My Dad was a die-hard electric razor kind of guy before joining and from the day he was discharged from General Patton’s Third Army. He hated HATED that the Army had rules about shaving. Truthfully, I don’t recall ever seeing his dad shave. When I started shaving (12-13ish? certainly by 14 I was already shaving at least three times a week) Pop very diligently offered to teach me and guide me with how he did it. Over maybe a two year period he bought me a few different varieties. I remember at least one Remington with a foil head, a (maybe) Remington with a sort of slotted/sliding head, and also a Norelco with the three rotary heads. I thoroughly disliked each and every one of them. My only result was red, sore, irritated skin with stubble peeking through. My fave at the time was the Wilkinson Bonded razor. Man, it was great! I only stopped using it because they stopped selling the blades. From there I switched to a Trac II which (a replica thereof) remains in my den to this day. My Mom’s father (Poppy) had two Gillettes, a Tech and a Super Speed. I remember watching him shave many times. It was fascinating to me. I don’t remember him using a brush and soap, however. As I recall Poppy used foam from a can. Interestingly, I recall noticing a Tech in our medicine cabinet, I was maybe 10… I think I asked my dad if he was going to start using it. He said, no your mother uses it to shave her legs. I probably said, huh, okay and forgot about it until after she passed years later when I noticed that it was no longer there. Uncle Martin had a few razors, with at least three Gillettes as I remember. Martin’s shaving hardware was fascinating to me as a child. He had a Tech, a Super Speed, and a Slim my cousins chipped in for and bought him for Chanukah one year. He might’ve also had a Gem Featherweight; I could be mistaken, but I don’t think so. Martin also had a butterscotch brush which as I recall, he said came from Macy’s. Poppy (Martin’s father-in-law) was the manager of the men’s shoes department at Macy’s Herald Square at the time. I remember Martin explaining how Poppy had his friend, the manager of the accessories department pick out and put aside, the “best one” they had. I sure wish I made note of what it was. Some ten years ago now, I asked my cousins and Aunt Lila whatever became of Martin’s razors and brush, but nobody knew.
The package arrived, and I have used No. 28. It is truly delightful! It is the closest I have found so far to what my dad had. Scent and performance are wonderful. The vanilla is noticable, and not very clove-ey. Stirling's Bay Rum has an extremely strong clove scent, but it sets my face aflame in a bad way. Thankfully I had no such reaction to the Barberry Coast No. 28. Based on the product and Barberry Coast's generous customer service, I am a new customer when this bottle is empty. Thank you Charlie! I, too, was fascinated by my grandfather's shaving gear. He had a Gillette TTO (probably a Superspeed) in the medicine cabinet for regular use. But on his dresser in its presentation box was a beautiful gold Gillette. It is too long ago for me to specifically remember. It was probably an "Executive" model TTO, but there is a good chance it was a pristine Toggle. I sure wish I knew what became of that gem. Of course I am sure my grandfathers would have found my razor fascination to be ridiculous.
Y’know, based on my vivid recollections of my Uncle Martin’s gear, I suspect he’d be a real enabler I’m really glad you like the No. 28 splash, Eric. Use it in good health and enjoy your shaves!
