Straight razor shave in 1880?

I had s silk-smooth shave with my Thiers-Issard Historic Snake-wood 6/8 this morning. It cut a hanging hair with a little "ping" easily after getting a lot of attention on a Naniwa 12 K and a SRD strop.

I was thinking about how was a straight shave back then, in the good old days when a Straight was the usual way of shaving? Mr. John Smith, waking up in the middle of nowhere, picking up his old Straight, no softening of beard oil, warm water, TOBS Avocado cream, Simpson Chubby brush, five different sharpening stones and diamond pastes on his strop for his razor.

Probably a different kind of shave back then:)

I think the quality of the average shave back then probably contributed to the popularity of full beards.:)

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Originally Posted by ama015

I had s silk-smooth shave with my Thiers-Issard Historic Snake-wood 6/8 this morning. It cut a hanging hair with a little "ping" easily after getting a lot of attention on a Naniwa 12 K and a SRD strop.

I was thinking about how was a straight shave back then, in the good old days when a Straight was the usual way of shaving? Mr. John Smith, waking up in the middle of nowhere, picking up his old Straight, no softening of beard oil, warm water, TOBS Avocado cream, Simpson Chubby brush, five different sharpening stones and diamond pastes on his strop for his razor.

Probably a different kind of shave back then:)

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This is why a good barber was held in high esteem
and why many men only shaved for Sunday.

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Originally Posted by Bill S

I think the quality of the average shave back then probably contributed to the popularity of full beards.:)

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Funny, but no doubt true for many gentlemen in those days. In fact I've long thought that the reason why some men were said to have shaved twice a day was due to a shoddy initial shave. Kinda like shaving in the morning with an electric and having a 5 oclock shadow by 1:00...

Honestly though, shaving with a straight was simply shaving. Probably not much effort or pride involved. I'm also sure their razors weren't at a level of sharpness as we all seem to strive for nowadays.

Back in the old days folks just shaved and got good results with the basics they had available thank you.

We're just a pampered lot thinking without our armada of hones and strops and collections of razors and fretting about soaps and pre shaves and after shaves and methodology you can't possibly get a good shave. We've lost sight of the true nature of a shave and how little you really need to get a good result.

I guess when you spend all the time, effort and money on gear you've convinced yourself it's all a requirement.

I'd say more but I gotta go polish up my razor collection now.:)

I found a 4/8s Genco Jr. and an ancient (not 6 million years old...but cut maybe 110-150 years ago) thuringian stone in the drawer of a shaving stand in the shed. I asked my 80+ year old Mother about it. Not her Father's but, her Grandfather's.

She said when she was a little girl (1930's), he would shave on Wednesdays and Saturdays. He drew water from the well, built a fire in the cook stove and shaved in the kitchen before breakfast. He had one razor, one stone and used his belt as a strop. Soap was made once a year in the Fall after hog slaughtering. Ingredients were "hog renderings", lye, stove ashes and vanilla extract, period. She also said that he had made his own brush from, she thought, horse hair? Aftershave lotion was bay rum from the only barbershop in town, 12 miles away. A gift from his wife or daughters?

Mom said she remembers well that he whistled as he shaved.

That 1905 booklet that recommends the cold water shave says these new fangled safety razor contraptions will never make it. :rolleyes: Come to think of it I bet back then hot water for shaving or bathing was hard to come by.

IIRC the French manual "Pogonotomie ou l'art de se raser soi meme", recommends to keep second razor at hand in case the one you are using disappoints or starts pulling during a shave.

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Originally Posted by oldschooltools

I found a 4/8s Genco Jr. and an ancient (not 6 million years old...but cut maybe 110-150 years ago) thuringian stone in the drawer of a shaving stand in the shed. I asked my 80+ year old Mother about it. Not her Father's but, her Grandfather's.

She said when she was a little girl (1930's), he would shave on Wednesdays and Saturdays. He drew water from the well, built a fire in the cook stove and shaved in the kitchen before breakfast. He had one razor, one stone and used his belt as a strop. Soap was made once a year in the Fall after hog slaughtering. Ingredients were "hog renderings", lye, stove ashes and vanilla extract, period. She also said that he had made his own brush from, she thought, horse hair? Aftershave lotion was bay rum from the only barbershop in town, 12 miles away. A gift from his wife or daughters?

Mom said she remembers well that he whistled as he shaved.

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Hello, oldschooltools:

What a delightful story. Thanks for telling it the way you have. You must be a great storyteller.

Note: Gentlemen, forgive me for hijacking the thread momentarily, but I could not resist that story.

Regards,
Obie

Oldschool......that was one of the best stories of shaving gone by that I've read since coming to this site. It makes me want to shave,and......I may even whistle whilst doing so. Very cool:):) Guess I should apologize also for hijacking,but...it was a good story.

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Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Back in the old days folks just shaved and got good results with the basics they had available thank you.

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I'm with you on this one. I think we make some false assumptions about the ability of our parents and grandparents to sharpen and use tools. They could get by with much less, and advances in modern medicine excepted, I'm not sure that they were the worse for it.

I was in Canada visiting one of the British Forts where they had all the items from 1812 and saw in the soldiers provisions - a badger brush, a small soap bowl, and a straight razor. The guide said the soldiers shaved on Wednesdays and Sundays and that they used a common leather strop. I asked if the items were genuine from 1812 and he said they were.

Pabster

Many interesting storys here, I think you are spot on why a full beard was popular back then, and about shaving twice a week etc. Oldschool, wonderful story!

It must have been great to go to a professional barber and get a sharp and smooth shave once in a while back then.

Today, I don`t know of any barbers shaving with straights on a daily basis in my country, but in the US they are quite popular I`ve heard. Must be fine to have that alternative for some personal luxury for the no straight razor population:)

I always get a kick out if reading Mark Twain's writings about barbers. Here are two examples: About Barbers - Mark Twain and Mark Twain on Barbers - Barbarous

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Originally Posted by Joed

I always get a kick out if reading Mark Twain's writings about barbers. Here are two examples: About Barbers - Mark Twain and Mark Twain on Barbers - Barbarous

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He was very opinionated on many subjects. You should see what he has to say about watchmakers and repairers.

Great stories Joed, thank you for the links!

My good man I have no idea what you mean. One's valet looks after all that mundane detail. I suppose you'd have to ask him about what he does with my shaving kit to keep it in proper order if you must, but one shouldn't be seen to be conversing with the servants you know.

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Originally Posted by Joed

I always get a kick out if reading Mark Twain's writings about barbers. Here are two examples: About Barbers - Mark Twain and Mark Twain on Barbers - Barbarous

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I'll see your Mark Twain and raise you with Banjo Patterson.
THE MAN FROM IRONBARK by Banjo Paterson (1864 - 1941)

I remember my grandfather shaving with his Swede and stropping on his sunday belt, but i do not recall about his shaving soap or brush. After he died the only hone i got from him was maybe 2-3K grit, pretty rough for standards we have here today.
Usually when he was about to shave, he also cursed heavily. Obviously he didn't like shaving, it was just something that had to be done.

I keep it pretty basic myself. Either the Dovo or my 100+ year old Atlantic Cutlery Co blade prepped on a simple strop with no cremes or grit or anything. Basic brush lathering up a puck of Col Conk's in a mug then apply and go. I end up with a nice shave in a pass and a half... much better if I put more prep into it (normally the only prep is doing it after a shower).

Oh and for sharpening I usually just run it over one stone a couple times. It could be much better and I'm sure if I was more into the hobby I would take more time with it but in reality straights are a means to an end for me. I enjoy shaving with them vs the way I used to do it but that is all. It didn't turn into a consuming hobby for me (my wallet thanks me) like brewing is, lol.

With that said I can see how you could do this with just a cup, puck of soap, brush, basic sharpening stone and decent straight while out on the trail or in the field as a soldier.

As was already mentioned though don't short the elders on their skill. They often lived by their tools and only had what they could carry to maintain them. I've known more than one old guy that has shown me their daily carry knife and though it was old it was not only well maintained but I'm pretty sure I could've shaved with it, heh.

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Originally Posted by TomSD

With that said I can see how you could do this with just a cup, puck of soap, brush, basic sharpening stone and decent straight while out on the trail or in the field as a soldier.

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This sums up my routine, and actually I try to be an old fashioned shaver. I use a W&B chopper, MWF soap, and badger brush. I also have a small coticule bout and a filly strop.
I use the chopper because I find it keeps its edge longer, is more reliable, and generally an easygoing shaver. My filly strop was never good, even when I bought it nearly two years ago, but if I'm lucky it will improve the edge. My coticule is good but I'm not great at using it. When I've finished honing my razor it pops arm hair but there's always some drag when shaving. (The blade is warped so that doesn't help). I use cold water. I don't put anything on when finished (unless it's a special occasion). I touch the razor up on the hone on Sundays.

The good points are:
I can pretty much get a df shave with a blunt blade (my honing is inconsistent).
I use one puck of soap a year.
I don't spend anything.
I enjoy the economy.
I enjoy making the best from less than best products.
I enjoy knowing that my technique is more than adequate.


Having said that, I really would like a decent strop. And when I'm not so damned poor I will get one.

:):)

all points about the resourcefulness of our grandparents are good but I can shave with a teaspoon it just wouldn't be a good shave.....I imagine that their standards for a quality shave were extremely low....especially if they only shaved twice a week then it obviously wasn't critical to be BBS daily like I strive for.

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Originally Posted by volleykinginnc

I imagine that their standards for a quality shave were extremely low....especially if they only shaved twice a week.

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I think a lot depends on what they did for a living, how much they earned and where they lived.
Maybe a farmer living out in the country could get away with two shaves a week and a bath once a month, but most likely a city bank clerk or physician probably would not have.

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Originally Posted by volleykinginnc

all points about the resourcefulness of our grandparents are good but I can shave with a teaspoon it just wouldn't be a good shave.....I imagine that their standards for a quality shave were extremely low....especially if they only shaved twice a week then it obviously wasn't critical to be BBS daily like I strive for.

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Think about it though. How hard would it be to maintain a good shave, not BBS mind you, with just the basic tools? All hobbiest addiction aside just the basic tools will have you looking respectable much easier and for much less than the current disposable, mass market, tools available.

As for back in the day I'm pretty sure shaving came down to profession as has been mentioned already. If you are a ranch hand or farmer you didn't need to be clean shaved so, unless you wanted a beard, you only had to shave a couple times a week, if that. I would imagine city folk or professionals had no problem maintaining a clean shave on a daily basis.

This is very true--we like to make it out to be a hobby for the most part (which is very enjoyable! :D), but really, if you're just interested in a good, cheap shave, all you really need is: 1 or 2 razors in shaveable condition, 1 basic badger brush, 1 basic strop, 1 touchup hone (barber hone, Thuringian, coticule, etc.) & soap & AS of your choice. Nothing more needed unless you damage a razor--then you can just send it out.

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Originally Posted by PA23-250

All you really need is: 1 or 2 razors in shaveable condition, 1 basic badger brush, 1 basic strop, 1 touchup hone (barber hone, Thuringian, coticule, etc.) & soap & AS of your choice. Nothing more needed unless you damage a razor--then you can just send it out.

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That's me. :)

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Originally Posted by Obie

Hello, oldschooltools:

What a delightful story. Thanks for telling it the way you have. You must be a great storyteller.

Note: Gentlemen, forgive me for hijacking the thread momentarily, but I could not resist that story.

Regards,
Obie

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+1 to what Obie wrote. Great story. Bless you.

I recall reading that George Washington was a steadfast shaver- rarely missing a day. So at least some people went at it with regularity. I'm sure his razors, etc were the best available, and that for a good part of his recorded history, he lived at the apex of society. But he was a soldiers' soldier, leading from the front- and all the time clean- shaven.
I'll bet he would have paid dearly for one of my diamond paste strops, though.
Happy New Year All!

Ed
quicknicker

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Originally Posted by quicknicker

I recall reading that George Washington was a steadfast shaver- rarely missing a day. So at least some people went at it with regularity. I'm sure his razors, etc were the best available, and that for a good part of his recorded history, he lived at the apex of society. But he was a soldiers' soldier, leading from the front- and all the time clean- shaven.
I'll bet he would have paid dearly for one of my diamond paste strops, though.
Happy New Year All!

Ed
quicknicker

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As an officer and a gentleman who learned his trade in King George's army I'm sure George Washington had the luxury of a batman.

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Originally Posted by quicknicker

I'll bet he would have paid dearly for one of my diamond paste strops, though.

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Yeah, and a set of porcelain or acrylic teeth instead of those wooden choppers. :D

I started shaving with a straight razor in the early 1980's, maybe late 70's. My barber used a straight to trim around the ears and the back of my neck. While waiting for him one day, I watched him shave a man's face. I asked if he would teach me and he agreed. He gave me a list and told me to go to the wholesale beauty supply place and tell them he had sent me. I bought these:

Red Imp 133 Razor

Red Imp Horsehide Barber's Strop (very long but, without handles)

Barber's Hone

Stick of Jeweler's Rouge

The whole set-up cost around $40 if I remember correctly. I don't have the foggiest what that would equal in today's dollars.

It took about three trips and lessons to get to the point where I could get a decent shave. Then, another six months before I could consider myself competent.

I still have all the stuff, except the rouge, and feel I could shave well with nothing more.


P.S. I wonder if I saved enough money, over the years, to pay for a reasonable fraction of the huge amount of shaving gear I have now? Rationalizing!?! Who, me?

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Originally Posted by quicknicker

I recall reading that George Washington was a steadfast shaver- rarely missing a day. So at least some people went at it with regularity. I'm sure his razors, etc were the best available, and that for a good part of his recorded history, he lived at the apex of society. But he was a soldiers' soldier, leading from the front- and all the time clean- shaven.
I'll bet he would have paid dearly for one of my diamond paste strops, though.
Happy New Year All!

Ed
quicknicker

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Yep....
Check LIVING HISTORY SHOP: Portfolio
If the link works most of the way down is a reproduction
of the Shaving Box used by George Washington that carried
seven daily straight razors in mahogany wood, silk lined.

So I bet they are tucked away some place....