George Washington's Straight from Mt. Vernon

Krona Kruiser · Sep 4, 2012

After reading this thread: http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/309015-Australian-Army-Shaving-History-c-1911 I remembered that I sneaked in a picture from Mt. Vernon this summer. My father in-law (a kind optometrist who's never broken a law a law in his life) was kind enough to distract the security guard for this shoddy pic of one of Washington's straight.

Doc226 · Sep 4, 2012

Cool, could you tell the maker?

Krona Kruiser · Sep 4, 2012

Couldn't tell the maker but it says France 1775-1780, copper, horn, and iron on the bottom left of display.
The rest of the message reads:
The showing case is possibly the "travelling] Razor Case" General Washington purchased in 1775. When open, it reveals a mirror, compartments for razors, hones (for sharpening razor blades), and other toiletries necessary to maintain Washington's orderly appearance while in camp. The compact design allowed for its easy transport as part of his extensive camp equipage.

wrinkles2 · Sep 4, 2012

you can't take pictures at mt.vernon?
btw, It's a nice razor.

Krona Kruiser · Sep 4, 2012

wrinkles2 said:
you can't take pictures at mt.vernon?
btw, It's a nice razor.

You can't take pics in the museum portion or the actual mansion.

Mike H · Sep 4, 2012

Mt. Vernon does have an e-museum, very cool.

http://emuseum.mountvernon.org
Search "razor"

I think I see a coticule in there, given by his nephew

hokahay · Sep 4, 2012

This picture looks like the same one as in the display case.

Gentlemen in the eighteenth century often travelled with compact razor cases that held their personal set of shaving and dressing supplies. One such case, possibly belonging to George Washington, contained this straight razor. It bears the distinctive stamp of a long-handled curate's pipe on its shoulder, the trademark of cutler George Wostenholm of Sheffield, England. Drawing on its wealth of local iron and coal deposits, Sheffield developed into a leading manufacturing center for steel razors and knives by the end of the eighteenth century.

http://emuseum.mountvernon.org/code/emuseum.asp

Galengwath · Sep 4, 2012

Interesting stuff. I'm in the midst of reading a biography of George Washington, but it has neglected to point out if he shaved himself or if his personal manservant did. Almost certainly the latter, I suppose.