I just purchased the PAA Artifact bakelite, a commemorative safety razor in celebration of their 10th anniversary in business. I paid a tad more than the £1.20 you paid for your WW2 bakelite safety razor. The Artifact is an open-comb design and gives a comfortable, mild, yet efficient shave.
Great little story Mark, I do have vague memories that war story from the early 70's, thanks for the refresh. Interesting that Gillette made the Bakelite for WWII soldiers in the Pacific and it makes sense to have it for that humid region, also nice and light to carry around trudging through the jungles.👍🤠
Hi Mark- Great shave; thank you! Thank you for giving us the history behind this vintage WWII razor. You can’t but help wonder what it’s travels might have been. I hope you have a great weekend. Be safe and be well. Best regards, as always, my friend!
You are right about the razor having a functional appearance, but it is also very attractive for that same reason. A gent just can't go wrong with PAA Coconut Bay with Limes 🥰🥰🥰
Thanks Calvin, I appreciate it. I just love the possible history behind these razors. It's probably the cheapest I have paid a razor for, too. 😃 Cheers buddy.
Nice shave Mark! That's a cool razor, I wish it could tell you all the places it's been 😀👍 I'll look forward to the giveaways you described, they sound awesome 😎 Have a good rest of the weekend! Steve
Hi mark I have one of the razors you used for the shave it’s in the original box with the code numbers on I also have the Bakelite shaving brush again in coded box great vid enjoyed the story thanks for sharing
Oh, that is brilliant to have a set with the code numbers. I wonder how many of these old razors have been thrown away, over the years. We are saving them, my friend.
HI Mark -- a great video, as always! I recently came into possession of a Simplex 7 Military razor, out of New York City I believe, made sometime between 1940 and 1950. All Bakelite 3-piece razor, black in color, with metal threading (excellent idea!), in great shape, and shaves quite well! Came with its original black plastic (not Bakelite) case. I'm guessing this Simplex 7 was also a WWII-issued razor. Take care!
Hi Bob. I have heard of Simplex and the similar Souplex; very strange names. Like you, I assume they are military razors but I really know nothing about them.
I have a Tech with the black Bakelite handle and gold tone top cap. I think it was listed as 1951 razor but I don't know how accurate that classification is. Other than the color of the cap it's identical to yours AND I got a great deal on it too! Five US Bucks including shipping; I guess we roughly paid the same amount for our respective razors.
That one looks very nice, Keith; I feel the gold colour goes very well with the bakelite colouring. You did get a good deal. I've noticed there are quite a few good deals on the US eBay. We are lucky to have found our bakelite techs so cheap.
Interesting shave and razor. I do like my Merkur 45 Bakelite Razor. Bakelite razors make good travel razors in my view. The Merkur 45 is small and light weight but efficient at the same time and works well with a large variety of blades. Although this razor has kind of a “camo look” no war story goes along with it though… (as far as as I know 🤔).
I believe I have an older, not camouflaged, version of the 45. I find it to be an amazing razor, one of the best I have, actually. I think It's the way they bend the blade, that makes it so good. Cheers.👍
Mark, I have a inquiry, since you collect and have a fair good catalog of everything vintage shaving, ever thought of publishing your findings in a book ?
Hi Prentiss, this is a good thought but I feel there are guys out there that know so much more than myself. There is an awful lot of information that is shared online, these days and this, to be honest, is where I have picked up all my knowledge. I wonder, with the easy access and popularity of the internet, whether there would still be a demand for a book. You've given me plenty to ponder. Thank you.
Blacked out razor because chrome or stainless steel glistens and could be visible to the enemy. And one could shave in the dark with a safety razor. Certainly not with a cutthroat one. Soldiers used to smoke a cigarette in the reverse...just watch those burning embers.
Exactly, Adrian. I didn't put it quite as well as you. But just a glint of light where it shouldn't be is a dead giveaway. I'm not sure what you mean by smoking a cigarette in reverse - do you mean put the lit end in their mouth?
@@FriendshipShaving Indeed. Lit part in mouth and inhaled. My late father told me. Saw him do it on a lark. He was in WW II. Captured by Germans. Three years in POW camp. Those with mechanical skills were fed and survived. Anyhow, ancient history now.
Wow! Yes, ancient history but all the more shocking, I feel, for those of us that have never lived through it. Well, for some of us. Many seem to have forgotten their sacrifice. Cheers.👍
I just purchased the PAA Artifact bakelite, a commemorative safety razor in celebration of their 10th anniversary in business. I paid a tad more than the £1.20 you paid for your WW2 bakelite safety razor. The Artifact is an open-comb design and gives a comfortable, mild, yet efficient shave.
It sounds very good. I'll go and have a look. Cheers.
An oldie , but a goodie.
Thanks Grant 👍
Great little story Mark, I do have vague memories that war story from the early 70's, thanks for the refresh. Interesting that Gillette made the Bakelite for WWII soldiers in the Pacific and it makes sense to have it for that humid region, also nice and light to carry around trudging through the jungles.👍🤠
Hi Lawrie. I'm glad you enjoyed the story, tragic though it was. It's a good little razor though. I'm not sure Gillette made a bad one.
Thank you
You're welcome.
Hi Mark- Great shave; thank you! Thank you for giving us the history behind this vintage WWII razor. You can’t but help wonder what it’s travels might have been. I hope you have a great weekend. Be safe and be well. Best regards, as always, my friend!
Hi Mike. Thank you, my friend. I do wonder where it's been. Fascinating. Maybe it belonged to Elvis! 😅 You never know.
Proraso green fits with anything! It is a pleasure to look at your shaves!
Thank you, my friend. 👍
Great shave Mark, have a great weekend 👍
Thank you, Robert. You have a good weekend, too. Take good care.
Nice shave and bit of history. Always appreciate the well prepared and interesting content. Take care. 💈
Thanks very much, my friend.
You are right about the razor having a functional appearance, but it is also very attractive for that same reason.
A gent just can't go wrong with PAA Coconut Bay with Limes 🥰🥰🥰
Well said. It is attractive in it's own way. I love Coconut Bay, seems like you do too. Cheers Lee👍
Nice shave…can’t go wrong with ck-6. Love when you present vintage razors…so informative and interesting. Cheers…
Thanks Calvin, I appreciate it. I just love the possible history behind these razors. It's probably the cheapest I have paid a razor for, too. 😃 Cheers buddy.
Sweet razor! 😁👍🏼👌🏼
Cheers Chris. All the best
@@FriendshipShaving 🍻😁👍🏼
Interesting razor and information. Enjoy your weekend Mark.
Thanks Roy, you too! Take care.
Nice shave Mark! That's a cool razor, I wish it could tell you all the places it's been 😀👍 I'll look forward to the giveaways you described, they sound awesome 😎
Have a good rest of the weekend!
Steve
It would be great if they could all tell a tale. Cheers, Steve.
A great shave as always, Mark, even if the efficiency level of the razor was somewhat surprising.
You and your mum have a great and safe weekend.
Many thanks!
Hi mark I have one of the razors you used for the shave it’s in the original box with the code numbers on I also have the Bakelite shaving brush again in coded box great vid enjoyed the story thanks for sharing
Oh, that is brilliant to have a set with the code numbers. I wonder how many of these old razors have been thrown away, over the years. We are saving them, my friend.
oh yes code red on deck 🤪🤪 soon as you said i am going in . i though risky manoeuvre solider 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 nice little razor mate and that brush is awesome. .
I think I may have gotten myself just before I went back in. Either way, it was a risky manouvre! Thanks for watching, mate. Have a good one.
I have the same razor very smooth mild and easy going razor 🙂 Great shave
Hello. I love the history in these old razors, you just don't get that with a modern razor. Thanks for watching. All the best
HI Mark -- a great video, as always! I recently came into possession of a Simplex 7 Military razor, out of New York City I believe, made sometime between 1940 and 1950. All Bakelite 3-piece razor, black in color, with metal threading (excellent idea!), in great shape, and shaves quite well! Came with its original black plastic (not Bakelite) case. I'm guessing this Simplex 7 was also a WWII-issued razor. Take care!
Hi Bob. I have heard of Simplex and the similar Souplex; very strange names. Like you, I assume they are military razors but I really know nothing about them.
I have a Tech with the black Bakelite handle and gold tone top cap. I think it was listed as 1951 razor but I don't know how accurate that classification is. Other than the color of the cap it's identical to yours AND I got a great deal on it too! Five US Bucks including shipping; I guess we roughly paid the same amount for our respective razors.
If on your razor has a triangle on the base plate then it is a pre war tech, if is does not then it is post war one.
That one looks very nice, Keith; I feel the gold colour goes very well with the bakelite colouring. You did get a good deal. I've noticed there are quite a few good deals on the US eBay. We are lucky to have found our bakelite techs so cheap.
Interesting shave and razor. I do like my Merkur 45 Bakelite Razor. Bakelite razors make good travel razors in my view. The Merkur 45 is small and light weight but efficient at the same time and works well with a large variety of blades. Although this razor has kind of a “camo look” no war story goes along with it though… (as far as as I know 🤔).
I believe I have an older, not camouflaged, version of the 45. I find it to be an amazing razor, one of the best I have, actually. I think It's the way they bend the blade, that makes it so good. Cheers.👍
Mark, I have a inquiry, since you collect and have a fair good catalog of everything vintage shaving, ever thought of publishing your findings in a book ?
Hi Prentiss, this is a good thought but I feel there are guys out there that know so much more than myself. There is an awful lot of information that is shared online, these days and this, to be honest, is where I have picked up all my knowledge. I wonder, with the easy access and popularity of the internet, whether there would still be a demand for a book. You've given me plenty to ponder. Thank you.
Using the word sad about that Japanese soldier feels rather an understatement, Mark. For me, tragic would be more fitting.
Yes, you are quite correct, Lee. It was tragic. I didn't use sad with any pre-arranged thought. It's an awful story.
@@FriendshipShaving the whole hero's welcome is another thing altogether.
Blacked out razor because chrome or stainless steel glistens and could be visible to the enemy. And one could shave in the dark with a safety razor. Certainly not with a cutthroat one. Soldiers used to smoke a cigarette in the reverse...just watch those burning embers.
Exactly, Adrian. I didn't put it quite as well as you. But just a glint of light where it shouldn't be is a dead giveaway. I'm not sure what you mean by smoking a cigarette in reverse - do you mean put the lit end in their mouth?
@@FriendshipShaving Indeed. Lit part in mouth and inhaled. My late father told me. Saw him do it on a lark. He was in WW II. Captured by Germans. Three years in POW camp. Those with mechanical skills were fed and survived. Anyhow, ancient history now.
Wow! Yes, ancient history but all the more shocking, I feel, for those of us that have never lived through it. Well, for some of us. Many seem to have forgotten their sacrifice. Cheers.👍