Dave in KY
Shave Newbie
Mine bought from Turkey for $1.50 years ago is spot on.
The Shaving Cadre
Welcome to The Shaving Cadre, a forum dedicated to gentlemanly discourse about wet shaving and other topics of common interests. Membership is always free so register today and join in the fun
Natterings of a Nasal Barbarian
- Thread starter jgreenepa
- Start date
jgreenepa
TSC's "Velveteen Shaver"
No, mine shaves beautifully for me! My major issue is that it’s ugly! So I don’t think I‘ve ever shaved with it for more than one day.
jgreenepa
TSC's "Velveteen Shaver"
SOTD WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2020
Today I broke out a well-used PAA Preshave Soap bar, it used to be a cube, but those days are long past. I decided to shave with the well-worn Schick Type C I own. I placed a Schick B-20 Proline in the cassette and loaded the razor. Since it’s Wool Fat Wednesday, and SWMBO would be working from home I added my 6 drops of M-Bomb, grabbed my Viking Silvertip Badger and made sure it would be a scent-free morning by selecting Fine Accoutrements Snake Bite AS Splash. Before my discovery of Nancy Boy Shave cream, I was a committed MWF true fan. In fact, I’d spent months in the past shaving with nothing but MWF going back to my Schick Krona days. I own other soaps, but have never found a lathering product in the same class until Nancy Boy. Both these soaps when used consistently deliver incredible post shave feel. But back to the shave.
The Type C because of it’s handle-heavy design, can tend to promote pressure during the shave, which we all know leads to blood-letting. As a result, I don’t end to use my Type B for the same reason. Parkinson’s and pressure don’t play well together. After the first two nicks on my right cheek, I put this historical classic down, and grabbed my Fatip Piccolo. Although it’s a short-handled razor, at 70 grams has the right heft and weight in hand to do the job nicely. The problem I face as a collector-user is that there are too many great-shaving razors out there. The Fatip Piccolo’s knurled piping make it easy to grip. It’s a highly efficient shaver, and the OC design is a real plus. The razor has a relatively wide sweet spot, great balance and really delivers the goods.
The last time I nicked myself this badly was back during May Mayhem with the French Spadson, the only truly obsessively aggressive safety razor in my collection. After the styptic pencil put things to right, I continued my shave with the Piccolo for the first pass (WTG). What a splendid little shaver, and the new Nacet I loaded made quick work of the overnight stubble mowing things right down to the skin line. It was a particular joy to use on my noggin. There’ssomething about OC dome shaves that just works well. Despite the initial rocky start, this shave was uphill all the way. The second pass (ATG), really onlyconsisted of some selective buffing. That little Piccolo piped a delightful buttering toast song throughout the shave and delivered me directly to VBBS land despite the initial mishap. I feel clean, slightly wounded, but otherwise cool, velveteen smooth and refreshed.
RAZOR: Schick Type C followed by Fatip Piccolo
BLADE: Schick B-20 Proline followed by Nacet
PREP: Cold water rinse and PAA Preshave Cube Soap
BRUSH: Viking Silvertip Badger
SOAP: Mitchell’s Wool Fat cooled w/ 6 drops of M-Bomb
POSTSHAVE: Cold water wash with brush squeezings followed by Thayers Lavender WH and Fine Accoutrements Snake Bite AS Splash.
Dave in KY
Shave Newbie
Jeff, sorry you can't use all of your fine collection. I enjoy reading about ones I don't have yet and seeing them used and how you modify the blades . Have a good day !
jgreenepa
TSC's "Velveteen Shaver"
Thanks, Dave! I really enjoy variety as may be obvious. I have to take a break from posting, one of my squad mates just passed from Corona. I‘m traveling To West Virginia for the funeral. I‘m now the last guy left.
I like the Piccolo, but you’re right, you have to maintain your focus. The original R41 was a true OC, not like the 2011 or 2013. The original was made by Fatip up until 2008 and, in fact, was a relabeled Piccolo. Then Muhle redesigned the head, initially based on Merkur, but in 2011 came out with the modern design we all know and love.
Dave in KY
Shave Newbie
Sorry Jeff, thoughts are with you and his family. Safe travels
jgreenepa
TSC's "Velveteen Shaver"
SOTD FRIDAY, June 5, 2020
I own four Valet Auto Strop (VAS) razors, all of which I’ve shaved with except for my silver plated VB2 model. That razor and my NOS Le Coq Cage Head are the only two in my collection that I’ve never used. My other three VAS razors are all great head and face shavers. Today I decided to shave with the VB2. Tomorrow I’ll shave with the Le Coq.
The VB2 model was made between 1922 and 1929 and predated the Probak razor model that Henry Gaismann used to take over Gillette. It, like all VAS razors I’ve shaved with, turned out to be a great shaver as well. Software selected for the shave was Nancy Boy Signature shave cream and balm, and my brush was one of my four Jayaruh Custom brushes - the #374 Boar.
I loaded the VAS with a Feather FHS-10 blade and began my shave. The Nancy Boy generated its usual thick, yogurty lather with the help of the Jayaruh Boar. While not a fan of these particular Feather blades, my modified Gem didn’t fit well because of the raised indents in the blade receiver. Despite this, the shave went quite well.
After my shower and cold water rinse, I lathered up and had a good first pass (WTG). The Nancy Boy provided a great cushion as the razor sheared through the 36 hours growth of whiskers practically down to the skin line. The second pass (ATG) made short work of the remaining stubble and put the baby to bed leaving your surprised narrator with an excellent BBS, not quite to the VBBS level, but I’ll attribute that to the blade and not the razor. I feel clean, smooth and refreshed.
RAZOR: Valet Auto Strop Model VB2
BLADE: Feather FHS-10
PREP: Cold water rinse
BRUSH: Jayaruh Custom Boar #374
CREAM: Nancy Boy Signature
POSTSHAVE: Cold water wash with Glyce Glycerin soap followed by Humphreys Lilac WH and Nancy Boy Signature Scent Cooling Aftershave Gel.
Dave in KY
Shave Newbie
Well, if I haven’t done it by now, then I forgot. You could ask again to remind me.
Dave in KY
Shave Newbie
Perhaps I just did
#passiveaggressivePerhaps I just did
Dave in KY
Shave Newbie
#didntwanttobother you #yourenotonasmuchasyouusedtobe#passiveaggressive
I'm definitely on.... just don't have as much time as I'd like to catch up on Journals and VLOGS. I'll try to do something for you tomorrow.
Dave in KY
Shave Newbie
Much appreciated
jgreenepa
TSC's "Velveteen Shaver"
Dave:
First see this thread;
AutoStrop/Valet Razors: A Typology in 13 Parts
The various types of Valet/AutoStrop razors confuse people, and with good reason. There are 10 basic types of razors in this family, leaving aside minor variations in handles, country of production, finishes, and kits. It’s a lot, and the variations can be subtle. These razors were produced...
www.badgerandblade.com
Simple modified GEM's work well in the AutoStrop A1, A2, B1, B2, VB1, VC1 models.
Modifying the Gem involves removing the backing and then snapping off the two tabs underneath, one on each side. Jayaruh has made a video on how to do it on YT.
The VB2, VC2, VC3, and VC4 models are the trouble makers. Only Original Valet Blades or Feather FHS-10 (Stainless Steel) morning or Feather FAS-10 (carbon steel).
Last edited:
jgreenepa
TSC's "Velveteen Shaver"
SOTD SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2020
Today I decided to shave with the final, and only, model of Valet Auto Strop (VAS) razor with a safety bar instead of an open comb, the Model VC4. All models of Auto Strop razor are great shavers. The only difference with this, the final model (1941-1946) that I can discern is a bit of a narrower sweet spot when contrasted with its predecessors. The shave yesterday with my Model VB2, made from 1927 into the 1930s by Gillette, marked the beginning of the blade holder indents that precluded the use of any blade but an Auto Strop according to Waits’s Compendium. Models prior to the VB2 work just fine with a modified Gem blade. All VAS razors work with the modern Feather FHS-10 or FAS-10 blade.
It appears that I’m developing an addiction to Nancy Boy Signature Shave cream. The post shave feel continues to build over the course of consecutive shaves, and, dare I say, is easily equivalent to, if not superior to MWF. Your humble narrator was a confirmed MWF super fan, until his encounter with Nancy Boy Signature. This quiet little company out of San Francisco does no traditional marketing, but rather has relied on word-of-mouth to build their business since 2002. This strategy has garnered them numerous awards over the years. Sharpologist acknowledged them in 2020 as “having limited availability, but stellar performance with or without a brush”. I’ve never used it without a brush, but I can see how, given its consistency- thick and rich creamy paste - it would perform well.
After showering and then rinsing with cold water, I pulled out a product I’d purchased several months ago and never used, Chel Cooling Gel, which is apparently equally effective pre or post shave. After applying it to both mug and noggin, I spent some time reorganizing my den before applying the Nancy Boy lather directly Over it with the Jayaruh Custom Rosewood Silvertip Badger #378. The synthetic menthol definitely behaved differently than the real deal. The aloe and other skin-friendly ingredients in the Chel felt great on both shave surfaces and continued to slowly and gradually build throughout the two and 1/2 passes (WTG, ATG, ATG) of the shave. Quite frankly, “me likee”! The one caution provided was to ensure one washed their hands after applying, as it is apparently very eye unfriendly. The VAS VC4, while it does have a narrower sweet spot is an exemplary shaver and gently eased yours truly into velveteen BBS land (VBBS). The Chel cool lasted at least an hour and a half into the morning post shave. I feel clean, extremely cool and refreshed.
RAZOR: Valet Auto Strop (Model VC4)
BLADE: Feather FHS-10
PREP: Cold water rinse followed by Chel Cooling Gel as Preshave
BRUSH: Jayaruh Custom Rosewood Silvertip Badger #378
CREAM: Nancy Boy Signature
POSTSHAVE: Cold water wash with Glyce Glycerin soap followed by Humphreys Lilac WH. Finished with Nancy Boy Cooling After-Shave Gel.
I'm sorry to hear that, Jeff. Godspeed.
jgreenepa
TSC's "Velveteen Shaver"
SOTD SUNDAY, JUNE 7, 2020
The shave yesterday with my VC4 Valet Auto Strop (VAS) was so awesome, I just had to repeat it. The Auto Strop was designed by Henry Gaisman, and it is a surprisingly brilliant piece of work. The VAS evolved from the original 1906 model through 9 others and culminated in this razor, the VC4 which ceased production in 1946. Of all the models, only the VC4 featured a safety bar instead of the open comb of its predecessors.
During the roaring mid-1920s, Gaisman like his mentor, King C Gillette, realized that money in the shaving game was in blades, not blade-holders, despite his having designed one of the best, if not the best safety razors in the business. Customers had stopped buying Valet blades, and were substituting the cheaper Gem blades. Research indicated that customers didn’t consider the VAS a premium brand.
To counter this perception, and lock in customers, Gaisman released the Model VB2 (7th of 10 VAS models) a silver plated model with a new blade lock. The new mechanism consisted of a swinging door that secured the blade and included indents on the baseplate that prevented the use of Gem blades. In fact, all three Auto Strops that followed had indents on the baseplate. Thankfully, the six models preceding the VB2 can all be used with Gem Blades. The easiest solution, of course, is to use an original NOS Valet blade or a Feather FHS-10 in any of the models.
Yesterday’s shave featured Chel, a synthetic menthol cooling gel. The gel Contains aloe and other skin+friendly ingredients. It performed beautifully as a preshave. So after my shower and cold water rinse, I again applied the Chel and lathered over it with the Nancy Boy Signature Shave cream. The Alpha Shaving T-400 Tribute’s Boar ferrule felt great against the shave surfaces. But what felt even better was the slowly escalating feeling of coolness. The VAS again delivered the goods through two slow luxurious passes (WTG, ATG). I think the feature I enjoy most about the later model Auto Strops is their adjustability. Lifting the locking lever In the back of the head increases efficiency and pressing it down decreases it, a very clever system, Mr Gaisman. And one arrived at through incremental improvements over the razor’s 40 year life (1906-1946), finding its final and best expression in this, the VC4. I really like this razor which again delivered another bloodless VBBS with no heat from the Alum. I feel clean, velveteen smooth, icy cool, and refreshed!
RAZOR: Valet Auto Strop (Model VC4)
BLADE: Feather FHS-10
PREP: Cold water rinse followed by Chel application to all shave surfaces
BRUSH: Alpha Shaving T-400 Tribute w/ 26mm Boar Ferrule
CREAM: Nancy Boy Signature
POSTSHAVE: Cold water wash with Glyce Glycerin soap followed by Humphreys Lilac WH and finished with Krampert’s Frostbite AS Splash