old fashioned safety razor

[amertrac]

I use an electric razor for self preservation. shaking and open blades don't mix .   bob w.

[rusty]

RAZOR STROP DITTIES—No. 4. Brown, The Cooper.

There lived, years ago, in a small country town,
I might tell if I wished his name and location,
A chap by the name (not uncommon) of Brown,
A cooper by trade, or I should say vocation.
He made wooden pails, butter firkins, and tubs,
Corn baskets, hoe-handles, cart-spokes, and hubs;

Yet it happened, somehow, and it beats me, I vow,
When his trouble commenced, to inform you just now;
But day after day his customers fell off,
And his wares of all kinds he no longer could sell off,
And his friends said his case was a theme for a ditty—
'T was not like this case, and that's more the pity.
But a reason for his troubles I will allege, sir,
The tools in his shop all wanted an edge, sir;

T' is needless to tell how Brown would behave,
When once in a fortnight he set out to shave;
How he cursed, and he swore, and stamped round on the floor,
With his chin all bedaubed with lather and gore.

He strapped his old razor upon his old boots,
Till it fairly pulled his beard out by the roots,
But it took him much longer to patch up his face,
Than it would to shave any ten men in the place.
Well, it chanced one day ('t is true, what I say, sir,

Here's a match to the strop he used for his razor;) 
'T was two years ago, I think 't was October, 
I met this old chap,—for once Brown was sober;
I had a good sale all that day from my shop,
And so, for a wonder, I gave Brown a strop. 

Ah, you scarce could believe it, and yet't was the truth,
How his eyes lighted up with the lustre of youth,
How lie gazed on the strop with such joy and delight, 
For so keen was its grit, sir, it sharpened his sight; 
Aye, it sharpened the eye sight,—.you 've only to look 
At the paste on the end, and by hook or by crook, 
'T is done ; you may throw your old spectacles by, 
For as to such gewgaws they 're all in my eye. 

And more wonderful, yet—if your children are dull,
Just rub this strop round on the top of their skull; 
'T will sharpen their wits so remarkably slick, 
They'll cut, as they grow up, their friends, and cut stick. 

Well, Brown hastened home with his strop in his pocket, 
He kept it as safe as a girl would a locket; 
He strapped his old razor, it shaved to a charm, 
He strapped up the scissors for aunty and marm ; 
He sharpened his hatchet, his chisel, his knife, 
And tried e'en to sharpen the wit of his wife— 
But this was no use; Mrs. Brown, for a woman, 
Had a tongue and a visage much sharper than common. 

These things being over, he sat down to tea, 
With an appetite as sharp as a shark in the sea, 
And shortly after retired to his rest, 
With an edge on his feelings as good as the best; 
When early next morning, rub a-dub, rub-a-dub, 
He was driving the hoops on the handsomest tub 
Ever seen in those regions ; and since I 've been told, 
That long ere 't was finished 't was bargained and sold. 
'T is said since that time, whether shaving or driving, 
Brown's business has been exceedingly thriving; 

His wares are well made, all his buckets are tight, 
And as smooth as the cheek you were kissing last night; 
His children are handsome, good tempered, and witty, 
And strange to relate, Mrs. Brown has grown pretty. 
This strop did the business, only a quarter to pay, sir, 
'T will sharpen your eye sight, your wits or your razor; 
'T will sharpen your appetite better than rum, 
And that is a thing drank too freely by some; 

'T will sharpen and grind like a hone, sir, I 'm sure, 
But it never yet ground the face of the poor; 
Or, if you 've a sister that plays on the harp, 
Yet cannot distinguish a flat from a sharp, 
Just purchase this strop, and beat time by her side, 
'T will sharp every note in the tune—for I Ve tried.

Now, who wants the next ? it is almost a gift,
A quarter a piece, and a few more left—


---
The life and adventures of Henry Smith, the celebrated razor strop man ;By Henry Smith ; 1848

[Branson]

That's one "old way" of doing things I haven't tried.  But the older boy started with the straight razor and that's all he uses.

Rolls Razor?!  I got one of those!  Not sure how well it shaves, but, dang!  It's one helofa contraption!