hold more dirt and grit that will quickly ruin the edge of any razor.
Do not strop the razor to much.
If any of our razors are properly cared for, they should never require honing for private use. When one of our razors shows the need of honing it also shows that the razor has been stropped too much. or stropped on a poor strop. Dust on a good strop will spoil a razor. It is quite a common practice to use a swing strop, having it hung in some convenient place where dust will settle on it. then if you take a cloth and wipe off this dust . still there will be enough grit that cannot be removed to effect the edge of the razor. The strop should be kept as free from dust as possible.

Ok guys this is my first post in the thread. Hopefully it gives you some idea of what I am looking for. I hope you will enjoy this thread and maybe we will learn some interesting facts as well.

[sebell]

I keep my strops in just about the dustiest
place you could imagine (the top of a shelf).

I wonder...

- Scott

[Doc]

Yes I find the part about keeping the strop dust free interesting! also I think the sentence that says if you care for the razor properly it should never need honing in private use enlightening as well.

[manah]

Doc, as I already told to you I'll with pleasure help you with information for your book. It is necessary to find time to scan pages from catalogues.

[Doc]

Thanks Manah! I will look forward to any contributions!

[JimmyHAD]

Doc, if the photos below fit in with what you're looking for great. If not go ahead and delete them. I got the photos from old auctions so that is the best I can do unfortunately.

[Doc]

thats exactly the kinda thing we are looking for. I like the part in the boker paperwork that says you only need to stop it 4 or 5 licks on the strop. I often hear people saying that they strop 20 to 60 licks. This seems to go along with Sears saying Don't strop your razor to much. Its also kinda interesting that they say the skin of you hand is to plyable to turn an edge. Again I am not saying how much of this is correct but it definatly food for thought.

[sebell]

This is juicy info, and should be taken into
consideration when developing one's daily
technique. Thanks Doc and Jimmy!

- Scott