January 2022 30 Day Rule/Focus and Discussion. All Are Welcome!

Wonderful shave Barry! You have a great Sat. afternoon!

 

Joe. Have a great Saturday too!

 

Much better shave this morning . Once again, I waited until the brush had enough soap on it to go to work. Great paintjob all around (Rembrandt would be pleased). For the shave itself,, I appeared to be skipping over some areas on the right cheek(which has been a problem in recent shaves). At that time, I knew I was going to need that second pass. It was tricky working my way over that nasty cut from a few shaves ago. It looked better, though, thanks to Neosporin application. But during the second pass, I went at it a little harder, and paid the price. Not as much red stuff came out as before, but still, you don't want to see it. Good work everywhere else for both passes. The second pass took care of the right cheek issue (killed off the remaining astroturf). The whole shave itself ended at breakfast. What does that mean. Well, while enjoying my cereal and OJ, I realized I didn't apply much of the Agadir to my face back during the shave. I quickly fixed that problem. Ypou know what they say about aftershave-more is better. No other cuts or Knicks besides my friend at North Porcupine. With a few more dabs of Neosporin, I hope it'll be gone. Very Excellent.

 

SOTD SATURDAY MORNING, JANUARY 22, 2022

I have a passion for Japanese straight razors because of the level of craftsmanship they represent. My father treasured his self-winding Lecoultre, luxury, Swiss wristwatch until he passed in 2013 at age 99. That firm had its start as a modest blacksmithing concern started in the 1730’s in Sentier, Switzerland by Abraham Joseph Lecoultre. His grandson, Jacques David Lecoultre designed and built, with his son, Antoinne, a trained watchmaker, one of, if not the first, replaceable blade razors that have come to be called Framebacks.

After Jaques Lecoultre et fils’s very successful presentations in Lausanne in 1829, Bern in 1848 and finally at the Great London Exhibition of 1851, they began exporting their precision built razors to North America, England, Germany, and Russia. The razors were quite expensive in their day and were sold in upscale jewelry and the finest men’s haberdashery shops. Each razor was sold with two blades and a screwdriver. There were three models - the entry level black case with pointed scales, the mid-level green case with squared-off scales, and the red-cased luxury model with ivory scales.

The razors had their start in the 1830’s with the height of production being the 1860’s. After Jaque’s death in the early 1880’s the firm’s emphasis switched from razors to watches and clocks which are still made to this day. Razor production ceased in 1919. After acquiring a mid level model, I became fascinated with the precise specifications and fittings of these remarkable little razors. When properly cleaned up they still deliver an amazingly close shave.

I recently scored one of the ivory scaled models complete with case, blades and screwdriver. The blades and Frameback were badly tarnished and the scales yellowed and filthy. Thanks to the accumulated wisdom and know-how from various friends in the community it cleaned up quite nicely. It arrived fitted with the N1 (5/8) blade, but I swapped it out for the badly rusted and tarnished N2 (6/8). I have a N3 (7/8) blade on the way, and will swap that in after I clean it up upon arrival this coming Monday.

I cleaned up the N2 and ran it through my Shapton progression to 16k. Then finished it on the 9 Ball Slate with final burnish/polish on the Jasper stone until it passed the styrofoam peanut test. The wonderful thing about vintage razors is bringing them back into service and imagining the prior generations who used this same little precision tool.

The mug shave was a delight. Even after 160 yrs there’s a real feeling of precision in using one of these little Swiss razors. I’m definitely on the hunt for the black cased entry level model. Two and a half passes and yours truly ‘s mug was dolphin smooth. The following excellent noggin shave was a foregone conclusion as soon as I picked up the little Cooper Monobilt which completed this morning’s superb dome shave leaving your happy narrator smooth from noggin to neck after two ATG passes.

RAZOR: Lecoultre Frameback N2 (Mug), Cooper Monobilt (Dome)
BLADE: Feather DE (Dome)
PREP: Cold water rinse followed by a heavy scrub with Argan Oil
BRUSH: MrEE LE #007 Knurled Aluminum Handle with Hybrid Knot
SOAP: Mitchell’s Wool Fat
POSTSHAVE: Cold water wash with brush squeezings followed by a rinse with Humphreys WH. Finished with Pre de Provence Bergamot & Thyme AS Balm.

 

That's a nice vintage razor and excellent shaves Jeff!

Fine shave Paul!

 

SRS # 630

Rating: 5 / 5

Razor: Taylor Eyewitness 1000
Brush: Purple Haze Badger
Lather: Cella Crema da Barba
Aftershave: PAA Chella Cool
Additional Care:
Stirling Alum Block
Stirling Unscented Glacial Balm
Thayer’s Witch Hazel - Original

Chilly weather brings our the Cella paired with the Chella Cool aftershave. This is a win win shave every time as the missus just loves this scent. The Taylor Eyewitness 1000, a razor I won last April in a raffle using the numbers of the hospital room my father was in, delivered a superior shave. This razor comes up in the rotation about once a month as I have over 20 straights in my den therefore this is my seventh shave with this razor. Each shave with this blade has been phenomenal.

I did my customary three pass. Was the third pass needed? No but I just enjoy the entire calming process of the straight shave so I prolong my enjoyment. How many men that trudge each morning into the bathroom for a non wetshaving experience can say that?

I hope you all have a great day gentlemen. I am going to spend some time today restoring a blade with the wet/dry paper, 1000k is up next, and making another set of “practice scales” with the scroll saw.

 

Another fine historical perspective Jeff. Thank you for sharing. Great shave as always.

 

thank you Jeff.it is the predecessor to the arstocrat jr,basically an open comb version with brit aristocrat barber pole knurling.british equivalent of the senator or sheraton.

 

Easy does it Paul. You need to be gentle with your mug as I am sure the ladies in Aisle 12 will notice if you don’t. Fine shave inspite of your continued challenges with the Crisom Tide.

 

Saturday Morning (Non)Luxury Shave

Saturday morning shaves are my favorite. With 36 hours of stubble I luxuriate in my favorite products, wear longer lasting scents, enjoy more aggressive razors. I was weighing whether to use the Rex Ambassador or the Blackland Blackbird, as neither had been used for many weeks. Having watched Joe's straight razor video last night, I shifted gears this morning and decided to try out the Feather DX. After all, I had been reading up, watching videos, and practicing technique without the blade all month. And Joe's excellent video makes it look so satisfying.

I used the DX two times before, and walked away bloody after a few strokes each time. This morning, after a thorough face soaking, wash with glycerine soap, and generating a loose, hydrated, soupy lather I employed the light touch, stretched the skin, began a stroke with the blade almost flat, and the blade:

1. hops skips and jumps over my skin
2. feels like I rubbed alum all over my face before trying to move the blade over it.

A few strokes and four bloody cuts later, I am putting this thing away, maybe forever. I feel like an idiot. Ironically, the cuts were on the dominant hand side. At least my non-dominant hand dexterity practice is showing good results.

Not about to waste a big bowl of Stirling Ben Franklin lather, I easily shaved the face with the Rex on 4, and the head with the Blackbird. Topped off with Chatillon Lux Bon Vivant. Wow I wish he still made aftershaves!

I will not be doing a focus with the Feather next month. After finishing January injector focus, I think I need a break from targeted shaving focus.

 

fine shaves and pics gents..

 

saturday brit shave
4th gen aristocrat
platinum
simpson
hoxton
burberry weekend



morning gents..
just kicking back today.
fabulous 2 passer in the usual manner with
the last of the brit aristocrats
burberry weekend caps it off.
awesome.
have a fine weekend everyone.


​

 

Yes, that Crimson Tide continues to become me. The Neosporin has been a help. I'll be in Aisle 12 today, in fact. I should be ready for 'em. Right-gentle is the way to go from here on out.

 

Thanks Joe......Not OUTTA...but certainly better than FAIRLY. I hope my extra dose of Agadir A.S. won't blow away de wimmin at the supermarket .

 

Great shave, Joe!

 

The mug is unbreakable (plastic!) and was a gift from a friend on another forum!

 

Sorry for the frustrating shave, but it sounds as if you recovered well!

 

Last shave with the Type G for the week. Wonderful shaves this week, but starting tomorrow, I am bringing out the Christopher Bradley razor and get used to a DE again, for the younger brother of the CB is expected next week, the Overlander!



Ethos Clean (just a sample-sized puck left, but will no doubt make it into February!)
sChick (6)
Omega Jade

 

Good shave, Paul!

 

Thanks, Joe!