Apparently, the Arko shave stick that we all know and love was introduced in 1957 according to the little historic lesson found (here). So, I might have to adjust my timeframe for recreating a shave from the dawn of the Arko era.For my third Arko Boarko Loko shave, I tried to recreate a shaving experience from the dawn of Arko time. I understand that the company that makes Arko was founded in 1927. With a heavy emphasis on the "Loko" part of my Arko August journey, I chose this:
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This is my 1934 NEW type "Red Black" DeLuxe Special and a 1930 NEW type blade from the first quarter of production (A1=first quarter 1930). This was Gillette's first slotted DE blade. It is carbon steel. Notice that the slot is shaped differently than a modern DE blade. I crossed my fingers and stropped it before I loaded it. Well, even Arko and my Semogue 820 Boar could not save a shave with this old blade. It was impossibly dull, so I switched it out for a different vintage (but 56 years newer) Gillette Spoiler on its 4th shave. Night and day. The Spoiler rescued my shave, which ended up being a blood-free DFS+ in three passes.
To be fair, even though I took this blade from an original paper outer wrapper, the inner wrapper was missing. Also, from the looks of it in hindsight, the blade may have been a used one that just happened to be put back in its original outer wrapper. I have a bunch (like 50) of these blades, some of which are definitely NOS inside a box still wrapped with cellophane, so I will probably try this again. I might also try one of my 1930 Gillette DeLuxe Kro Man blades. They cost $0.20 per BLADE in 1930 ($2.00 for a box of 10). These were apparently Gillette's first stainless steel blade, but also were an abject failure because customers perceived them to be brittle.
Whichever blade I select, I will use my 1930 Berkshire (another Gillette NEW type) to get everything to line up on 1930. Stay tuned
Arko August 2022
- Thread starter FoolishMortal
- Start date
Saturday, August 6th- ARKO/Boarko on the down low (shave #5)- an excellent two-pass shave, I'll score it a BBS-, 10-/10:
Razor: Gillette Tech
Blade: Wizamet SI (5)- smoother than the BIC CP (4) used yesterday for me, maybe just a hair less sharp, but good
Lather: ARKO stick- nice lather, I let the lather get just about runny for my second pass and it worked well; BTW my ARKO stick has an expiration date of April 2022- it's still fine, and still smells just like ARKO should ; I think this soap could survive being buried in a pyramid and would work after several thousand years- like a Twinkie might survive
Brush: Zenith 506 unbleached- my use continues, brush remains excellent
Post: rinse, then Thayer's Superhazel, a nice splash- too bad it was discontinued; I may need some moisturizer later- it's back to being warm and dry here after a wonderful, cooler <80F, rainy day yesterday
Be well everyone!
Is it me, or does participation in this thread seem a bit less than prior years? Surprising, as many folks did sign up.
Razor: Gillette Tech
Blade: Wizamet SI (5)- smoother than the BIC CP (4) used yesterday for me, maybe just a hair less sharp, but good
Lather: ARKO stick- nice lather, I let the lather get just about runny for my second pass and it worked well; BTW my ARKO stick has an expiration date of April 2022- it's still fine, and still smells just like ARKO should
; I think this soap could survive being buried in a pyramid and would work after several thousand years- like a Twinkie might surviveBrush: Zenith 506 unbleached- my use continues, brush remains excellent
Post: rinse, then Thayer's Superhazel, a nice splash- too bad it was discontinued; I may need some moisturizer later- it's back to being warm and dry here after a wonderful, cooler <80F, rainy day yesterday
Be well everyone!
Is it me, or does participation in this thread seem a bit less than prior years? Surprising, as many folks did sign up.
August 6th
Today I loaded a Voskhod (7) into a UK Gillette flat bottom tech. The original handle is quite thin, so I've substituted a handle from a Col. Conk razor. I gave lathered ARKO with a 24mm badger from Yaqi. There was some tugging on the first pass, particularly around my chin. The rest of the shave was good, if not especially close.
Today I loaded a Voskhod (7) into a UK Gillette flat bottom tech. The original handle is quite thin, so I've substituted a handle from a Col. Conk razor. I gave lathered ARKO with a 24mm badger from Yaqi. There was some tugging on the first pass, particularly around my chin. The rest of the shave was good, if not especially close.
Let's do a little check-in, shall we?
Arko August 2022 Participants List
Arko Gung-ho (all Arko, all August)
Arko on the Down-low (some Arko, sometimes)
- @FoolishMortal
- @steveclarkus
- @Multum in parvo
- @Big_T
- @RumpleBearskin
- @DalShaver
- @ajkel64
- @bluesman 7
- @InkStainedWretch
- @bdehne
- @Egmont
- @alla2465
- @uberbey
- @Draig
- @Yura_
- @Arbor Man
- @Steve56 (unless he's not)
- @JayFromBrooklyn
- @psfred
- @acantrel
Arko-Boarko-Loko (All Arko, plus boar brushes only)
- @RenoRichard
- @timetofly
- @Ravenonrock
- @Butch Waxx - ?
- @ewk
- @tjsgarden
- @Ted A
- @Kix
- @PRobots
- @shave/brush
- @La Malice
- @NorthernSoul
- @1Pet5_8
- @redrako
- @ChriWilson
- @Tom Bowman
Arko MakeItUpAsYouGoGo (your Arko, your way)
Arko is a no-go (no Arko, no way)
- @FarmerTan - he's 97% BoarShark
- @South Dakota Guy - a little Arko, a little Sharko
- @Vulcan Bubbles - 97%er
- @borwish - all Arko, some Sharko
- @Robbie7 - Arko-Sharko all the way
- @KMF79 - All the things! (Arko, Sharko, Boarko, Aventus - oh!)
- @Alohawyatt - It's a mystery...
- @JCarr - Arko-Sharko all the way
- @Filudo - umm...maybe?
- Mike M
I've been off the grid for a while so I missed the start but I'd like to jump in now!
Really not hard. Arko became my "daily" five months ago. Travel and home.
I will admit to a few days of MWF in there. So Nothing but Arko for August then.
I also got on a boar brush phase to start the month, so for me it's, "BAGPA".
Boar, Arko, Game Changer, Proraso, August.
Embrace the Arko!
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Arko August shave #3...Arko/Sharko...wonderful shave!
Thanks for the link.
It was an interesting read.
ARKO....ARKO....ARKO
Oh.... sorry....forgot MikeM was not here.
Shave # 2 for Arko August
Razor: EJ 89
Blade: Astra SP
Soap: Intoxicating soap in a red tub
Brush: Omega boar
AS: VIBR
Oh.... sorry....forgot MikeM was not here.
Shave # 2 for Arko August
Razor: EJ 89
Blade: Astra SP
Soap: Intoxicating soap in a red tub
Brush: Omega boar
AS: VIBR
Another stellar shave this morning using ARKO!! A Henson +++ and as Astra blade worked together with the ARKO to produce a lovely three pass BBS shave.
Using ARKO for every shave since July 24!
Using ARKO for every shave since July 24!
Mike M
...but this one IS cracked.
But I'm still watching...
always watching
rbscebu
Girls call me Makaluod
ARKO-Boarko-Loko
Still in.
Day seven and I finished working my way through my English M7DS with a Proraso Pro boar brush and ARKO of course.
Tomorrow I start on my T.R. Cadman "Bengall" seven-day set.
Still in.
Day seven and I finished working my way through my English M7DS with a Proraso Pro boar brush and ARKO of course.
Arko August Shave number seven for me today. Seventh shave with the Astra SP and the last. I got my seven shaves out of the blade but I gave myself a decent weeper under my chin and loads of sting from the Alum Block. New blade tomorrow morning, let’s see how a Jaws Blade goes.
Arko August 2022, #7
Razor: Blackland Blackbird SB
Blade: Personna Crystal (2)
Brush: Omega Boar
Lather: Arko Stick, bowl lathered
A/S: Stirling Barbershop Balm
Razor: Blackland Blackbird SB
Blade: Personna Crystal (2)
Brush: Omega Boar
Lather: Arko Stick, bowl lathered
A/S: Stirling Barbershop Balm
7th shave with Arko for Arko August. I am surprised how nice my shaves have been so far. I expect that I’ll go further into August before having to change soaps than I have the last few years.
Razor: Parker Injector
Blade: Schick (10)
Brush: Frank 4G
Soap: Arko
Aftershave: Stirling Executive Man
Balm: Neutrogena Hydro Boost
Razor: Parker Injector
Blade: Schick (10)
Brush: Frank 4G
Soap: Arko
Aftershave: Stirling Executive Man
Balm: Neutrogena Hydro Boost
Arko August
Shave: 4-7
August 4-7, 2022
𓆧𓆧𓆧𓆧𓆧𓆧𓆧𓆧𓆧𓆧𓆧
Soap: Arko stick smashed into a Jar
Razor: Fatip Nobile Gentile
Blade: Shark Platinum Super Stainless (50-51)
On the sixth and seventh I used my straight razor named Ida
Brush: Omega boar brush
2 pass some touch up with the SHARKO DFS.
There was no
in the water.
𓆧𓆧𓆧𓆧
Shave: 4-7
August 4-7, 2022
Soap: Arko stick smashed into a Jar
Razor: Fatip Nobile Gentile
Blade: Shark Platinum Super Stainless (50-51)
On the sixth and seventh I used my straight razor named Ida
Brush: Omega boar brush
2 pass some touch up with the SHARKO DFS.
There was no
in the water.𓆧𓆧𓆧𓆧
Shark SS shave 3
1 day growth
Razor: 66 Slim on 6
Pre: Warm shower with Kurt's Castile unscented.
Soap: ARKO stick
Brush: 26mm Yaqi Timberwolf synthetic
After: Old Spice
Today I'm back to the stinky stick. It's not as good of a shark repellant as Tabac, but it kept the biting at bay. 3 passes has me Baby Seal Smooth with no drama. This is what a shave should be like.
1 day growth
Razor: 66 Slim on 6
Pre: Warm shower with Kurt's Castile unscented.
Soap: ARKO stick
Brush: 26mm Yaqi Timberwolf synthetic
After: Old Spice
Today I'm back to the stinky stick. It's not as good of a shark repellant as Tabac, but it kept the biting at bay. 3 passes has me Baby Seal Smooth with no drama. This is what a shave should be like.
Arko Man is in the building!
He is going viral!
He is on your computer screen watching you!
He is everywhere!
Arko-ficial Report, Day 7
Gilette Slim
Feather blade
AP G5C fan brush
Arko stick
I got some new brushes in the mail yesterday. Today I used the G5C and it is a winner. The backbone is right in the middle and feels very soft and controllable in use.
Good Day to All!
Gilette Slim
Feather blade
AP G5C fan brush
Arko stick
I got some new brushes in the mail yesterday. Today I used the G5C and it is a winner. The backbone is right in the middle and feels very soft and controllable in use.
Good Day to All!
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