Hi everyone, new to the forum. I suspect this has been covered, but couldn't find it in a search. remember those great old silver shaving cream dispensers that the barbers used to have? Put out that warm cream that they would use to shave your neck (when I was a kid). Do those exist? are they any good? Thanks. ~JC~
Shaving cream machine
- Thread starter ~JC~
- Start date
I saw one at a beauty supply store the other day. Next to it, they had the cream--I think it's a liquid that gets mixed with water and heated inside the machine. Here's a link to a similar model:
http://www.bowmanbeauty.com/page/BBS/PROD/1-6050/J1200
I have had a great many barbershop shaves with hot lather from a machine, but I don't think I want it at home. Takes up too much space and the variety of creams and soaps I can use with a brush make that more attractive to me now.
http://www.bowmanbeauty.com/page/BBS/PROD/1-6050/J1200
I have had a great many barbershop shaves with hot lather from a machine, but I don't think I want it at home. Takes up too much space and the variety of creams and soaps I can use with a brush make that more attractive to me now.
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I don't know, the cost of that machine could buy a lot of soaps and creams.
I read somewhere these are a PITA to use with soaps that are not formulated for the machine... I dont know this from experience, just read and heard it. YMWV
Yeah, they really are. Some barber suppliers won't handle 'em because dealing with broken down machines and P'OD customers isn't worth the hassle.
The older, chrome plated/stainless machines are the antecedents of the Latherizer that Nid Hog linked to. I've seen some of those old units go as high as $300.00 US on internet auction sites. The basic concept has always been that you mix the liquid soap with water, pour it into a reservoir, push the button and... presto - warm lather. The reality is a lot of finicky parts and processes that don't hold together that well. Getting that soap mix aerated, heated and out the other end can be a trial.
On the other hand, if you like tinkering and cleaning things on a regular basis - kind of an intensive maintenance type thing - and you're not gonna be cranky if it's not running properly (or running at all), you can keep this thing performing reasonably well most of the time.
I don't particularly like the lather from these machines. As a fellow I work with says, "You've gotta get to it fast." This stuff dries out really quickly without providing, IMO, much cushion or slickness. We've had some interesting times experimenting with different creams at different dilutions. (An old timer told me that you have to pre-mix a gallon at a time. He claimed you got better lather and fewer problems with the machine.) And some of the lather it was making wasn't that bad.
I don't know how it happened, but the Latherizer just sort of fell out of use after a while. It stayed empty on the counter for a couple of months, then somebody moved it down onto the shelf under the sink and from there it wasn't a long trip to the shelf in the back room.
Now, for neck shaves, I just keep a big mug of lather made with either JM Fraser's Original or Real Shaving Company Sensitive creams in the towel warmer . Over the course of a morning or afternoon this lather goes through some interesting changes. If things are slow and I'm not regularly working it with a brush, the lather actually turns into a not too terribly cloudy liquid soap at the bottom of the mug. This stuff will whip back into lather in no time but I believe the quality of lather treated this way deteriorates and we're not worried about tossing a bit of unused product to make way for a new batch.
For the most part, I think you'd do better with a Forfex/Conair heater on a can of gel than with a lather machine.
Regards,
Les
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H
Hanzo
I know the old time latherizer machines you mean, they first started appearing in the 1920's I learned. The chrome looking ones are still found on ebay. If you search under " barber shop", barber shop collectibles will appear , usually under collectibles there are on average 215 items. The vintage latherizers have been showing up a lot lately. Many are shown still in good working order, pics I've seen of them show them producing lather. Apparently collectors want them because bidding on them is busy . The ones I have seen seem to sell from $100 to $$150 range. Your competition is not folks who want a latherizer to use and have for the nostalgia but the guys collecting barberiana. Hope you find one.
My current barber uses a lather machine. The warmth is nice, but I find the lather to be overly moist without much cushion or slickness. I suppose that could have something to do with the mix put into it.
Never experienced one myself, remember reading this blog though.
http://www.shaveblog.com/2006/01/once-and-future-latherking.html
http://www.shaveblog.com/2006/01/once-and-future-latherking.html
My barber uses soap and a brush with a straight razor. gives a lot more cushion than the lather that comes out of one of those lather machines. Most of the barbers in my area just use electric clippers on your neck anymore. One barber told me it was due to the possibility of passing a blood borne virus from one customer to another. Isn't that why they use barbercide. My barber soaks her razors between customers.
Clayton
Clayton
I had a conair one that would heat up a can of foam. I always worried the can was going to explode though...
Check with a longtime barber in town, Many have taken them out of use due to the insurance companys charging double the rate because they still use a straight, You might be able to pick up, a good used one from a barbers back room, cheap.
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I was thinking bout getting a Conair one for my Classic Barbasol Shaving Cream.
I actually do have a Conair one--got it for Christmas from my kids a while back. I haven't used canned shaving cream for some time now, but maybe I'll load it up with a can of Barbisol so that they don't feel like I'm ignoring their old present.
I do miss the machines in barber shops. The old chrome ones were so cool. I loved the end of a haircut when I'd hear the whirr of the shaving cream machine and feel that hot lather going around my ears and the back of my neck. Then my barber would clean up the edge of with his straight. Sigh.
I do miss the machines in barber shops. The old chrome ones were so cool. I loved the end of a haircut when I'd hear the whirr of the shaving cream machine and feel that hot lather going around my ears and the back of my neck. Then my barber would clean up the edge of with his straight. Sigh.
Blood born viruses are passed from NON-disenfected implements, period! Everything can be sanitized and disenfected that a barber uses. Ignorance is killing the Old School Barber.
The old chrome machines are the Oster Latherservice machines. I have two of them and am looking for instructions for them if anyone runs across any.
The campbell machines aren't real good to use for face shaves (too thin and it dries too fast) but excellent for neck shaves in a Barbershop environment. However, if you use the campbell in tandem with other lather to thicken it up, it's awesome.
The campbell machines aren't real good to use for face shaves (too thin and it dries too fast) but excellent for neck shaves in a Barbershop environment. However, if you use the campbell in tandem with other lather to thicken it up, it's awesome.
I have a Schick Hot lather machine that dates from the 80's. It appears to be brand new and never used. I wanted to give it a try but I have not found a can that fits it. Oh well!
My wife says it was left by her ex who never used it! They were divorced in the 80's. it was probably a gift. If anybody know what will fit it, please let me know!
Dave
My wife says it was left by her ex who never used it! They were divorced in the 80's. it was probably a gift. If anybody know what will fit it, please let me know!
Dave
