Random Find: Saddle Club Shaving Soap by Wrisley

[Krona Kruiser]

I randomly found this at a novelty/antique shop in my community. I've done some research and really didn't find much information on it than either being a Yardley knock-off or a production from them. Either way, it doesn't smell much but during my warm drive back home I started to get a vintage Williamesque vintage Colgate type scent. I'm assuming it's full of tallow goodness. I'm going to give it a few good swipes to clean it and a good brushing to "activate" it.
Does anyone know much about it and its origin?

 

[syngent]

Cant help you with any info, but i am curious now that you have brought a few things up,... when someone finds a vintage soap, is there a specific prep work you need to do to get it all going again ? is the cleaning to clear off anything it just may have picked up on top over the years,... or just to rid any previous users left overs ?,

 

[Krona Kruiser]

From what I've heard, if the soap doesn't smell rotten or turned a green color it seem fine to use. It makes sense to scrub a layer off of the old soap to remove dust and other things in the atmosphere. Most pathogens don't last very long in the open.

 

[mblakele]

As a soap maker the Wrisley name goes back to turn of the last century Chicago. The Saddle Club brand seems to be roughly 1939-1950 or so, and they also did a Spruce soap. http://books.google.com/books?id=oVQEAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA118&pg=PA118#v=onepage&q&f=true shows a full-page ad for a similar-looking bowl in Life, 3 Dec 1951 (be sure to scroll up to p61, where a youngish Ronnie Reagan is shilling for Chesterfield cigarettes - and there is a Schick electric razor ad on p29).

 

[Krona Kruiser]

Wow! Thanks for the info Mblake. It's pretty old then. I thought it was English! Fun read too. I love the old advertisements, not PC by today's standards.
Not one single case of throat irritation due to smoking Camels!

 

[syngent]

wow didnt know palmolive did a/s either but on pg 18 there it is that was a great read

 

[Krona Kruiser]

I lathered it up last night. It has no smell but a woodsy scent (not fragrance) from the bowl it's in. It created some thick lather full of tallow goodness. However, I couldn't stand the non-scent and during my last 2 passes I put a small amount of Erasmic to give it some fragrance. It was pretty nice........

 

[Dennis]

I have that exact same bowl and puck. I think I bought it here maybe off Phog Allen. It is nice! No smell but decent and good shaving soap.

 

[SuperChris]

I think the exclusive club the Aqua Velva ad boasts has grown a bit past 20 by now.