A ring, a chessboard, and a safety razor
Posted: August 19th, 2009 | Author: ccollins | Filed under: General | Tags: Grandpa, Self, Tools | 6 Comments »A few weeks ago, while making yet another attempt to get my workarea/garage/office sorted, I came across a few things that my grandfather had given me before he died. Anyone who’s spent any time with me has heard at least a little about the old man, and the things that I have that were his are some of my most prized treasures:
- A stainless steel ring he made by working a machine hex nut with hand files (I wear this pretty much every day).
- A set if simple silver cuff links. (These were broken when he gave them to me. Molly had them repaired last year. She’s an excellent person)
- An old hardhat with built-in ear muffs from Ladish (He worked there until he retired)
- His 30-year pin from Ladish (I’ve worn this a few times… special occasions only)
- A toy car he built just before he died.
- A dribble glass.
- A briefcase full of polka music and stand up comedy (think Hal Roach, Abbot and Costello)
- A couple of battered old hand tools, tie clips, keys without locks, and a broken folding rule (which I use often).
- A simple hemlock and maple chessboard he and I built together right around the time Molly and I started dating. This is finished with tung oil and has not only a set of chessmen (shipped from Mexico by way of a friend in Texas), but a set of homemade checkers in its drawer. Joe Ziminski preferred checkers (The plan had been to carve and turn a set of pieces, but that was a little beyond my skills at that point. Plus, the oak dowel I bought was the perfect size for checkers).
- A pair of safety razors… the kind that only requires a new blade, not a whole new plastic and metal assembly. There is one that takes a single edged disposable blade, and one that takes a double:
The double edged
While I was cleaning (read: walking around overwhelmed by the distinct lack of places to put things) I came across these two wonderful little tools and decided that they deserved some love. A quick soak in some wd40 and the application of a nylon brush had them looking pretty good. That night, after everyone was in bed, I loaded the razor pictured above with a fresh blade and shaved.
It is an interesting experience to shave with this kind of device. It would be very easy to cut yourself pretty severely. They were called safety razors, sure, but keep in mind that this was relative to the standard shaving device of the day, the straight razor (interesting note: my younger brother shaves with a straight razor every day). It’s not like the 3 and 4 bladed contraptions we normally use… it’s next to impossible to cut your face with those. I took it very slowly and came away without any serious damage, but with an exceptionally close shave.
I love using my grandfather’s old stuff… even his old jokes:
[While turning out the lights in the shop and heading to the bar for a shot and a beer] Like the shepherd said to his partner at the end of the day, let’s get the flock out of here.
This is BY FAR my favorite post written on here. There’s just something about treasures handed down from the manly and cool past of our grandfathers. That’s cool that you have all of those things to hold on to. And I always wanted to try a “safety” razor, as well as go somewhere to get a professional straight razor shave. It has to be a badass experience. That nuts that ur bro does it daily. I got to meet this guy. Awesome stuff. (and i like how big the font is while leaving a comment with this theme. nice and large for me to sit way back and type it all out.)
That’s an awesome story. Next you need a shaving brush and soap, then you’ll be set. I switched to a safety razor (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000RJUZMW) a year and a half ago and love it, paired it with a brush (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000KJSVSE) and soap (http://usa.loccitane.com/FO/Catalog/Product.aspx?prod=20SB003LH). I’ve gone through only one half of the soap in that time, which means one bar will last about 3 years. Brushes last quite a while and blades are cheap and recyclable. Shaving with a safety razor and brush is both economical and low waste.
Thanks, Chris! I’ve been meaning to get a brush and soap, but haven’t gotten around to it somehow… I may stop on the way home and do a little shopping.
What made you switch?
You know (…ahem, Frankie, ahem, Mike…) These would not be that tough to make… I’ll post some pics tonight… I do have some scrap aluminum burning a hole in my bench…
I so wish our kids could have spent time with Grandpa and learned from him. He was THE best man that was in my life. In his quiet, stoic way, he showed me that I was very special to him – the same way he showed you. He never commented on my relationship with TJ but he loved her and went out of his way to show her that she was part of our family – part of HIS family.
I miss him so much sometimes. It makes my heart happy when Micah and I use my chess board – he prefers checkers, as well. And I love that you wear his ring. The one you and Molly gave me is in the shop but I can’t wait to wear it again.
I think you carry much of him within you, little brother, and it’s just one more thing that I’m proud of you for. There are so many things. I know that Grandpa would be proud of you, too.
GREAT POST!!!! I love stories like this and I love the discussion of old objects that contain meaning and purpose. Keep it up!
1) You need a “track comments on this post” checkbox. I didn’t know you commented again.
2) I read a quote somewhere about shaving that read something like: ‘There are so many things in today’s world that take the “man” out of a man. Shaving is one of the last things we have to remind ourselves what it is to be a man.”
I don’t mind the small amount of extra time it takes to lather the soap and go over my face twice. Too many things are meant to save time in order to get more done in a day. It’s nice to slow down sometimes to reflect.