How was it Viewed

[Steve08]

As I'm watching Blackhawks hockey having a little nip o' brandy, I wonder to myself aloud, what did our grandfathers and great grandfathers think of shaving? Was it just a task to be done, or did they take pleasure in shaving like we do? When they bought/received the new 1920's Gillette New Improved did they get excited about trying it out and using it like we do when we find one in an antique shop or flee market, or were they so use to seeing them in stores they looked upon them as we look upon the Mach 3's and Fusions when we go to the store?

Has anyone talked with older gentlemen as to how they viewed the task of shaving back in the "old days" or have any insight into this topic?

 

[_MementoMori_]

My guess is that they viewed shaving as a chore and didn't enjoy it any more than any of us enjoyed shaving with cartridges and canned goo. The reason we enjoy "old style" wetshaving so much is because of the context in which we view it. We spent much of our lives shaving with an inferior, expensive, painful technology (carts and goo), and we were "saved" by traditional wetshaving. We were able to recognize it as a more affordable, superior method of shaving.

I don't know if the old timers had that frame of reference. If they did, it would've had to be straight shavers getting into the "new" DE technology. Maybe they felt that way, but I don't think shavers who knew only DE technology their entire lives did.

Just my two cents.

 

[BBrad]

My guess is that they viewed shaving as a chore and didn't enjoy it any more than any of us enjoyed shaving with cartridges and canned goo . . .

. . . I don't know if the old timers had that frame of reference. If they did, it would've had to be straight shavers getting into the "new" DE technology. . .

David makes a good point . . . it would depend on frame of reference. One of my grandfathers bought a Norelco Tripleheader electric back in the mid '60s. He thought that was the greatest thing, since he no longer had to "smear cream on (his) face and scrape it off with a razor blade." Wetshaving to him was a chore that he did not like.

My other grandfather didn't shave every day. His son, my uncle, is still alive and he only shaves twice a week . . . that is definitely a chore and not a pleasure!! (He is stuck in 1930-something and still refers to shaving cream as "Burma-Shave" . . .)

My father still shaves daily, but that habit developed by way of his military career, where he was required to shave every morning. I remember watching him as a child . . . wet his face, spread the Foamy, and take one pass with his razor, rinse, and grab the Aqua Velva. Again, more of a chore than a pleasure.

 

[Hex]

I can't remember my dad commenting much on shaving.

Though I once overheard him talking to his brother about a badger brush I had gotten him for Christmas.

So I guess that they appreciated quality items.

I wish that I had been further along in my wet shaving career.

 

[michiganlover]

For purposes of this discussion, Gillette's blades in the early days were considered to be of quite horrid quality. They were not the coated, smooth shaving blades we have of today.

Note as well, that Gillette (at least at first) was not promoting the DE razor as providing "the best a man can get". No, the marketing was "No Stropping, No Honing". In other words using a DE razor was simpler, and quicker.

Considering that the blades weren't very good, and the primary benefit was supposed to be one of time savings, I doubt the average user had an expectation of a blood free, irritation free shave.

 

[Proinsias]

my theory is that different people viewed it differently, much like today.

 

[danparker77]

For most I imagine it was a daily chore without much thought or enjoyment. I do not think that my great-grandfather had access to all the shaving paraphernalia (that makes shaving so enjoyable to us) we do, you used what was at the corner store. Although, there was a post a while back about shaving during the wars. In that situation I am imagine it was more of a pleasure. Something that "took" them back home, a sense of normalcy.

 

[CraigarTA]

I know the father figures in my life hated hated shaving "the old way"
My step dad grew up in Hungary and there wasn't much available other than straights and maybe the rare DE and last summer my step mom asked what I use to shave my head and told her about my Headblade and how I used a old fashioned shave soap and brush to apply it.
Well she tells my dad about it and he went into how he hated the blades back in the day, tugging and pulling.

 

[Slivovitz]

My father, 1925-2002, was very matter of fact about shaving. I don't think he disliked it, but it was just another part of the morning routine, not something he'd really take an interest in. He continued to use a DE razor long after they were supplanted by cartridges, never saw him use an electric or cartridge. He used canned shaving cream for as long as I can recall. It never really dawned on me that there was an alternative to that until early last year.

 

[DavyRay]

My father is 85. He says that the professional men in his small town went to the barber shop in the morning before work, and got a barber shave. I imagine that was a great way to start the work day. My grandfather started with straight razors, then safety razors, then electric razors. He left us with several worn-out electric razors when he passed on. I don't think he was very excited about shaving at all.

 

[Go West Young Man]

What are your thoughts on, say, tooth-brushing?

 

[Saunterer]

What are your thoughts on, say, tooth-brushing?

Well, this morning was the usual prep. Pre-swished with hand picked South American sea salt solution, leaving in my mouth for 3 minutes. Then I selected my custom ironwood handle that accepts a sonic care head, but today I used a couple of shims since my previous toothbrushing was a bit rough. The paste I used was T-bone steak flavored that I ordered through a distributor in Mongolia......

 

[Go West Young Man]

Well, this morning was the usual prep. Pre-swished with hand picked South American sea salt solution, leaving in my mouth for 3 minutes. Then I selected my custom ironwood handle that accepts a sonic care head, but today I used a couple of shims since my previous toothbrushing was a bit rough. The paste I used was T-bone steak flavored that I ordered through a distributor in Mongolia......

I'm still using my grandfather's toothbrush from 1947 that I found in the attic. A little borax and vinegar and it's back in my mouth!

 

[Saunterer]

Wow, a 1947. Did you get it re-bristled or is it still stock?

 

[duotone]

My Grandad never really spoke much about shaving, but shaved every morning at his kitchen sink, with the boiling water from a kettle.

DE blades, an old shaving brush and from what I remember a Palmolive shaving stick. Cheap but effective.

He certainly realised the importance of having the hot water to hand to warm the bristles of his brush up.

I have followed on from where he left off. I always shave with a kettle boiling somewhere around.

 

[Steve08]

Great information guys thanks!! This is the kind of insight I was hoping to gather. To get different perspectives helps to give a little more insight, and fill in the picture even if just a little bit, the world of our ancestors. Keep it coming.

 

[jansob]

Fun thread! I do occasionally think back to that AOM article 'Shave like your granddad'...and realize that he probably didn't have 10 razors, 15 blade brands and is unlikely to have used cream from Italy.And I'm damn sure he didn't hog the bathroom for a half hour every morning while he carefully created a lather that smelled better than my grandmother's perfumes!

Although that article did a lot to spur me to proper shaving, I'm very happy that I DON'T shave like my granddad.

 

[surftile]

I know in my technically busy and at times stressfull life, wetshaving
harkens me to a more simple relaxed frame of mind where 5-10
minutes later I can say "job well done," further I've touched on the lives
of millions of men who have lived before me the last 100 years.

It gives me something to look forward to that always has good results.

 

[mr_economy]

Shaving was definitely a chore for my grandfather. He used an electric for as long as I can remember and he swore I was crazy when I took up DE shaving. That being said, he passed down a mint condition Aristocrat and Toggle to me, so I'm quite thankful for his early switch to electric