Brotherhood of the Open Comb

[April Dawn]

A new acquisition today

[elderberry99]

Very nice looking find. It should clean up very nice.

[April Dawn]

I think it will too :)

[Ray Settanta]

The Secret of the Onions is a mystery to many...but once revealed it will all become clear....

I am new here but I don't think I want to hear about "The Secret of the Onions."
Off to curl up in a ball and cradle my Open Combs.

[celestino]

Holy cow, April, don't you ever sleep or work! How do you find all these goodies?! Beautiful razor!

[Touchy]

Good observation, like many on this board and thread I have been busy in my working life, had/have a family and probably used too many horrible poor performing cartridges to ever want to go back to using them.

I don't intend to drone on about my life but a bout of serious illness last year made me rethink some values. I had already moved to DE shaving and this helped me think through some of my perspectives on how to enjoy life a little more without having to go to extreme lengths and I realized during the process that seeking pleasure in the mundane is incredibly important in making your way through daily life. I recovered completely but I have continued to find joy in the mundane and now instead of feeling tired and trying to get that 10 minutes more of sleep in the morning I now find that I am up with the alarm planning out the shave and reveling in the scent and feel of that day's shave. With the day started well I find I have more energy and treat the rest of the day with a positive slant that I probably didn't have before finding that enjoyment early in the morning.

Just my rambling thoughts but to me the morning shave is a little luxury just for myself that gives me a positive feel and sets me right for the rest of the day. I now look for other ways to help me enjoy the mundane in my daily and seek pleasure in little things during the day, to me it certainly brightens up my life.

This sums it up very well for me. Kind of forced into early retirement via disability and the shaving ritual has become part of the daily meditation practice. Not to disagree, but consider how to measure one's level of pleasure from "the mundane"? But also, how to measure one's pleasure from other activities? In the end, when seen from the perspective of the suffering that pervades ALL human existence, like aging, sickness, death, etc., isn't all pleasure-seeking mundane? Isn't the only real happiness a balanced mind, lasting peace of mind? And how is this achieved? Maybe, pleasure from the "mundane" like daily shaving is different from other types of pleasure-seeking? Simpler? That is, when not tied up with the "shaving stuff". More stuff can only bring more problems along with it (say if we check our own experience with the ADs and how it matches up with endless wealth/status seeking, etc.?). These are more of a problem than the actual act of shaving, the experience of shaving. Oh boy, have I gone off the deep end.....! Help!! I'm with you OGG, and probably most of the rest as well.

Have you guys decided whether or not the Gem 1912 is considered an OC?

I think that as the 1912 functions like an OC it should receive a special dispensation to disregard the fact that the teeth are sort of ... well are in truth actually, ... connected.

I've been wondering the same thing. Is the 1912 a variant (mutant?) OC or a mutant CC? It has aggression, and lots of feel. All I know is I'm in love... ... but have not lost an iota of love for my OT, or my Fat Handle Tech. Now, the 23C - that is a different story - not seeing much love lately, and may get packaged as part of a super starter Newbie deal on B/S/T when I qualify.

And I'm still looking for a user-grade NEW....... lots of slims, SAs, Fatboys, etc. out there, but somebody is buying up the News......it seems.

[April Dawn]

I work from home , I own my own business making wedding items :) I d not sleep much LOL I am a great searcher and not afraid to ask for a better price ever!

Holy cow, April, don't you ever sleep or work! How do you find all these goodies?! Beautiful razor!

[Touchy]

What a novel idea, asking for a better price regardless of seller or offer. I often ask questions about all kinds of things, but why not about price? Duh! Nonetheless, you do have a very keen eye and mind!

[alex2363]

A new acquisition today

Very nice April, use a plaque remover steel tool, like the ones dentist use, the strong point can get that green gunk out easily, i use it all the time to clean my OC"S. here is a pic on how i can the teeth in minutes

I am new here but I don't think I want to hear about "The Secret of the Onions."
Off to curl up in a ball and cradle my Open Combs.

What a novel idea, asking for a better price regardless of seller or offer. I often ask questions about all kinds of things, but why not about price? Duh! Nonetheless, you do have a very keen eye and mind!

aagreed

[Oscroft]

use a plaque remover steel tool, like the ones dentist use, the strong point can get that green gunk out easily

Aha, brilliant idea Alex, thanks - I spent ages the other day picking at an OC with a sewing needle, and it was a painfully slow job

[alex2363]

Aha, brilliant idea Alex, thanks - I spent ages the other day picking at an OC with a sewing needle, and it was a painfully slow job

Your welcome lad....

[colaim]

Had my first shave today with an OC I scored from a fellow B&Ber, and man...I think I'm in love! Tossed in a feather and got some beautiful BBS with zero irritation. Absolutely lovely. Please consider me one of the converted!

A pic: No idea what the make is. Says "Made in Germany". Came with a travel handle, swapped it with my longer Tech handle.

[bluesbishop]

I will reveal the TRUE secret of the onions........

Yu got my attention.

The Secret of the Onions is a mystery to many...but once revealed it will all become clear....

I am new here but I don't think I want to hear about "The Secret of the Onions." Off to curl up in a ball and cradle my Open Combs.

How many times have you all heards onions mentioned in this thread....is it just my brother and I being goofy?? Is Johnnie in on the silliness? Is there really any secret to reveal? Why are they never spoken off?


The Onions, which may have seemed to start of as a"joke" is a symbol...and even ideas that may seem to come from a "joke"...is it really?....out of all the things mentioned...why onions? Why did the universe in that point in time have the word onion used??

Why speak of the Onion now?? Well...it was said the onions was to cook Ralph! not true!!

Well the answer is here......



The Onion and its symbolic importance in the BOTOC


Since the beginning time of time, humankind has searched for knowledge, truth and a greater understand of the world around us. To explain ideas, groups and cultures have created myths and used symbols as a way to convey truth to its members, while hiding its true mean to those on the outside. In the BOTOC we are no different...ideas that represent our perfect shave and our shaving experience, help to transform us by transforming the ordinary into something extraordinary a lesson we care into all aspects of our life. as have been stated from the beginning....the BOTOC is more than a shaving club...it a group of like minded brothers that see our shaving as a metaphor for something greater, and that can see how even small shifts in one's life can create great things.


Even within the context of Christianity we hear Christ explain to his disciples when asked “Why speakest thou unto them in parables? “Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.’ Symbols are used as a method of teaching universal truths, even if the mind isn’t ready to receive the knowledge.


The onion....as a symbol has much significance. In many cultures, the onion was seen as a symbol of infinity. Ancient Egyptians took an oath of office with their right hand on an onion, believing it to represent eternity and ultimate truth. First its shape. It is round and circular, the symbol of without beginning or end. In the broadest sense, it is the symbol of the macrocosm.


Second is the layers. You peel one back and there is another.The layers are representative of both ourselves, and the mystery that lies within, and of the great mysteries that are without. It is a symbol of man on both the microcosm and macrocosm. Being multi-layered, it teaches us we need to look beyond the obvious., as a symbol of personal growth , it is the process where as you work through your issues you "peel back their layers," getting closer and closer to their root causes as you go ...As the multiple layers of an onion are peeled off, each can represent an area of wisdom until the center containing total wisdom is revealed.


Is there more to the onion of which we speak?....yes much more, but for that you must search for the symbol within yourself and find the key within....

[Azarius]

How many times have you all heards onions mentioned in this thread....is it just my brother and I being goofy?? Is Johnnie in on the silliness? Is there really any secret to reveal? Why are they never spoken off?


The Onions, which may have seemed to start of as a"joke" is a symbol...and even ideas that may seem to come from a "joke"...is it really?....out of all the things mentioned...why onions? Why did the universe in that point in time have the word onion used??

Why speak of the Onion now?? Well...it was said the onions was to cook Ralph! not true!!

Well the answer is here......



The Onion and its symbolic importance in the BOTOC


Since the beginning time of time, humankind has searched for knowledge, truth and a greater understand of the world around us. To explain ideas, groups and cultures have created myths and used symbols as a way to convey truth to its members, while hiding its true mean to those on the outside. In the BOTOC we are no different...ideas that represent our perfect shave and our shaving experience, help to transform us by transforming the ordinary into something extraordinary a lesson we care into all aspects of our life. as have been stated from the beginning....the BOTOC is more than a shaving club...it a group of like minded brothers that see our shaving as a metaphor for something greater, and that can see how even small shifts in one's life can create great things.


Even within the context of Christianity we hear Christ explain to his disciples when asked “Why speakest thou unto them in parables? “Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.’ Symbols are used as a method of teaching universal truths, even if the mind isn’t ready to receive the knowledge.


The onion....as a symbol has much significance. In many cultures, the onion was seen as a symbol of infinity. Ancient Egyptians took an oath of office with their right hand on an onion, believing it to represent eternity and ultimate truth. First its shape. It is round and circular, the symbol of without beginning or end. In the broadest sense, it is the symbol of the macrocosm.


Second is the layers. You peel one back and there is another.The layers are representative of both ourselves, and the mystery that lies within, and of the great mysteries that are without. It is a symbol of man on both the microcosm and macrocosm. Being multi-layered, it teaches us we need to look beyond the obvious., as a symbol of personal growth , it is the process where as you work through your issues you "peel back their layers," getting closer and closer to their root causes as you go ...As the multiple layers of an onion are peeled off, each can represent an area of wisdom until the center containing total wisdom is revealed.


Is there more to the onion of which we speak?....yes much more, but for that you must search for the symbol within yourself and find the key within....

And you think I smoke too much...put down the pipe and walk away.

I think you have been spending too much time smoking those onions, or way too many nights reading your Martinst/Masonic/Esoteric books.

[bluesbishop]

And you think I smoke too much...put down the pipe and walk away.

I think you have been spending too much time smoking those onions, or way too many nights reading your Martinst/Masonic/Esoteric books.

I smoke nothing out of a pipe but tobacco

Too much reading? I've been accused of that......

[jbradley]

Well said Brother BluesBishop, well said! The other secrets of the onions must be divulged another day.

[retturn2blades]

A new acquisition today

Very nice! I especially love the handle.

[elderberry99]

Someone has been smoking the onion in that pipe! lol

[bluesbishop]

And you think I smoke too much...put down the pipe and walk away.

I think you have been spending too much time smoking those onions, or way too many nights reading your Martinst/Masonic/Esoteric books.

Well said Brother BluesBishop, well said! The other secrets of the onions must be divulged another day.

Someone has been smoking the onion in that pipe! lol

Is Johnnie the only that see's the symbolism?? Smoking Onions does nothing...but they are excellent grilled and on a burger with Amish Swiss!

[jbradley]

Brothers, have you not been told, the Onion in all it's glory has been known to be a symbol of life and the journey we take from our infant days where we have to be cleaned and prepared for life, much as the husk must be removed from the onion before it can be used. And as an onion, once the husk is removed, the protection of the womb in our case, the onion starts to deteriorate. It begins to absorb the poisons and impurities from the atmosphere, just as we start to die the moment we are born. As we progress to adulthood, we mature and grow in strength. We shed the superfluities, and grow closer to the purity of the center of the Onion, much as we progress in our spiritiual growth, to become closer to the center of the Universe, the Unspeakable name of the One. He is symbolized in many ways, and many names. The Brotherhood decided many eons ago that here, that He would be symbolized by Ralph.