Retro Razor.

Needing new cartridge blades for my aged Gillette I toddled off down to the supermarket. But it seems that my particular blades aren't stocked any more. But I could buy a flashy new razor along with a pack of rather expensive cartridges. Which would mean spending £8-£10 everytime I needed new blades. Now, do I really need a multi-bladed lubrastripped shaving device? Do I want to spend nearly a tenner everytime new blades are needed? (I do wonder what the mark-up on cartridges is).

Time for a re-think.

I've always admired the traditional safety razors in the local chemists, Clowes in Buxton. I rather like Clowes as well, a traditional chemists shop, with huge jars of coloured water in the window and lots of wooden drawers with indecipherable labels lining the shop, seemingly unchanged for decades. The service is excellent as well.
So, whilst buying Frontline for the dogs I had a look in the cabinet under the counter, inspected a couple of razors, and chose this;

Its made in Sheffield by Edwin Jagger and cost £22, making it one of the cheaper razors in their range. Made (I think) of chrome plated brass its nice and heavy in the hand and has the feel of a well made tool.

Unscrewing the handle seperates the two halves of the head, allowing the fitting of a double-edged blade;

I've only used it once so far, and found it to be no more difficult to use than a cartridge headed job. (Dani had visions of rivers of blood running down my face...) So, a good purchase I feel, which should save me money in the long run, a packet of blades costing just one pound.

Paul.