A few months ago I acquired what I consider the coolest razor I own. It is a 1901 Gem Junior in a pretty banged up case. What blew me away war the provenance that came with the razor. The razor included a note stating showing all of the people who contributed to the razor and the conditions of the gift. It really brings home how spending even a dollar back then was out of most peoples reach. I included the note and gift givers below the images. Lee Bailey Use this razor once every two days or it will be called for and taken back. By request Al<garbled> Birthday Greetings Miss Covey Miss Cook Avia Mason Dorthy Burch Carl Saunders Christy Schrag Ralph Bennett Robert Coon Robert Evans Walter Bailey Marjorie Croft Alberta Severance Robert Jones Robert Wheeler
Very nice, indeed! This really drives home the point of how easy life is for us now compared to the way it was not that terribly long ago.
Might also be why so many old pre WWII razors still have their original cases/tins. When you bought them you kept them in good condition as you couldn't afford to drop a dollar for a new razor every month. They were meant to last because they had to, not discarded at the first chance.
Interesting that they did not mince words about the courage of shaving every other day. Yikes! Great find!
Evidently Mr. Lee Baily needed a prod to shave and keep himself presentable. Can't you just see each of those people in an office setting contributing a dime in order to buy Mr. Baily that razor? Yikes! By request? "Listen Scruffy, we've all chipped in to buy you this brush, soap, and razor. Now haul your caveman looking mug to the bathroom and use them....."
