Thread: Williams Shaving Soap 40 years Later

I've got a couple of pucks of Williams, never really had any problem using it.

Read on this thread that someone had tried an equally cheap shaving "cream", the old Derby.

This morning, I remembered that I had been given a tube of Derby Menthol, so squeezed some in a cup, lathered up, and it was really nice!!

I was pleasantly surprised, lather was very thick, very quickly, got a great cold shave, and I really liked the smell...now from reading on another thread, have to try the, "water only" straight shave!!

Sheesh, at this rate, in another couple of years I'll be shaving with the edge of an old soda can....wait...be careful what I write, someone here has probably done that.

In keeping with the shaving article of the month, you really can go uber KISS!!

Cheers!

Got a third puck of Williams and used it for the first two passes in this mornings shave before I got disgusted with the lather and switched to a Williams stick. The puck just did not have the slickness I like and the stick did. Williams puck is doable but for me if I have to put that much effort into getting a decent lather, and it was, without the slickness I want, well you know the rest of the story.

Bob

Originally Posted by BobH

Got a third puck of Williams and used it for the first two passes in this mornings shave before I got disgusted with the lather and switched to a Williams stick. The puck just did not have the slickness I like and the stick did. Williams puck is doable but for me if I have to put that much effort into getting a decent lather, and it was, without the slickness I want, well you know the rest of the story.

Bob

If you had been around 100 years ago you could have applied the lather, sat down and read the morning paper, and then the lather would be unchanged. Then you could have hopped in your Model T and taken on the world from pole to pole, dreaming of that ambrosia of suds that gently caressed your face to start your day.

We want our vintage Williams back!

Originally Posted by CaliforniaCajun

If you had been around 100 years ago you could have applied the lather, sat down and read the morning paper, and then the lather would be unchanged. Then you could have hopped in your Model T and taken on the world from pole to pole, dreaming of that ambrosia of suds that gently caressed your face to start your day.

We want our vintage Williams back!

Don't worry my Williams stick from the 1920/30s still performs better the the current puck and so does the Williams stick I bought overseas a few years ago. Go figure.

Bob

Who has this new formula figured out, anyway? I know, I know, what can you expect for a dollar, but the box says "Famous For It's Lather", so how do you get it?! Seems to completely vanish on my face, right before my eyes, like some kind of magic trick! ( This old ad pictured here says "It Won't Dry On The Face". This made me laugh, as that's the biggest problem with the soap now! ) I've heard that it requires obscene amounts of water, although I keep adding & adding with no difference. Maybe it's just not enough. Any suggestions?

Try this.. fill a mug scuttle whatever u use with water hot warm cold whatever u like.. drop the williams inbthe water.. while u shower let ur soap and brush soak in the mugg.when outbof shower empty water leave soap in bowl shake brush and lather.. seems to work for me.. onnyoutube also great videos on this topic

Originally Posted by Firefighter2

Who has this new formula figured out, anyway? I know, I know, what can you expect for a dollar, but the box says "Famous For It's Lather", so how do you get it?! Seems to completely vanish on my face, right before my eyes, like some kind of magic trick! ( This old ad pictured here says "It Won't Dry On The Face". This made me laugh, as that's the biggest problem with the soap now! ) I've heard that it requires obscene amounts of water, although I keep adding & adding with no difference. Maybe it's just not enough. Any suggestions?

I suggest you use another soap. Seriously, I reached the point where it just wasn't worth the effort. The product has been gutted of the properties that made it famous. I think I mentioned that I grated a puck of modern Williams with a cheese grater into a mug and it worked as well as anything I have ever used. Then on subsequent attempts I couldn't do anything with it (soaking, not soaking, hot water, cold water, etc.). That tells me that I used up all the goodies during that one shave. I have used a vintage Williams puck and it had enough goodies to work for every shave. Therefore, I think they have reduced the amount of certain key ingredients.

Since you're in Canada, an alternate suggestion would be to cover a puck of Williams with black shoe polish and use it as a hockey puck.

Originally Posted by CaliforniaCajun

I suggest you use another soap. Seriously, I reached the point where it just wasn't worth the effort. The product has been gutted of the properties that made it famous. I think I mentioned that I grated a puck of modern Williams with a cheese grater into a mug and it worked as well as anything I have ever used. Then on subsequent attempts I couldn't do anything with it (soaking, not soaking, hot water, cold water, etc.). That tells me that I used up all the goodies during that one shave. I have used a vintage Williams puck and it had enough goodies to work for every shave. Therefore, I think they have reduced the amount of certain key ingredients.

Since you're in Canada, an alternate suggestion would be to cover a puck of Williams with black shoe polish and use it as a hockey puck.

Ha! I think I have to agree with that!