I just ordered a box of 16 Harry's razor blades. It's not because they are great blades but because they are simple and cheaper than modern Gillette blades. That got me to thinking, always a bad sign, and on to the Google.
My first line of thought was how the stainless steel Wilkinson Sword Steel blades changed the U.S. market in the early 60's. Kinda like A2 changed the market for chisels and other cutters from being able to have an incredibly sharp iron that may not stay sharp a long time to one where sharpness is ok but stays that way much longer than the O1 cutter.
Getting on Google to refresh my memory and looking for the cost of mid 60's Gillette razor blades was enlightening, I knew about the cult following of straight razor folks with forums and such (kinda like woodworkers 😆) but there are also folks that buy and use NOS razor blades and post about the merits of the different makes and brands. It is a strange world out there but I guess no different than my strange world.
BTW, the cost of the Harry's razor blades was just under $2 USD a blade and they will give an ok shave for maybe a week. A pack of 10 Gillette Blue Blades in 1965 cost $1 USD. In real 2019 dollars that is $8 USD or about $.80 USD a blade/shave. The cost/benefit is still about where it was in the 60's. If you could buy new Gillette Blue blades at the same price in real dollars a week's shaves would be about $4 USD vs. $2 USD for the Harry's blades. A really nice smooth shave for about twice the cost of an ok shave. The market spoke.
ken
Back in the days when I had to shave, I quickly settled on using Gillette products. From the Mach 3 to today's umpteen blades etc, i stayed at Fusion.
ReplyDeleteNow that I'm retired, I grew a beard :-)
If I was to add up the cost of all the disposable razors I used in my 37 years military career, I bet I could buy me a lot more tools :-)
Bob
Bob,
DeleteBack in my mountain man days I had a full beard, I've a photo somewhere if I can find it I'll post. It has been so long ago that memories are kinda like my get along, not what it use to be but if I remember correctly I shaved it off because it was more work than shaving with digging out lost food, trimming around the edges, and so on. Now if MsBubba would let me I could get into that "cool dude" look of a three day growth. Only on me it would be "the old geezer forgot to shave" look.
ken
When I worked for Bic I was always amazed at how many of those cheap single edged torture devices they sold. It's been a while but I think production of those orange jobs was 1 or 2 million per day. Those were not even an OK shave in my book but there seemed to be a following.
ReplyDeleteThere were double and triple blade models from other countries that were decent but I don't know how many of those were sold.
I have a beard and shave between 1 and 3 times per week. My cartridges last a couple of years each so when I go for refills the question isn't how much but do they still make them?
Steve,
DeleteI've tried those Orange things and if that was all I had I would grow a untrimmed beard.
During the Winter I use an electric, Summer and the living may be easy but my skin is too sweaty and sticky to use the electric most days. The Harry's are ok but the shave is nowhere near as good as those from the early 60's. Of course that might be the OF in me remembering things as I think they were instead of how they were.
ken
- I have a cut beard, so I shave (nearly) everyday upper cheeks and lower part of the chin/neck.
ReplyDeleteI don't even know what I am using (must be Lidl own brand).
I use the same one for many days. When I finally take a new one I can of course appreciate the huge difference.
- I once have seen a contraption to strop pre-1970 safety razor blades (the one we often use for other purposes). It must have been from my grand father.
Sylvain
Sylvain,
DeleteSee Jeremy's reply below. I'm going to give the Feather blades a go.
ken
Have you considered the double edged safety razors? Feather blades are top of the line, and run about 50 cents each. I shave 3 times a week, and they last at least a week, sometimes longer if I've kept them dry. Only problem there is that a safety razor handle is $30 at least, but they're machined brass and chrome plated, so it feels like you're using a really quality product. I haven't used a cartridge in forever.
ReplyDeleteJeremy,
DeleteThanks, you just cost me a few bucks :-). I've lived in the Gillette world too long and didn't even realize there were companies making good DE blades. Some are on the way.
ken
Sorry Ken! I'm surprised your internet searches turned up straight razor people, but not DE razor people. There's a crazy online sub community for everything these days.
DeleteJeremy,
DeleteAin't that the truth ;-). My razor and blades came today. I'll give 'em a go in the morning. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction. Like I have often said, I spend most of my life riding the short bus and are the last to know.
ken