Opened a time capsule today

[jmr40]

After an uncle died several years ago my wife and I picked through some of his stuff and brought some of it home. Somehow, we never opened one small trunk until today. We found some shaving supplies that were given as a gift to my uncles father in 1904. There was a note inside the box with details. He was my uncle by marriage, married my dad's oldest sister. They never had any children.

I have a couple of other straight razors that belonged to my grandfather, but I haven't gotten up the courage to try to shave with one of them yet.



WR Case sharpening stone.



His WW-2 Dog Tags. While he served in the Navy he never went to sea. He spent the war in Seattle loading cargo ships.



I have never seen them with a fingerprint on them. My dad's Army tags were much different with no fingerprint.

 

[ms6852]

My father is 92 years old. He still uses a mug and brush for lathering.

 

[hso]

That Case stone would bring a shocking amount at auction.

 

[jmr40]

That Case stone would bring a shocking amount at auction.

It's not for sale, unless I'm REALLY shocked at its value. It has the paperwork and instructions in the box. The strap and stone don't look like they've ever been used in the last 120 years.

 

[rabid wombat]

Probably a badger bristle brush… pure luxury. For a real shave, about as good as it gets. I have been using shaving oils recently - messy, but a very smooth shave….

 

[CoalTrain49]

My father is 92 years old. He still uses a mug and brush for lathering.

I use a mug and brush to shave and I'm not nearly that old. Won't be long before the soap disappears from the drug store though. Only one brand last time I looked and there wasn't much of that.

 

[nettlle]

I went back to a mug and brush about a year ago. Lots of online suppliers of mugs, soap, and brushes.

 

[d2wing]

Wow. A nice bit of history. In the Army I saw a guy defend himself with a straight razor. A formidable weapon.

 

[.308 Norma]

I use a mug and brush to shave and I'm not nearly that old.

So do I, and I'm "only" 76.

Won't be long before the soap disappears from the drug store though. Only one brand last time I looked and there wasn't much of that.

Yep, I took to using regular bar soap quite a while back. I think it's "Irish Spring" brand I'm using right now, but often as not, it's regular old "Dial" bar soap.
Of course, I don't have much of a beard anyway, so maybe that's why I can get by with using bar soap for shaving.

Lots of online suppliers of mugs, soap, and brushes.

That's good to know. I'd like to find some "Old Spice" shaving soap like I used to use. I still have my "Old Spice" shaving mug.

 

[ms6852]

I still do the 5 minute "SSS" I picked up in the Army. I use my shampoo and lather my face with the runoff in the shower.

 

[lemaymiami]

I'm another guy still using a mug and brush... Not only are there small boutique outfits still making shaving accessories (and hand making various soaps...) but also making a claimed replacement for that old favorite "Old Spice"... Don't have the address of the one that caught my eye but my wife seems to be able to find stuff like this - almost without effort on the internet...

 

[entropy]

When I started shaving as a little shaver, my Dad was into the shaving mug thing, so yeah, I used it too. I have shaved with straight razors as well as an axe, (even before I knew I had Viking blood in me) but usually use the 5 blade Gillette to keep the neck beard at bay.

 

[Starter52]

I am currently clean shaven for the first time in thirty nine years. Five bladed razors are God's gift to mankind.

 

[DustyRusty]

The cup is long gone, but my fathers brush is not.
I use it with Creamo. Does a great job.
Circa?
Christmas is coming https://www.amazon.com/Badger-Shavi...hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4584001419843243&psc=1

 

[Double_J]

I started using a cup and brush about 6-7 years ago , picking up the safety razor 3 years ago and a shavette straight razor about a year ago. I am a young 44 years old.

I buy all of my supplies online from Amazon as the local stores have zero inventory other than disposable razors and can shave cream.

 

[Outlaw75]

His WW-2 Dog Tags. While he served in the Navy he never went to sea. He spent the war in Seattle loading cargo ships.

I have never seen them with a fingerprint on them. My dad's Army tags were much different with no fingerprint.

My father was Navy during WWII, he had the same dog tag with the thumbprint. He also did the same thing your uncle apparently did, turned them into a key fob. Unfortunately I have no idea where it is now that my mother's gone.

 

[Ranger99]

I use a mug and brush to shave and I'm not nearly that old. Won't be long before the soap disappears from the drug store though. Only one brand last time I looked and there wasn't much of that.

I used Williams for years, and didn't
know they'd went defunct until my
stockpile of soaps was dwindling.
All that can be found around here
are the $8.50 up boutique soaps
that are sold for aroma rather than
function

 

[Ranger99]

Use a mug and brush for head and face
every day. Have my maternal grandpa's
well used mug and brush ( has to be
100 or so) as a memento to the right
of my daily user on the left.
Sadly, Williams soap is now a memento
as well. Last new bar I have after I
use up what's left in the mug.
I can't see me paying nearly 10 bucks
for a soap. The 99 cents only store
used to have some nice usable tubes
of gel, but sadly they're defunct as
well and padlocked

 

[Ranger99]

Some I've used in the past.
The Herders does as good of a job
as any. I haven't used any of these
since I was in the hospital a few years
back. I'm fairly shaky at times and
bleed more volume-wise with my
daily medication.

 

[chickasaw_hunter]

My Dad was born in 1907 in Indian Territory. He always used a mug and brush. I can remember back when he used a straight razor, but somewhere along the way he switched to a Gillette safety razor. I have it, but it's too worn to work any more.
But, he always used Ivory bar soap. He said if it was good enough for all those babies butts it was good enough for him. Back in the day Ivory always targeted their ads towards baby and being gentle enough for them.

 

[EMC45]

I use mug and brush. Have a good bit of straight razors (some quite old). For the last few years I’ve been using a shavette with replaceable Derby blades. It works great and no stropping or fussing with honing stones. I also crack Persona blades in half and use them for the shavette. Works perfect. I use Van Der Hagen soap pucks from the grocery store.

My 18yo and 16yo sons both use mug and brush and safety razors to shave with as well.

 

[CoalTrain49]

So do I, and I'm "only" 76.

Yep, I took to using regular bar soap quite a while back. I think it's "Irish Spring" brand I'm using right now, but often as not, it's regular old "Dial" bar soap.
Of course, I don't have much of a beard anyway, so maybe that's why I can get by with using bar soap for shaving.

That's good to know. I'd like to find some "Old Spice" shaving soap like I used to use. I still have my "Old Spice" shaving mug.

Age is just a number. I'm just a whisker behind you.

 

[lemaymiami]

What I didn't mention in my post was that as a full time fishing guide since 1996 I've had a very high sun exposure (and the usual minor skin cancer that comes with it...). My first skin doc managed to cost me my mustache and sideburns and as a result I only need to shave once a week (less if I'm feeling lazy...). That mustache was my only vanity - and so it goes - down here in paradise... Still a shaving mug and good badger brush - the only way to go.

Here's a work picture of my daily routine...

friendly looking guy, no?

 

[sgt127]

I bought a couple high end straight Razor's and pretended I knew what I was doing. I don’t. A lot of direct pressure was involved.

I asked my dad if he ever used a straight razor.

“Of course”

Why don’t you use one anymore?

“Because safety razors came out..”

That said, I usually use double edged safety razor now. I don’t shave daily. Sometimes, several days. As sexy and effective as those multiblade razors are, they really fill up with hair in a hurry.