grandpa's stuff...

[benvh]

Since I started wetshaving (including the the ADs that go along with it) I've been wondering if any of my grandfather's shaving products were still around. I recalled him shaving with a DE razor from when I was a kid, but I wasn't really sure about it. He passed away in 2005, so I figured anything would be long gone. My grandma isn't the sentimental type...as soon as he was gone she started getting rid of everything so I assumed all was lost.

I emailed my mom yesterday and asked her. I sent her a picture of one of my DE razors and asked her if she could bug my grandma about it. Luckily my mom IS the sentimental type and one of the things she rescued from the trash pile was all his shaving stuff. She described a shaving brush, worn down to about 1" tall with "Klenzo" written on the bottom. She thought it looked like a celluloid handle. She also has his razor which she said looks similar to the picture I sent. Lastly, an unused Williams shaving soap with the k-mart sticker still on it

I was really close to him so I'm really excited to get my hands on everything. She's going to mail it out this week. I didn't ask any more details so it's more exciting opening up the package. I'll keep you all updated when it arrives!

Ben

 

[Luc]

That's pretty cool and one of the greatest scores you could have!

 

[valmara1971]

Thats a real nice story Ben and a nice way to think about him everyday. I have a brush that came to me in a very similar fashion.

 

[Hank]

I know that it would have been nice to have either my dad's or my grand fathers stuff

 

[luvmysuper]

My favorite posts to read are the ones where gear has been passed down from generation to generation, as it should be.
That was a time where we were not so much into the "disposable" mind set (ok, blades excepted) and the quality of these vintage razors proves that point.
Good show, keep us posted with pictures once it arrives.

 

[bandit82ta]

Very cool story and a bit of luck. I had just tried the same questions but my familys on both sides have no DE stuff to be found other then my Uncle who graciously gave me a 40's SuperSpeed in box and a Old Spice mug

 

[MPruett]

Congrats! I'll personally vouch for the fact that it's a cool feeling to use razors that were your ancestors' also. I got a massive haul of my father's, grandfathers' and great-grandfathers' razors earlier this year.

The only disappointing thing is that except for the late-60s Superspeed that was Dad's (he told me), the rest of them are not matchable to any one person, although I think I recall one of my grandfathers using the 1959 Fatboy, or maybe it was the Slim Adjustable.

 

[dustinm]

That's really cool. My grandfather passed when I was 10, and my father when I was 17, and I think it would have been really cool to have some of their stuff. I asked my grandmother about any shave stuff, and she said it was given to my older cousin, but apparently my grandfather had changed to an electric many years before, so the DE's were long gone anyway.

 

[mliguori]

There is something really great about using products with a story to them. Those pieces that have been in my family for a bit are by far my favorites in my collection.

 

[Macion grey]

Unfortunately, my father uses a Gillette Excell and a Drugstore synthetic brush. Not really keepsakes, those.

Congrats on the incoming family heirlooms.

 

[Bobtrumpet]

You may be able to have the brush re-knotted; I doubt it's usable in its current state. Post a pic or two over on the Shaving Brushes forum when you get it.

 

[Deltaboy]

That is a great find.

 

[Robust2]

I got 2 brushes from my dad, one is almost completely lost, but the other one is in pristine condition. The only trouble with it, is that the knot is quite crap and I can't seem to get any decent lather from it.
Thinking about putting a knot from the golden nib in it.

 

[benvh]

Got a package from my mom today with this inside

I posted more pictures in their respective forum, but I thought I'd put a couple in here as well.

 

[the beav]

That's a great looking brush and razor. Congratulations!

I have my grandfathers brush and it's still usable. That one's not looking so useable, in which case I'd get it rebrushed if you want to use it.

 

[Alacrity59]

Got a package from my mom today with this inside

I posted more pictures in their respective forum, but I thought I'd put a couple in here as well.

I had a brush that I used for well over 20 years and it was not worn that much. I admire your grandfather's sense of thrift.

 

[Nozzlejocky]

I spoke with my parents about relatives' old shaving stuff after I got into it and found that most had been discarded. I was saddened, but back then, I never would have guessed where it would lead today. Lessons learned I guess.

 

[thunderball]

Awesome! Might want to get a new knot for that brush though...

 

[mr_economy]

My grandpa passed away this February, and that makes the shaving gear he gave me about a year and a half ago all the more special. I had taken a Gillette Super Speed I'd been PIF'd with me for our family Christmas gathering and thought he might find it interesting. He laughed when he saw it and said I was crazy for wanting to use it, that he had gone electric years ago and wouldn't be going back, but that he still had a couple razors sitting around somewhere.

A few minutes of hunting in his chest of drawers produced a mint Gold Toggle and Gold Aristocrat From the prices I see these go for on the B&B alone, I'd say they're worth well over $100 together. I'll never sell them though, because they have so much meaning. The Toggle is something my grandfather had bought for his father as a birthday present, and was left to him when his father died, so every time I shave with it I can think of both my great grandfather and grandfather. It's pretty darn special.

Congrats on the finds, Ben!

 

[bludman]

This kind of shaving gear is the best of all because it has sentimental value. About a year ago my mom found some old gear she had put in storage years ago:
A Fat handled 1932 Canadian tech in case (with mirror), a few assorted blades (Gillette blue made in Canada, Minora made in Canada, Wilkinson made in UK) and a "Kewtie woman's razor" without box.

I know it was my great grand father's at some point and my mom took it to summer camp as a child (it is twice labeled with her maiden name- one label says "Don't lose this").

Included a small snapshot form my phone.