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Hi,
Are there any traditional american shaving soaps that exist today that maintain their traditional formula, look, feel and smell and have also retained their branding? I'm talking between the period of 1850-1890 when the likes of billy the kid an Pat Garrett were around. A bizarre request but for some reason something I feel I must pursue... I am based in the UK and already have our equivalent Mitchell's wool fat... Please help
I am not sure if this meets your criteria, but it would be worth looking into:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/soaps...ck-review.html
I don't know if the SA version of the Williams shave stick is true to the original formula but it does lather well like the original vintage shave sticks do. It is a far better shave soap than the current version of the Williams puck shave soap.
Another option might be the Palmolive shave stick as Colgate Palmolive is an American company that made soaps in the 1800s but I don't know when they first made shave soaps. For some strange reason we haven't been able to buy Palmolive shave creams or sticks at regular brick and mortar retail stores for many years now on this side of the pond. Here is a bit of history on Colgate Palmolive Colgate-Palmolive Company History: Creating Bright Smiles for 200 Years . The good news is that you can easily buy the Palmolive shave stick in the UK for about half a GBP.
Bob
I think that was an outstanding question! I hope we get some good answers. If not, I can help with suggesting some modern US soap makers.
Have you any nice old US razors to go with the soap?
I sadly do not. I have a vintage ERN from solingen that I have finally managed to hone properly ( shh) following the honing and stropping methodology of Murray CarterQuote:
Originally Posted by wyobarbershop
Your razor of choice is a good one for sure! 6/8 Revisor is a sweet blade! You deffinatley gotta get a vintage WR Case or maybe a Torrey USA. You'll love them!Quote:
Originally Posted by Luap
Yes I have those on my "to get" list,Quote:
Originally Posted by wyobarbershop
But alas, European prices make them less desirable!... I was hoping for a flurry of American brands to surface but it looks like there might not be that many traditional recipe/packed with history USA brands. Let's give it a few days and then please provide me with a list of modern US soaps... Your sign off makes me chuckle. My avatar on another forum is Rio Bravo.
Well, if you decide to go with a modern made US shave soap you are in for a mind boggling variety of artisan soaps/creams to choose from. The big boys in North America don't seem to want to play anymore so there has been a flood of artisan made soaps/creams to fill the breach. I haven't used any so far but have read many good reviews on them.
Bob
What you are looking for is Col Conk.
He started his business in New Mexico in the 1860s selling barbershop products throughout the West through peddling. His products were very famous. When he died in the late 1890s his business died with him. You can buy Col Conk products today but it's really just a name and soap is so-so at best.
But the history is there.
That's what started me off. I wasn't too impressed with col. Conk, and after my research I was a little disappointed to hear that the true manufacturing stopped after his death. It's hard to define what I am after. Is it's the history, is it the recipe, is it the traditional packaging? It's difficult to say but for some strange reason, it's has to be american! God knows why, perhaps I have watched too many John Wayne films!Quote:
Originally Posted by thebigspendur
I don't think you're going to find any. I was about to say Old Spice, but they like many companies were bought up by larger companies and their products have changed over time. Old Spice is now owned by Procter & Gamble, as are Gillette and the Art of Shaving :shrug:
This almost makes me want to research old defunct brands and look at the mixture, packaging and gain some feedback to see if perhaps some of these old brands can be brought back to life.Quote:
Originally Posted by Haroldg48
Yes, and Old Spice shave cream is now made in India.Quote:
Originally Posted by Haroldg48
Bob
Well I hope some silver lining appears during the night... To wake up in the morning and find a hidden treasure of a US soap; still in production from an old barber, 10th generation, based off of Texas that has retained the production values of their original fathers' creation. It's a nice dream :-)
Williams was made in the US in the 1850s or thereabout. I could not be lazy and hit up the interwebs....but I'm pretty lazy!
It's still around, but I'm not sure where it is made anymore. I also know it has been reformulated. You can still grab some vintage pucks. And you can buy new pucks almost anywhere in the US.
Not a great soap, but it is certainly serviceable. And it has the history.
Wm. Neumann & Co. | Wm. Neumann & Co. Fine Apothecary for Men
I think this is kind of what you were looking for.
I was actually talking about the regular Williams Mug Soap (kind you can buy at Walgreens or Target). But thank you for posting this - I have never read the "about" on this site.
I don't see much about early shave soaps on here other than Colgate, Old spice, and Palmolive on here. I would like to know what might have been available in the USA back then...seems like Williams is the earliest listed at 1840? Maybe my Grandmother would know she's 90 might have to pick her brain....
I suspect if you went way back and found an original soap from the 1800s you probably wouldn't be too impressed with it. Many of those old soaps produced a lot of suds but things we prize today like cushion and glide were another matter. Many folks just used bar soap or whatever they had on hand. Many of the ingredients in modern soaps weren't around in the real old days.
Clicked on the link. Pretty interesting product line-and they certainly don't skimp on the portions.Quote:
Originally Posted by RezDog
I have had it book marked for a long time but have never bought any product there due to shipping costs, but I would sure like to give it a try. I may get an order sent to my sisters house in Seattle before my next visit there.
Walgreens up here in Washington state have stopped stocking Williams. A quick Google and I found it cheaper, delivered to the door, than I could buy it at the store. :rofl2:Quote:
Originally Posted by EdG
In Oregon I've found it at Winco. .89 cents a puck.Quote:
Originally Posted by jmercer
I highly doubt you will find any vintage soaps of any value and they also won't be worth the effort to use. Honestly, the newer U.S. artisanal soaps are exceptional and you won't find anything better with the amount of options in scents.
Good luck with your search.