January 2018
Shavettes and Jeeves January!
January 7 - Special Memorial Shave
Razor - Gillette Techmatic
Blades - Techmatic Cartridge Band (1)
Soap - Arko
Brush - Omega 10066 Boar
Post - Alum, Old Spice for Monday morning
January 7, 1928, the youngest of 5 boys was born in Rolla, Kansas. Now I know you all know exactly where Rolla is, right? No? Well, you know where the end of the world is? Rolla isn't the end of the world but you can see it from there. He was born to a hard working set of parents who stayed put in Rolla during the early days of the Depression and Dust Bowl, then moved to Colorado to survive the remaining Dust Bowl, and returned to Hugoton, Kansas. You know Rolla, right, where you can see the end of the world? Well Hugoton can see Rolla.
Skipping a lot of great old stories...........this young man grew up and met a local farmer's girl who was his exact opposite. He of the Indian motorcycle, cigarettes rolled up in his sleeve and all around trouble maker when he wanted to be. She of the church going, upstanding pillar in the community parents. They had three children of their own. The oldest a boy, James Otis, then two years later a girl, Myra Marie and, following several miscarriages seven years later, their youngest boy, Neal Frank.
The man's name was Gayle Frank Cox, and he mightily hated his first name. But, that's how he was known. He was one fine mechanic, truck driver, working stiff type of guy and believed in hard work and honesty. Lie to him and get caught.....well.....let's just say I remember well how he handled that the one and only time I tried. Sitting down became an adventure.
My Dad's razor of choice for most of the time I remember him was the Gillette Techmatic. He loved Gillette products and his earlier razor had been a Super Speed. In 1973 he actually switched to the radically new Trac II from Gillette. And, in July of 1973, he died at the age of 45. Well, now in 2018, it would have been his 90th birthday today. He's now been gone as long as he lived. I loved my Dad. I idolized my Dad, and I still, at times, miss him terribly. So, in honor of him, I chose to acquire a NOS Techmatic still brand new in the cardboard packing as well as one in the much fancier plastic case. The one in the plastic case will stay in my collection in his memory. The other one was released from its vintage prison and used tonight for his 90th birthday shave.
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I kept it simple, because that's the way he liked it. Arko and a boar brush. Dad used Gillette canned foam - a simple choice back then. I did two passes and touch ups which he would think was absolutely insane. Nobody needs to shave more than one pass at a time. Tomorrow morning I'll splash on the Old Spice because that was his aftershave of choice. Happy Birthday Dad! As crazy as you would think I am for my passion about something you saw as a chore, I know you're proud to see so many Gillettes in my den!
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