Thread: Traditional US shaving soap?

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?

Originally Posted by wyobarbershop

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 Carter

Originally Posted by Luap

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 Carter

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!

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!

Yes I have those on my "to get" list,
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.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

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!