Rolling the Bones

[TinyT]

Later, I think. I have the opposite problem. I think things are closer than they are until several minutes later when things aren't slippery anymore.

I get that. Run a wet hand over my face and smugly acknowledge pure BBS with no ATG shaving - a few minutes later I'm eating humble pie. Again.

 

[4and20blackbirds]

Thanks @hangblague and @TinyT! I think I’ll start checking at the 1/2 hour and hour marks and pick one after trying them for a bit.

 

[4and20blackbirds]

Tuesday shave

Prep: Noxzema
Soap: Stirling Island Man
Brush: Simpsons Astor A1 in Best
Razor: Gillette 1947 Aristocrat Junior, #5
Blade: Gillette Platinum, #1
Post: alum -> Pinaud Clubman aftershave

Two passes only for an all-around DFS. First use of a Gillette Platinum and I enjoyed it: smooth, sharp, no irritation.

 

[4and20blackbirds]

Wednesday shave

Prep: Neutrogena Razor Defense face scrub
Soap: Stirling Iced Pineapple
Brush: Omega 10299 Boar
Razor: Gillette 1947 Aristocrat Junior, #6
Blade: Gillette Platinum, #2
Post: alum -> Pinaud Clubman aftershave

Two passes for mostly DFS with a small patch of CCS. A little more feedback from the alum today, but not too bad.

 

[4and20blackbirds]

Thursday shave

Prep: Neutrogena Razor Defense face scrub
Soap: Saponificio Bignoli Blackberry Musk
Brush: SOC Badger
Razor: Gillette 1947 Aristocrat Junior, #7
Blade: Gillette Platinum, #3
Post: alum -> Aqua Velva aftershave

Exactly the same as yesterday: two passes, mostly DFS, and a bit of feedback.

Friday shave

Prep: Cleansing Story White Clay foam
Soap: La Toja stick
Brush: Omega Mixed Midget
Razor: Gillette 1947 Aristocrat Junior, #8
Blade: Gillette Platinum, #4 and banked
Post: alum -> Brut aftershave

Took it steep for two passes and it didn't work so well. Outcome was some DFS, some CCS, and a whole lot of SAS. Perfectly comfortable, however.

 

[4and20blackbirds]

Saturday shave

Prep: PAA Ice Cube 2.0
Soap: Murphy & McNeil Gael Luc
Brush: Shavemac badger
Razor: Gillette 1947 Aristocrat Junior, #8; Gillette 1940s Super Speed
Blade: Astra SP in each, #1
Post: alum -> M&M Gael Luc aftershave

First of the head-to-head shave. Tonight the Aristocrat Junior had the left half of my face and the 1940s Super Speed had the right. I thought the Aristocrat Junior had a slightly closer shave.

Sunday shave

Prep: Cleansing Story White Clay foam
Soap: Barrister & Mann Reserve Fern
Brush: Simpson Astor A1 in Best
Razor: Gillette 1947 Aristocrat Junior, #9; Gillette 1940s Super Speed
Blade: Astra SP in each, #2
Post: alum -> Barrister & Mann Reserve Fern aftershave

Switched sides tonight and ran a standard two passes. Results were DFS on my face and mostly DFS on the left side of my neck and mostly CCS on the right. The Speed takes tonight's contest with a noticeably better result.

 

[4and20blackbirds]

Here’s some side by side photos of the two razors to show how similar they are. In all cases, the Aristocrat Junior is on the left.

 

[4and20blackbirds]

Here are the three differences I was aware of from B&B. The AJ is on the left throughout.

This collar area, which is the quickest way to tell a difference.

No notch vs. notch.

And this small round indentation on both doors of the AJ.

I also noticed this difference while taking photos that I hadn’t read about before, but it may be a standard part of the particular notch designs. I don’t know enough about Gillettes to know.

I can’t see where any of these would make a difference in the shave, but there does seem to be a subtle difference.

 

[4and20blackbirds]

Monday shave

Prep: Neutrogena Razor Defense face scrub
Soap: Stirling Satsuma
Brush: Sanax badger-cased boar
Razor: Gillette 1947 Aristocrat Junior, #10; Gillette 1940s Super Speed
Blade: Astra SP in each, #3
Post: alum -> adidas get ready! aftershave

Tonight the Aristocrat Junior had my left cheek and right neck and the Speed had the opposite. Cheeks felt about the same, but I thought the Speed side of my neck was a little closer. My wife and youngest daughter gave the nod to the AJ.

 

[4and20blackbirds]

Tuesday shave

Prep: PAA Ice Cube 2.0
Cream: Salter Wild Rose
Brush: La Maison du Barbier synthetic
Razor: Gillette 1947 Aristocrat Junior, #12 (the correct number--I accidentally doubled shave number 8); Gillette 1940s Super Speed
Blade: Astra SP in each, #4
Post: alum -> Gillette Cool Wave aftershave

For the final head-to-head, the Speed had my left cheek and right neck and the Aristocrat Junior had the opposite. Once again, cheeks felt about the same to me and I thought the AJ got slightly closer on my neck. My wife thought my right cheek and neck were closer.

Interesting experiment, but given day to day variability in the variables (lather, aftershave, prep, skin condition), and given no clear winner, I'm calling it a draw. Which doesn't surprise me given that the differences all appear to be visual rather than functional.

That will do it for the AJ. I'm going to leave it in contention for now, but I'd probably choose only one for the den between it and the Speed, if either ends up staying. I'll spend the next two shaves finishing up the Astras with razors still in consideration (to make up for the previous skip) and then roll up a new razor on Friday.

 

[4and20blackbirds]

Wednesday shave

Prep: Neutrogena Razor Defense face scrub
Soap: Lea shave stick
Brush: Omega B&B boar
Razor: Schick Type L1
Blade: Schick (China)
Post: alum -> Pinaud Clubman Citrus Musk aftershave

Two passes and a touch up for the usual close, comfortable Schick DFS. Superb lather from the Lea, too. So much for my plan to use up the Astras!

 

[thombrogan]

So much for my plan to use up the Astras!

Some of the best shave plans turn to Schick

 

[TinyT]

Some of the best shave plans turn to Schick

 

[4and20blackbirds]

Some of the best shave plans turn to Schick

Love it!

 

[4and20blackbirds]

Thursday shave

Prep: Noxzema
Soap: Saponificio Varesino Cubebe
Brush: SOC badger
Razor: RazoRock German 37
Blade: Astra SP, #5 and banked
Post: alum -> Skin Bracer aftershave

Kind of a rough shave tonight. I wonder if it could be because I took the blade from the Aristocrat Junior and flipped it upside down before moving it to the 37?

 

[4and20blackbirds]

Twelve shaves with the 1947 Aristocrat Junior, four of them in a head-to-head with the 40s Super Speed. The head-to-head shaves were inconclusive--both had shaves where I thought they were better. I got my wife and youngest involved in the judging, too, and their results were similar. I stand by my earlier assessment that it was a draw--no discernable difference. Like the Speed, the AJ feels great in the hands and I like the vintage aspect. Still not sure I'll keep either, so the AJ is going into Tier 2, as well. This one will have the exact same rating as the Speed, so it's a tie at position 11 right now.

	Rank	Razor	Comfort	Efficiency
Tier 1 - Keepers	1	Gillette Slim	10	6
	2	Schick Type L1	10	5
	3	RazoRock German 37	9	7
	4	Fine Marvel	9	6
	5	Parker Semi-slant	9	6
	6	Yaqi Beast
	7	Gem Junior	8	6
Tier 2 - In Consideration	8	iKon X3	8	6
	9	Timeless .95	8	6
	10	RazoRock Mamba	8	4
	11 (tie)	1940s Gillette Super Speed	8	5
		1947 Gillette Aristocrat Junior	8	5
	12	Gillette fat handle Tech	8	5
	13	Merkur 34C HD	8	6
	14	Gem MMOC	5	6
Tier 3 - Not for me	15	Timeless .68	7	5
	16	Parker 24C	7	6
	17	RazoRock Mamba 70	5	3
	18	Wilkinson Sword TTO
	19	Schick Injector Type E3	3	6
	20	Fatip Open Comb Slant	3	4
	21	Mühle R89 Grande	3	3

 

[4and20blackbirds]

Next up is the Karve brass Christopher Bradley with B, C, and D safety bar plates.

My plan for this one is to start mild and move up: B, C, and D. I’ll begin with a fresh Astra SP each time and use it for four shaves. After all that, I’ll mix it up a bit.

Side note, if anyone noticed: I rolled an 8 last go, too. It’s a different razor this time because as one gets rolled, it comes off the “to be tried” list and everything left moves up a slot to keep the list filled.

 

[Rosseforp]

Next up is the Karve brass Christopher Bradley with B, C, and D safety bar plates.

You really should try the G plate.

 

[4and20blackbirds]

You really should try the G plate.

That thing looks fearsome!

 

[Rosseforp]

That thing looks fearsome!

No more so than an R41, and much smoother.