My introduction...

**NervousBreakdown** · 10-04-2009, 11:31 PM

Hello everybody...

I figured that after spending an hour or so reading posts here that I might as well join and introduce myself,, so here goes...

I guess I'll start with a familiar topic: Shaving...

I've always had problems with getting a "good shave"... No matter what,, I'd always end up with razor burn and irritation... When I was about 16 years old,, Gillette sent me (and seemingly every other male my age) a Mach 3 free in the mail... Of course,, it only came with one or two cartridges... Clever on their behalf,, because a whole generation of us started off shaving with that junk that they called 'top of the line' and thus had to spend a ton of wasted money on their replacement blades....

I was never really a fan,, but it was free,, and better than the "Gem" razor that I got by sending in a coupon from a pack of scraper blades...

I'm a fan of vintage things.. They're usually made to a much higher standard of quality... Any 'improvements' that they usually see through the years are in the name of cutting costs and increasing convenience to the user... This is usually passed off by savy advertising guys as 'new and improved' and 'easier to use'...

Every time I see a modern razor with weird vibrating features,, and more blades added to the 6 that are already there,, I'm reminded of that old grainy footage of the airplane with like 10 wings that just breaks in half under it's own stress... I was always surprised that some modern company didn't make a 'back to basics' razor and use that footage in a commercial...

But I digress....

When I was around 20 or so,, my girlfriend at the time gave me a straight razor... I had never used one,, but after years of Mach 3 and cheap disposable face manglings,, I gave it a shot... I taught myself how to use it with my own face as the practice field... It was hands down the best shave I'd ever had to that point,, and I NEVER cut myself with it (I have even knicked my face with the disposables that had the piano wire wrapped around the blades to 'prevent cuts)... I shaved with that thing for a bit until it got too dull (I don't have a strop),,, then i switched back to the cheapest stuff I could find,, since shaving had become a chore again,, and it seemed that generic disposables were the easiest on my face....

Well,, I recently got a Parker and have been enjoying shaving again... I actually look forward to shaving and enjoy taking my time doing it... I have all but eliminated razor burn and knicks... For those concerned,, I'm using "Sharp" blades and the Col. Conk lime glycerine soap... I have the almond as well,, but I never liked the cyanide smell myself.... I'm using a tweezerman badger hair brush as well... I think my setup is more 'generic' in the world of 'real shaving',, but it has worked out excellent for me... I'm never going back to the disposables,, and this stuff actually costs much less in the long run (I'm kind of cheap at times)...

As far as other interests,, I'm really into WWI and WWII living history... I like doing public display events and educating people on the personal gear and daily life of the "Doughboy" and "GI"...

On that note,, I do have a pretty cool "Gillette Khaki Set" that is named and belonged to a local guy from the 316th infantry in the 79th division during WWI...

I'm relatively young (26) and into old school punk rock music,, so I might be a little bit 'off' from the usual type of people that you encounter (or maybe not),, but we're all after a good shave,, right...???

Also,, I'm glad to see a side forum where I can discuss Scotch and cigars....

And that is by far the most personal information that I have ever posted to a group of strangers.......

-Jim...

**Topgumby** · 10-04-2009, 11:47 PM

Welcome aboard!

Not many introductions contain a shaving bio that includes a straight, a Gem and a Khaki set!

You'll find all types here. Back in the old days, before the earth cooled and when Pluto was a puppy, I used to Slam Dance to the mellow sounds of Black Flag and the Dead Kennedys. Now I'm more likely to be listening to Sinatra or Louis Armstrong, but that's life, isn't it?

You'll also find a lot of kindred spirits when it comes to enjoying all manner of vintage items and military history. Combine the two. You should shave with that Khaki set!

There's nothing wrong with cheap, either. Check out the membership at the Ivory Club, there's a fine group of skinflints who are oddly generous gents at the same time.

Glad to have you here!

**Luc** · 10-05-2009, 12:07 AM

Welcome to B&B Jim!

Sounds like you have a good background. If you can get a razor blade sample pack, that would be good. I'm sure you will be experimenting with new shaving soaps and shaving creams in no time!

**SiBurning** · 10-05-2009, 12:12 AM

Welcome to B&B.

Still have that straight?

**alexo** · 10-05-2009, 12:14 AM

Welcome. I think being old-fashion is quite common around here so nobody will be surprised with your attraction to cigars, Scotch and appreciation for the old tradition in general.
Sounds like you won the lottery with a girlfriend who gave you a str8. I hope you appreciate you luck

**NervousBreakdown** · 10-05-2009, 02:09 AM

Thanks for the warm welcome...

The straight razor was definately a learning experience for me.. My personal experience taught me that if you approach something like that with a full understanding of what can happen if you mess up,, and use yourself for practice,, and use common sense,, it's very easy to pick up the basics... I mean,, your neck is on the line (literally)... I still have that razor,, but I don't think it's anything special (except sentimentally)... She went to Empire beauty school or something similar,, and this was the razor that they gave her as part of her hairdressing/barber courses... The blade's tang is stamped "CLAUSS" for anyone that can inform me on straignt razors...

I still haven't shaved with my "Khaki Set"... I bring it to every one of my WWI and WWII events as part of my 'personal gear',, and there are some very old 'Gillette" and "Radium" brand blades in the carrier that I assume are WWI era...... Shaving in the field was very important during the first World War,,, as men were constantly in fear of gas attacks,, among other things,,, and the primitive gas masks of the day would not seal against an unshaved face.... To them,, it was as important (or more) than cleaning their weapons and having a warm meal in the trenches....

Shaving in the field during WWII was rarely done in combat... There was no fear of gas and thus no need to shave unless guys needed to look 'presentable'.. I have talked to a lot of veterans,, and they always get a kick out of my group and our 'battle-harndened GI" impression... We usually go at least a week or two without shaving before the 'Battle of the Bulge" event at Ft. Indiantown Gap,, and we still have the vets telling us that their beards were longer when they were there for real.....

Of course,, we do a lot of different timeperiods and branches of the service, so sometimes we have to be clean-shaven... the spectators get a kick out of seeing us do 'everyday activity' as a part of our setup,, including shaving and rolling cigarettes to name a few...

I'm glad I joined this board... There is a lot of great information here,, and I can get insight on various products and techniques before I try them out.... I'm almost looking forward to running out of shaving soap and blades so I can try something new...!!!

"TopGumby", the Dead Kennedys and Black Flag are two of my favorite bands (my name is a Black Flag song for those who didn't know).... Unfortunately,, they both stopped playing before I could see them live....

**Topgumby** · 10-05-2009, 02:57 AM

Funny you mention Bulge re-enacting. My dad was a BAR man with the 28th Infantry Division, 110th Regiment, 2nd Battalion, "Easy" Company. He became a guest of the German army shortly after December 16th, 1944.

I was in my rock and roll prime when those bands were playing. All the shows mentioned in "TV Party" were stuff we watched. Hill Street Blues, and Sarah Purcell's legs on That's Incredible.

Interesting to find that not only my father, but I am the object of some of the younger folks historical interest...

BTW, I'm no Str8 guru, but Clauss was a respected US maker, based out of CA, if what I've read about my own WWI vintage USMC issue Clauss is true.

**NervousBreakdown** · 10-05-2009, 03:44 AM

Ah, the 28th Division... Being from PA,, the 28th is our main WWII impression and the topic of a lot of research among my group... Those guys went through Hell in Hurtgen and then went to Bastogne very shortly after... If you haven't yet read "Alamo in the Ardennes" http://www.amazon.com/Alamo-Ardennes.../dp/0471739057 ,, you need to pick up a copy... The 110th is a major focus of the book... Also,, if you have any information or pictures from your father's experiences,,, I'd be more than happy to hear them....

On that note,, here is a picture of us as the 28th at the 'Bulge"... I'm on the right...

**Gruder** · 10-05-2009, 05:42 PM

Welcome to B&B, Jim!

**ProphetNoir** · 10-05-2009, 06:53 PM

Welcome aboard.

**DSB** · 10-05-2009, 07:22 PM

Welcome!

**NickCutlip** · 10-06-2009, 02:25 PM

Welcome to B&B !!

**Starcar** · 10-06-2009, 08:31 PM

Welcome to B&B!

**rm71** · 10-06-2009, 09:12 PM

Welcome to B&B.

**Hughies_online** · 10-09-2009, 03:36 AM

Welcome aboard!

**pal** · 10-09-2009, 06:32 AM

Welcome!

**Bobtrumpet** · 10-09-2009, 10:28 AM

Hello Jim,

Welcome to B&B!

**OneRand** · 10-09-2009, 01:00 PM

Welcome

**mretzloff** · 10-09-2009, 02:11 PM

Welcome to Badger & Blade.

**htownmmm** · 10-09-2009, 02:17 PM

Originally Posted by NervousBreakdown

Hello everybody...

I figured that after spending an hour or so reading posts here that I might as well join and introduce myself,, so here goes...

I guess I'll start with a familiar topic: Shaving...

I've always had problems with getting a "good shave"... No matter what,, I'd always end up with razor burn and irritation... When I was about 16 years old,, Gillette sent me (and seemingly every other male my age) a Mach 3 free in the mail... Of course,, it only came with one or two cartridges... Clever on their behalf,, because a whole generation of us started off shaving with that junk that they called 'top of the line' and thus had to spend a ton of wasted money on their replacement blades....

I was never really a fan,, but it was free,, and better than the "Gem" razor that I got by sending in a coupon from a pack of scraper blades...

I'm a fan of vintage things.. They're usually made to a much higher standard of quality... Any 'improvements' that they usually see through the years are in the name of cutting costs and increasing convenience to the user... This is usually passed off by savy advertising guys as 'new and improved' and 'easier to use'...

Every time I see a modern razor with weird vibrating features,, and more blades added to the 6 that are already there,, I'm reminded of that old grainy footage of the airplane with like 10 wings that just breaks in half under it's own stress... I was always surprised that some modern company didn't make a 'back to basics' razor and use that footage in a commercial...

But I digress....

When I was around 20 or so,, my girlfriend at the time gave me a straight razor... I had never used one,, but after years of Mach 3 and cheap disposable face manglings,, I gave it a shot... I taught myself how to use it with my own face as the practice field... It was hands down the best shave I'd ever had to that point,, and I NEVER cut myself with it (I have even knicked my face with the disposables that had the piano wire wrapped around the blades to 'prevent cuts)... I shaved with that thing for a bit until it got too dull (I don't have a strop),,, then i switched back to the cheapest stuff I could find,, since shaving had become a chore again,, and it seemed that generic disposables were the easiest on my face....

Well,, I recently got a Parker and have been enjoying shaving again... I actually look forward to shaving and enjoy taking my time doing it... I have all but eliminated razor burn and knicks... For those concerned,, I'm using "Sharp" blades and the Col. Conk lime glycerine soap... I have the almond as well,, but I never liked the cyanide smell myself.... I'm using a tweezerman badger hair brush as well... I think my setup is more 'generic' in the world of 'real shaving',, but it has worked out excellent for me... I'm never going back to the disposables,, and this stuff actually costs much less in the long run (I'm kind of cheap at times)...

As far as other interests,, I'm really into WWI and WWII living history... I like doing public display events and educating people on the personal gear and daily life of the "Doughboy" and "GI"...

On that note,, I do have a pretty cool "Gillette Khaki Set" that is named and belonged to a local guy from the 316th infantry in the 79th division during WWI...

I'm relatively young (26) and into old school punk rock music,, so I might be a little bit 'off' from the usual type of people that you encounter (or maybe not),, but we're all after a good shave,, right...???

Also,, I'm glad to see a side forum where I can discuss Scotch and cigars....

And that is by far the most personal information that I have ever posted to a group of strangers.......

-Jim...

And it won't be the last!

Welcome to B&B Jim!

marty