Matt, Author at WithoutInk

Razor Collection

July 10, 2014 By Matt Leave a Comment

razor-collection

For all those that are interested, here is my razor collection in list form. I will eventually create some content for each of these razors. I will link to the content from here.

Current Razor Collection (DE/SE)

Check out my Top 5 DE Razors as of 2015-05-31.

1920 – Gillette Old Type Serial M414651
1931 – Gillette New
1940’s – Merkur Slant (Not sure of exact age)
1940’s – German Field Razor (Nazi)
1940’s – GEM “Bullet Tipped” Micromatic (w/Safety Bar) – 1940’s – On its way
1946-8 – Gillette Aristocrat
1954 – Gillette Super Speed Flare Tip – Date Code Z3 (3rd quarter of 1954)
1955 – Gillette Super Speed Blue Tip – Date Code A1 (1st quarter of 1955)
1956 – Gillette Ball End Tech Travel – Date Code B4 (4th quarter of 1956)
1959 – Gillette 195 Adjustable “Fat Boy” – Date Code E2 (2nd quarter of 1959)
1960 – Gillette Super Speed Flare Tip – Date Code F1 (1st quarter of 1960)
1964 – Lady Gillette – Date Code J4 (4th quarter of 1964)
1965 – Gillette Ball End Tech – Date Code K3 (3rd quarter of 1965)
1968 – Gillette Super Speed Black Handle – Date Code N3 (3rd quarter of 1968)
Feather Portable (NOS)
Gillette Techmatic
2015 – Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements – Double Open Comb Razor
2015 – Wetshave Club Razor

Straight Razor Collection

1800’s – Wade & Butcher Barbers Point (restoration pending)
1800’s – Wade & Butcher Spike (restoration pending)
1800’s – Joseph Rodgers & Sons “Thursday” from a Seven Day Set (needs some love as well)
1920’s – #222 Shumate
1920’s – Checker Wedge
Vintage – CV Heljestrand #66

Razor Wish List

1904 – Gillette Double Ring (Gillette’s first safety razor)
1930’s – Gillette Aristocrat Open Comb
1972 – Gillette Black Handled Adjustable – Date Code S3 (3rd quarter of 1972)
IKon Slant – (a modern razor)
RazoRock – Stealth Slant (a modern razor)

Sold / Traded / Pif’ed

Gillette Super Speed 1940’s
Gillette Super Speed 1960’s
Schick Krona -1970’s
Gillette Super Speed Flare Tip – Date Code F1 (1st quarter of 1960)
Merkur Vision 2000 ( a modern DE razor) – Sold on eBay for $185.00
Vintage – NOS Filarmonica #13 6/8 Light Green Doble Temple – Sold on eBay for $350.00

Matt

Matt is a Systems Development Director for a multinational franchise. Matt has lived and worked in Hawaii, Chicago, South Florida and currently resides outside of Atlanta. He enjoys his hobbies including Technology, Gadgets/EDC, Fountain Pens, Wetshaving, Clocks, Antiques & Coffee. He even roasts his own coffee weekly.

withoutink.com

Introduction to Wetshaving

July 1, 2014 By Matt Leave a Comment

shave-of-the-day-speick Many years ago, I decided that I no longer wanted to get screwed over on the soaring cost of razor blades. I started Googling things like ‘safety razors’, reading blogs, how-to’s and watching reviews. With each search on Google, I continued to put the pieces of the wetshaving puzzle together. Finally, after a few weeks, I had a decent understanding of the process and subculture that is wetshaving. If you are looking to ‘save money’ on shaving (lol!), and start enjoying the shaving experience please continue reading, I will be breaking this up into parts, as to make this all a bit more digestible…

After all that research, I knew my first step was to commit to stop buying Fusion’s/Mach’s. Instead I started investing in DE/SE (double edge and single edge) Safety Razors. Rather than spending $4+ per cartridge, I started picking up some old school DE/SE as well as straight razors (amazingly for as little as $5 each, as an aside I recently picked up three razors for .50 cents each!). And well, if you know me, you know I like to collect things… so after awhile, I had a nice little vintage razor collection.

The cool thing about old school wetshaving is that – it’s sort of like baking. Yup, baking. There are all these really cool ingredients, and when put together artfully, the end result can be outstanding. Mix the proportions up together and the experience can be, ‘meh’.

So, what else does on need to get into wetshaving you ask? Well, it’s pretty simple really.

Wetshaving Ingredients:

Razors – These can be DE/SE/Straights.
Blades – Double sided or single sided blades.
Shaving Soap / Cream / Sticks – These provide lubrication, cushioning and my favorite — scent!
Shaving Brush – This is used to whip up lather.
Shaving Bowl / Mug / Scuttle – The vessels in which the soap / cream is added and whipped.
After Shave – Soothing protectant for the skin.

You will need some combination of the above to wetshave. Note that some of those items can be considered optional. For example: you could face / hand lather in lieu of using a shaving brush and bowl. In all honesty, this could be pretty inexpensive, assuming you are not a hoarder/collector like me.

Example:

Vintage Gillette Super Speed razor – $10+
100 blades $15+ (each blade lasts me 1-2 weeks)
An Arko shaving stick: $3, cheap, longlasting & works great! No need for a brush or a bowl with Arko.
$5+ for your favorite aftershave.

I am sure you get the idea; back to the analogy…

Different blades work better in certain razors, certain soaps/creams work better with specific blades. Experimenting, is in my opinion, the single best aspect of wetshaving. The plethora of options available, open you up to so many different experiences.

Throughout the years, I talked to various friends, convincing them to give wetshaving a try. Often times, I would gift them a razor, some blades and a soap/cream to get them up and running. That being said, my razor collection has grown and shrunk as I gave away, bought, traded or sold razors. At my high point, I had 20+ DE razors, which in my opinion is a decent collection. Currently, my shaving den (think wetshaving storage area), is pretty well equipped, I have enough soaps, blades, after shaves and razors to survive the shaving apocalypse… yup, apocalypse… trust me, it’s coming and you best be prepared. 😉

Case in point, I have not bought any razor blades in about three years, and I have enough to probably get me through another five years or so. I can probably say the same about soaps/creams and aftershaves. Yep, I am a bit of a hoarder when it comes to shaving accoutrement. 🙂

Stay tuned for Part II….

Matt

withoutink.com

Kundo 400 Day Anniversary Clock

December 23, 2013 By Matt 2 Comments

I have been interested in clocks for awhile, although I do not collect them I do have a fondness for them. I have three clocks that I am very proud of, but I just added a new one to the lineup. It is a Kundo 400 Day Anniversary Clock. I do not know much about these clocks, as far as history goes. But they were made mostly it seems by Kieninger & Obergfell. They are from what was once West Germany. Kieninger & Obergfell made a number of other clocks, but the jewel was the Kundo Anniversary clocks.

The Kundo 400 Day clocks were made first around 1923 or so. I believe the one I have is from around 1950. I purchased it from a clock collector on eBay for $45. The clocks were very popular and even though they are highly collectable, they can be purchased easily for under $100. The clocks were made to be wound one time, and the internal mainspring would rotate a pendulum consisting of four weights (normally in the shape of spheres). The clocks spring would hold a large amount of energy, plus the fact that the rotating pendulum was very energy efficient… the clocks would keep time for approximately 400 days. Most people select a day of importance to be the anniversary of winding. Many people would use New Years or another holiday as the Anniversary, although many would use the the date of purchase for the clock to celebrate.

Often it is hard to find the clocks with the key, as they were often misplaced due to only having to wind it once a year. Also, the directions are often missing, again due to the lack of needing them. The clocks can be repaired as a number of parts are available. Most of the time the suspension spring is in need of replacing.

I have chatted with the previous owner of my clock, at one point he had 10 or so Kundo clocks. He assured me that the clock works fine, and nothing is needed in regards to repair. It does have 2 chips on the 12″ glass dome that covers the clock. But they are inconspicuous and should be easy to hide. The brass on the base is a little worn, but I am ok with that… as the clock is 60+ years old. The clocks also are silent, there is no noise to be heard from them. They are very sensitive to being level. As the pendulum tip is located inside a small brass ‘cup’ – which is to allow for balance (it should be centered within the cup). If it is not level the pendulum will hit the cup and time will not be accurate. In regards to accuracy, these clocks are not always 100% accurate. But if you set them up, and the room it is in stays a set temperature the clock should hold time relatively well. Towards the end of the run time the spring will hold less energy and they tend to slow down a bit.

Matt

withoutink.com

Antique Victorian Mirror Find

December 21, 2013 By Matt Leave a Comment

Victorian Mirror So I am a huge fan of antiques and vintage furniture. I love the stuff. I adore going to antique and resale shops, scouting out finds. I could spend many days doing it without issue. I think it all stemmed from my design courses in college. I was going to be an Architect and Interior Designer. Well, those were my aspirations at one point. Anyway, although I didn’t fulfill those dreams, I do still carry my love for furniture, antiques and design with me today. I am now at an age, where my tastes are changing and I see more focus on the things I really love. Victorian furniture definitely falls into the ‘Love’ class.

I love the ornate details in the carvings. I love the wheels on the legs of the furniture. Plus, on top of all that — stuff was just built very well back in those days. The quality was much greater than the things we mass produce these days. Recently, I was in Pottery Barn (which I do love)… I saw a number of mirrors that were over the $200 mark. These pieces are made in some foreign country, by people working hard for very little. The quality and materials may be slightly better than some of the other big box stores. But we are paying for the premium of the moniker that gets slapped on the box when we buy it.

I doubt that many of the pieces we see today, being churned out by these companies will be around in 100+ years from now. The glues and finishing nails holding the parts together will fail and most likely only a few specimens will make it. However, when you look back 100+ years right now… You will see materials and craftsmanship that HAS stood the test of time.

The mirror I purchased today is at minimum 100 years old (note the Victorian Age was between 1837-1901). Ironically I paid $100 for it. I hope that the piece lasts for many more generations to come. Hopefully, my son learns to appreciate the craftsmanship, the history, the romance of antiques that were well built and smartly designed – like I do. So that I can pass it down to him. If so, I am certain to pass down many items. In fact the desk I am sitting at right now is around 135-140 years old as well… It is a Victorian Library desk. One leg may be warped a bit… but what a treasure it is. I do love it just so.

Anyway, I just wanted to share a photo of the mirror and write a litte. God knows I have not been paying much attention to this blog for awhile, and I seriously want to change that. Thank you for taking some time to read this. I do appreciate it.

Matt

withoutink.com

Rum Glögg Recipe

December 17, 2013 By Matt Leave a Comment

For the holidays I decided I would be adventurous and make some homemade Rum Glögg. This is an old-fashioned Swedish recipe that a friend gave me awhile ago. It is a family recipe that has been passed down many generations. However, I am sure it is a pretty common Rum Glögg recipe, or maybe generally these recipes do not differ too much.

For the uninitiated Glögg is basically a mulled wine. Rum Glögg is an amped up version containing… dun dun dun… Rum!

Rum Glögg is fantastic during the winter months, as provides a nice warming sensation deep within you. Its a festive drink. Think of Glögg as sort of a hot sangria. Although, it is slightly different. But if you know and love sangria… You will most likely LOVE Rum Glögg!

This stuff is potent. No kidding, it will sneak up on you really quick if you are not careful. It goes without saying, please do not drink and drive… or operate other heavy machinery. Just enjoy and relax.

Here is the recipe I was given:

1 – 750ml bottle of good spiced rum. I used Sailor Jerry.
2 – Small boxes of raisins (the individual sized boxes).
15-20 – Raw almonds, but they must have the skins removed.
1-2 – Vanilla beans I pulled a couple out of my homemade vanilla extract. – Overachiever 😉
4-5 Seville Oranges (I couldn’t find any, so I used two navels and 2 tangerines). Sue me. ;-P
2-3 – Coffee spoons full of cloves.
1-2 – Coffee spoon of cardamon pods (split open).
4-5 Cinnamon sticks
A bit of fresh ginger
2 – Bottles of Red wine
1.5-3 – Cups of sugar

I first sterilized two mason jars, as well as the lids. Next, I zested the oranges and tangerines removing just the top part of the skin. I divided the zest equally into the two mason jars. Next went in one box of raisins into each jar. Two sticks of cinnamon followed… Then I equally divided the almonds and the cardamon pods. I pulled a bean from my vanilla extract and tossed it in as well. Since I didn’t have fresh beans I also added 1 tsp of extract to each jar (you wouldn’t need to do this if you just added a fresh split bean). Then I sliced and peeled a chunk of ginger and added some to each jar. It is important to note that you must use the cardamon. Even if you are not a fan. It is really what makes it. Then I topped each jar up with the Sailor Jerry spiced rum.

Note: For the almonds I blanched them in hot water, removed the skins… For the cardamon I took my knife and smacked it against the pods, similar to how you would crush garlic. This allows the pods to split and allow the flavors to deepen.

Now, seal the jars and put away for four weeks. This will allow the flavors to meld. I cheated and took a jar out early for Thanksgiving. It’s hard waiting this long, but it is worth it. That is for sure.

Ok, four weeks have passed and you are dying for some Rum Glögg! What to do…. Grab a deep pot (or crock pot) and set the temp to low/med… Strain the contents of (1) mason jar. Pour the strained liquid into a pot. Add (1) bottle of wine. Add 1-1.5 cups of sugar to the vessel… I would recommend adding a little sugar at a time. Tasting the concoction as it warms, continue to add sugar until you reach the level of sweetness you prefer. Allow the sugar to dissolve, and continue to simmer on low. You don’t want to boil the alcohol out, but rather get it nice and warm throughout.