OK, with the arrival just today of the 1908 Ever Ready Lather Catcher, both of the players are in place. I've decided that the next two weeks beginning Sunday I will use only two razors. Both over 100 years old. This one: And this one: I initially thought that the Gillette was a 1906 model but cross checking of the serial number confirmed it is 1908 vintage same as the Ever Ready. The test will run for 2 weeks so that both razors will get 7 shaves. Just to eliminate any variations in blade life between SE and DE, each Sunday both will get a fresh blade. Week 1: ER: Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday Gillette: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday Week 2: Gillette: Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday ER: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday I've already had a couple practice shaves with the Gillette and am really impressed with this one so far. The practice shave with the lather catcher will be tomorrow morning (you didn't expect me to wait for the first shave with a new razor until Sunday did you?). After that, LET THE GAMES BEGIN!
Sounds great. I am still looking to try out a 1908 lather catcher as well. I haven't been fortunate enough to find one yet. However; when 2012 comes around I will be set!
+1 I'm just kind of facinated with old stuff and times I never saw. I'll take things that have stood the test of time over the modern day gizmos that will be garbage in six months any day. I'm a history buff and have always had a softspot for old stuff anyway. If you really want to break away from the cartridge and goo mandate, what better way to do it than with a hundred year old razor? They're great shaves too and besides, when these were new, Teddy Roosevelt was President and the Wright brothers' flight was fairly recent news. That's just way cool to me. I'm the same way with pipes. Most of my pipe collection was made prior to 1938.
Lets see why would I like 100 year old straights,DE's or Dunhill pipe or old Kaywoodies for that matter. :sport036:sport036 Hum if ya have to ask then no explanation is warranted. That's a beauty of an old Ever Ready!
Something is telling me that the Ever Ready is gonna win with a great difference.I was gonna do something similar:slant vs GEM MM OC but I shaved today with a 1912 and theres not vs anymore.BBS shave in 2 passes while I need almost 3 and some touch ups with the slant.The MM OP would even beat it more so theres no more battles... VIVA LA REVOLUTION!!!!
Practice Shave with the Lather Catcher Without question the finest shave I have ever had in my entire life. Hot Shower Washed face with Eucalyptus/Spearmint soap 1908 Ever Ready Lather Catcher Omega Boar Brush TSD Magnolia Corn Husker's Lotion Aqua Velva Classic AS Acqua Di Gio EDT Yesterday, had you asked me, what my favorite razor in my collection was, I would have been unable to give a definitive answer. Truth is they were (and still are) outstanding in their own way. As such, my collection was indeed a dead heat, not a bad shave in the bunch all very outstanding shave tools. Then came the lather catcher. Very aggressive but very light and nimble, it quite simply kicked up my shaving experience to new notches. I can now say without reservation that this is my favorite razor. This old thing just does it better than any razor I've ever owned. Had I quit after the first pass, I would have had a DFS. The second pass (ears to nose) made it BBS and the third (S-N) was just for fun, because I wasn't ready to put it away yet. If this is how all lather catchers shave, I clearly need a few more.
Now that's a shave I just ordered some Acqua Di Gio balm. How do you like it? I'll find out in a few days but curiosity has me. I do understand the third pass I just did the same thing on a new straight that came in this morning With this old beautiful Boker And this Dan Capshaw brush The only problem I ever had with an older single edge was finding decent blades.
Nah, the test will continue as advertised. I can't really take anything away from the Gillette either, it's definitely the best DE seen to date and easily runs with my other Gems for aggressiveness and all around great shaves As for straights, I have a Boker Red Injun No.102 but I'm not in a huge hurry to shave with it. I still need to get it honed and get a strop. Besides, at the end of the day I'm left wondering if I get BBS shaves from my old SE razors and can do so without a huge learning curve, why jump into straights? My main concern is not cutting myself but the fact that I'm completely clueless as to how to keep an edge on these things. Poor stropping would probably do more to dull a razor than to sharpen it. I may just play with my Boker for a while before I put it into the rotation. If it makes the rotation at all, I picture it a weekend razor and the safety razors would still be my go-to razors for busy work days when a straight is time prohibitive.
The Red Injun is a good one alright. You are correct that a bad strop technique will dull one pretty fast. It's worth the learning curve but there's nothing at all wrong with using the old single edge or DE's. To each his or her own. The point is to enjoy them!!!
Day 1 The kick off shave of the Battle of the Super Centenarians: Hot Shower 1908 Ever Ready Lather Catcher New Gem/Personna Blade TSD Coconut Lime Verbena Dickinson's WH (aloefied) Clubman Bay Rum AS M & L Florida Water Cologne The lather catcher once again delivers in fine style. This was just a great shave and the lather catcher is a blast to shave with. As far as the rest, this is just a great combination of soap AS and Cologne (IMHO). The Bay Rum and FW compliment each other very nicely and the whole shave felt great. The usual rough spots on my neck were maybe a couple points off of BBS but really nothing to squawk about (I could have done touch up but in fairness stopped at 3 passes which will be the standard for the duration of the test.)
Day 2- Monday The Gillette fires back in fine fashion Hot Shower 1908 Gillette Old Style Single Ring Fresh Personna blade VDH Deluxe Dickinson's WH (aloefied) Clubman Lilac Vegetal M&L Lotus and Violets Cologne In as much as it pains me to give this much credit to a DE, I must confess that this may be a tight race to call. While the shave with this razor was not what I would say clearly superior, I cannot say that it was one bit inferior to the lather catcher shave. Very nice and totally comfortable shave. Three passes BBS.
How would you compare the aggressive side of that razor with a SE?Could you compare it with a MM OP one in term of aggressiveness?
This Gillette, unlike any other DE I've ever encountered is on par with both the Micromatic Open Comb and the Lather Catcher. I was really quite surprised at this since even a slim adjustable set at 9 seemed a little timid to me. The old style is clearly aggressive enough to run side by side with any SE out there, IMHO.
