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Post by greatwarmarine on Mar 24, 2012 18:27:08 GMT -8
were is the best place to purchase a us shaving kit i know merkur sells 1904 Gillette re pop razors yet is there any where to purchase a kit.
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Post by greatwarmarine on Mar 25, 2012 21:39:35 GMT -8
i just bought one from www.serviceofsupply.com/ReproPersonalItems.htm#Shaving Kits only place that i recently know that sells the reproduction kit it just the case only so i bought the mekur reproduction 1904 safety razor to go with it i report the quality though when i receive it greatwarmarine out |
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Post by rsm2ndbtnlf on Mar 26, 2012 6:38:01 GMT -8
Hello Dallas.
I think this may be a little late, but, incase anyone else wants the WW1 Safety razor.. whichever version. I have purchased several over the years from a very well know auction site. Obviously they are all in various states of repair, but one only gets what one pays for.
Several items I have picked up for next to nothing, so the price that one pays depends upon just who is looking in at the time at the auction one is watching.
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Post by kingkaiser on Mar 26, 2012 16:54:39 GMT -8
I use a safety razor daily, and I have several of them. The Merkur 1904 is a fine razor. The only negative I find with it, is its rather short handle. It comes in both open comb and closed comb designs. Unless you have a heavy beard, or like to use an aggressive razor, I recommend the closed comb model. It can be purchased from several vendors for approximately $30-35 dollars.
Another safety razor, which has a period look, is the Muhle R89 (closed comb) and R41 (open comb). These have longer handles than the Merkur 1904. Additionally, the handles are more textured, giving a better grip with wet hands. The finishes on Muhle razors are generally better than those on Merkurs. However, the price is considerably higher. Muhles cost approximately $65-70.
Edwin Jagger razors are also highly rated. Many of them have the correct period look. They generally sell for prices somewhere in between the Merkurs and Muhles. They have very nice finishes, and they are excellent razors.
I'm not sure if bakelite razors were used during WWI. However, Merkur makes a nice bakelite razor which sells for between $15-20. It shaves as good as their metal razors. This would be a good, cheap choice, especially if you don't plan to regularly use a safety razor.
Shaving brushes are another item to consider when outfitting a shaving kit. There are a lot of nice travel brushes. However, they can be quite expensive----especially the higher grade badger models. If you are not going to regularly use a shaving brush, and just want one for your kit, I would recommend getting a cheap Burma Shave brush. They are available on E-bay, and I've seen them priced as low as $4.
As far as shaving creams and soaps go, I'm not sure what is the most period correct. You certainly can't easily pack away a shaving mug to lather up with, and I doubt that they were used in the front lines. You could use regular hand soap, carried in a metal travel soap dish. Also, there are a number of shaving soaps which come in tins, many which have a period look. In my opinion, a shaving soap stick is the most portable, practical, and easiest to pack away. E-bay generally has a number of vintage Colgate, Williams, and Palmolive shaving soap stick containers for sale.
Shaving mirrors are fairly easy to find. A number of stainless steel mirrors, which can double as a signaling mirror, are available. These are nice, because they won't break in your pack. Another nice option, is the Civil War mirror, with the wooden cover. Many Civil War vendors sell these.
I hope that this review is helpful (to anyone who is interested!). I think that this information should apply to "all sides". At the turn of the century, Gillette was manufacturing safety razors in Berlin. So, a safety razor is correct for a German kit! Safety razors were not just used by Doughboys!
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Post by oskar2ndchev on Mar 26, 2012 20:45:44 GMT -8
Sure beats a straight razor...trust me on that! :-)
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Post by rsm2ndbtnlf on Mar 27, 2012 4:02:36 GMT -8
Nicholas... in reference to period shaving foam... it would be perfectly correct historically to use your hand soap. Thats exactly the procedure we did (as most still do) in the field when I was serving! However, there were shaving sticks available at the time, so it is quite feesable for the chaps to have used those... if and when they were sent over by relatives.
Safety razors were also, as you have mentioned, available during the Great War period. But since they were a relatively new invention, and the supply of spare blade would have been an little expensive for the common soldier, its reasonable to assume that most soldiers used the time honoured straight razor. Both razors however would be period historical correct to use.
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Post by cco23i on Mar 27, 2012 6:49:26 GMT -8
In my opinion the hand soap works BEST with safety razors compared to shaving cream.
Scott
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Post by Larry Dunn on Mar 27, 2012 7:18:27 GMT -8
I would look for a vintage Gillette open comb razor on Ebay or on a shaving forum such as Badger & Blade, great shavers, and often much cheaper than new razors. I have an M.E. Meyer razor (a copy of the Gillette 1904), with traces of "k.u.k. Hoflieferamt" on the lining of the case, but I agree with Seph that (with the possible exception of the Americans) straight razors would have been much more common than safety razors.
If you think hand soap works best with safety razors, you have never tried Tabac shaving soap. If you just want a great shave, find a 50's Gillette Super Speed.
-Larry
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qms
Full Member
Posts: 100
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Post by qms on Mar 27, 2012 7:31:10 GMT -8
In my opinion the hand soap works BEST with safety razors compared to shaving cream. Scott Any soap with hot water works better than shaving foam. Soap (and hot water) serves to 'wet' and soften the beard, (the soap breaks the surface tension and allows the water to soften more, in addition, the oleophilic ends of the soap molecular chains tend to de-oil the facial hairs, the hot water also serves to soften the beard*) - Shaving foam merely shows where the razor has passed. Tom * Hence the use of hot towels in barbers * |
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Post by oskar2ndchev on Mar 27, 2012 9:05:40 GMT -8
I used to use Dial or Ivory when I was in the Army out in the field- wasn't the best but it sure beat dry shaving... :-)
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Post by kingkaiser on Mar 27, 2012 18:22:55 GMT -8
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Post by hocfutue on Apr 3, 2012 19:26:20 GMT -8
For the Brits, straight razors were far more common than those new fangled Yank gadgets. But straight razors are also far trickier to keep sharp and use effectively, especially in the field.
But don't be afraid to give 'em a try. Not as deadly to use as made out to be.
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