Hello there!

[Alum Ladd]

I just wanted to introduce myself. I have been lurking for a while, so I thought it would be best to actually join. Excellent site, full of information and history, and with a nice relaxed feel.
So. Began dragging plastic and foil contraptions over my face since the late 70's. However I only began actual shaving with real razors and real soap about 2 months ago. The very short time has been agreeable, both for my mental state and my wallet.
My equipment is cheap and basic. Yet I seem to be gaining a technique quickly. Oddly I put it down to using a single blade bic orange nasty for several decades, whose only redeeming feature is that it forces you to find and maintain a correct blade angle. Then in the early 2000's I fell into the fusion turbo whatever vortex.
So here I am. Congrats for creating a great site and a space for the hobby to be enjoyed. Cheers.

 

[Crisp Rat]

Hello and welcome! This is a great community of shavers.

 

[Alum Ladd]

Thanks! That's appreciated.

 

[APBinNCA]

Welcome to B&B! Since you are used to single blades and cheap, might I suggest either a vintage injector or possibly a Leaf Twig. There are also Supply Co and One blade. When you get the budget, Artist Club razors are worth every penny.

Edit: don't worry about the Israeli Personnas, or IPP, there is plenty of supply right now. I have bought a 250 pack for $30. It's a bit of a rabbit hole to figure out all the variations, but plenty of people here can help you. The GPP, German Personna, shaves near identical because they moved the machinery to Germany according to what I heard. If you need links or any help finding them, just ask. Razor blades club is a good place to get blades for trial and you can compare them to your existing IPPs.

 

[BaPh96]

Welcome to B&B it's a great place to learn and a great community.

 

[Alum Ladd]

Thanks Aaron! I am using an EJ 89 with a short handle that I am getting good results from. Very basic stuff but I will be exploring soaps, creams and balms and after shaves. All the nice stuff. I got an old Gillette coming from Ebay tmrw, a good price. I think it is a Gillette Tech, looking at the pics and digging around. The seller is mostly into music so I don't think they specialise in shaving stuff. It is just listed as antique razor, probably WW2. I will post on it with pics when I get it in, as it is an oddity.

 

[NickCutlip]

Welcome to the forum !!

 

[Vulcan Bubbles]

Welcome!

 

[APBinNCA]

I got an old Gillette coming from Ebay tmrw, a good price.

Nice! There are plenty of vintage Gillette experts here to help you. I am not one, but do be careful with the blade alignment. If it looks off and can't be corrected, don't use it until you make a post asking for advise. I have a vintage Tech clone that has good alignment.

 

[Alum Ladd]

Welcome to B&B! Since you are used to single blades and cheap, might I suggest either a vintage injector or possibly a Leaf Twig. There are also Supply Co and One blade. When you get the budget, Artist Club razors are worth every penny.

Edit: don't worry about the Israeli Personnas, or IPP, there is plenty of supply right now. I have bought a 250 pack for $30. It's a bit of a rabbit hole to figure out all the variations, but plenty of people here can help you. The GPP, German Personna, shaves near identical because they moved the machinery to Germany according to what I heard. If you need links or any help finding them, just ask. Razor blades club is a good place to get blades for trial and you can compare them to your existing IPPs.

Thanks for that!I bought 5 11 packs of Indian made Gillette Wilkinson Sword from Ebay for a great price, and I am liking them a lot. Much sharper than the Derby but also very smooth. KenSurfs and a couple of other youtubers rate them, and they are proving to be a nice blade so far.

 

[Alum Ladd]

Nice! There are plenty of vintage Gillette experts here to help you. I am not one, but do be careful with the blade alignment. If it looks off and can't be corrected, don't use it until you make a post asking for advise. I have a vintage Tech clone that has good alignment.

Thanks for the heads up on that. It is very nice razor, looks used but clean. Couple of oddities though. It looks like a 50's Tech head (I assume it is made in England) but the handle looks like its from a Gillette GoodWill. And the logo on the head is strange, in that it doesn't have the Gillette diamond or arrow around or through the word.
It came with a steel mirror in what looks a greenish cloth hand made cover. The whole thing just reeks of use and history. I will post pics with some more info and questions when it arrives, hopefully on weds.

 

[Lefonque]

Welcome to B&B

 

[dmshaver]

Glad you found B & B, welcome. We have a good time discussing the virtues of our pastime. I look forward to seeing your pics of the vintage Gillette. I love the Gillette razors. I think you're in for a treat!

 

[Invicta]

Welcome to B&B.

 

[ajkel64]

Welcome to the forum from Australia and thanks for checking in with us and sharing your experience with us.

 

[ShavingPanda]

Welcome aboard!

 

[BigJ]

Welcome aboard!

 

[BaPh96]

Welcome to B & B a great resource and a great group of people.

 

[FarmerTan]

Welcome! Were you in the movie where the little boy begged Shane not to leave?

 

[Alum Ladd]

Welcome! Were you in the movie where the little boy begged Shane not to leave?

That broke my heart. But I had outstayed my welcome I figured. I had 2 slugs in me and I knew a doc about 40 miles ride away. I was in bad shape and the horse took me most of the way. I don't recall the ride. The doc patched me up and I lived until 1902. That boy was in fact King Gillette. Not a lot of people know that. That incident happened in 1874 as I recall.