Terrible, terrible confession

Bargepole · Post by **Bargepole** » Mon Dec 13, 2010 2:41 pm

For the last month I have been shaving with a Wilkinson (Schick in the USA) Hydra 5-bladed cartridge thing. I picked it up because I needed something to take in my carry-on bag.

Still on the same blade. Still getting first-rate smooth shaves. No drag like the Fusion in all its damnable incarnations. No harshness like the Mach 3. </ironics> Maybe it's the goop it leaches out. Maybe it's some fancy blade technology. </ironics> But I think it's pretty damned good. <metaphor> On the other hand I can't look my rhodium-plate Gillette 66 in the eye any more. </metaphor> (NB: A Gillette 66 doesn't have an eye.)

But the damned thing still looks <simile> like an athletic shoe </simile>. Have they learned nothing? Imagine a cartridge razor designed by Jonathan Ive...

Edit: nothing else in my rig has changed. Still using that Houbigant Fougère Royal soap, Plisson brush & Harris Pink after shave.

druphus · Post by **druphus** » Mon Dec 13, 2010 2:49 pm

I say the rest of the kit "makes up" for the razor transgression!

KAV · Post by **KAV** » Mon Dec 13, 2010 3:00 pm

Lays hand on head 'You are forgiven. Go and sin no more.'

gsgo · Post by **gsgo** » Mon Dec 13, 2010 3:26 pm

It's the result that counts.

BullGoose · Post by **BullGoose** » Mon Dec 13, 2010 3:57 pm

Since you can no longer look your Gillette 66 in the eye, I'll gladly take it off your hands.

marsos52 · Post by **marsos52** » Mon Dec 13, 2010 4:02 pm

what is happening to our forum?????????

i will not say anything more

shame shame shame

marc

95% · Post by **95%** » Mon Dec 13, 2010 4:37 pm

I suspect that Michael's rendering of the name (Hydra instead of Hydro) was intentional. Hydra, one will recall, was the multi-headed serpent of antiquity. For every head that was cut off, two grew in its place. Think about that, multiblade bashers! Hydros and Fusions are invincible.

Actually it was the goop released from the cartridge head that turned me against the Hydro. It caused the blades at times to hydroplane across the whiskers instead of cutting them. But still it shaved rather well, though not as well for me as the Fusion ProGlide.

KAV · Post by **KAV** » Mon Dec 13, 2010 7:09 pm

And every blade of legend a single double edge

rustyblade · Post by **rustyblade** » Mon Dec 13, 2010 7:33 pm

In the good old days of the forum we would have drawn and quartered (using a Merkur Razor blade, they were one of the only available blades) a member for such atrocities. Nowadays it's all softly this and tolerance for differences that. I want back the SMF I remembered from 2005. Back when Simpson shaving brushes involved a great deal of mystique, procuring one involved having connections, and there were about three online vendors only one of which would ship to Canada via the underground railroad.

Squire · Post by **Squire** » Mon Dec 13, 2010 7:51 pm

Richard I don't miss the food fights.

bernards66 · Post by **bernards66** » Mon Dec 13, 2010 9:38 pm

I'm with Richard....I miss the SMF of 2005, and this is NOT acceptable, especially from a moderator! Dreadful! Michael, you need to pull yourself together, old boy. Even the few cartridge miscreants that we tolerate around here ( because they are really very decent chaps, and in other ways admirable ) were not amused by that Hydra/o thingy. And all that nasty goop, is that anyway to treat a superb, rare, and vintage shave soap, I ask you? You just need to STOP this foolishness right now!
With regret,
Gordon

KAV · Post by **KAV** » Mon Dec 13, 2010 10:17 pm

I think Michael may claim severe social stress. A change in government that has enacted draconian cost saving measures, student rioters assaulting Charles and Camilla, the continued degradation of colognes most recently by wimps of windsor many of us also decry and ever more stringent laws against knives, crossbows and probably soon enough the blackthorn stick of Nanny Phin. A man can hardly sit down to a proper cuppa from what we read in another thread.

gil3591 · Post by **gil3591** » Mon Dec 13, 2010 10:25 pm

gordon, i'm surprised you didn't realize that this is not only a confession by michael but a cry for help. he is reaching out to us. he is looking for a way back,,,

stagger · Post by **stagger** » Mon Dec 13, 2010 10:26 pm

Why would somebody come onto a forum which appears to be all about "traditional shaving", ie...DE and Straight, and post some such nonsense as this? Looks like it should be on a modern throw away razor forum.

KAV · Post by **KAV** » Mon Dec 13, 2010 10:34 pm

I have this paranormal warning when a friend is in trouble. I start hearing WISH YOU WERE HERE by Pink floyd not even THE BRADY BUNCH can dislodge. I will light a beeswax candle at vespers.

CMur12 · Post by **CMur12** » Mon Dec 13, 2010 11:23 pm

rustyblade wrote:In the good old days of the forum we would have drawn and quartered (using a Merkur Razor blade, they were one of the only available blades) a member for such atrocities. Nowadays it's all softly this and tolerance for differences that. I want back the SMF I remembered from 2005. Back when Simpson shaving brushes involved a great deal of mystique, procuring one involved having connections, and there were about three online vendors only one of which would ship to Canada via the underground railroad.

Yeah, Richard, weren't those the famous Simpson shedders? Or did they not show up until 2006?

- Murray

CMur12 · Post by **CMur12** » Mon Dec 13, 2010 11:26 pm

95% wrote:I suspect that Michael's rendering of the name (Hydra instead of Hydro) was intentional. Hydra, one will recall, was the multi-headed serpent of antiquity. For every head that was cut off, two grew in its place. Think about that, multiblade bashers! Hydros and Fusions are invincible.

Actually it was the goop released from the cartridge head that turned me against the Hydro. It caused the blades at times to hydroplane across the whiskers instead of cutting them. But still it shaved rather well, though not as well for me as the Fusion ProGlide.

Excellent observation, Porter, and oh so apt!

Knowing Michael, that was no mere slip.

- Murray

CMur12 · Post by **CMur12** » Mon Dec 13, 2010 11:38 pm

stagger wrote:Why would somebody come onto a forum which appears to be all about "traditional shaving", ie...DE and Straight, and post some such nonsense as this? Looks like it should be on a modern throw away razor forum.

Mark, Michael/Bargepole is a highly regarded, much esteemed member of this forum whose knowledge of gentlemanly pursuits, fragrances, and the history of traditional wetshaving is impressive. I might add that, as an author based in Cambridge, his posts are subtly humorous and always very well written.

Though a bit surprised, myself, I think I can find it in my heart to forgive Michael for dabbling in the dark arts. Such slip-ups actually aid us to understand men on the outside.

- Murray

bernards66 · Post by **bernards66** » Mon Dec 13, 2010 11:49 pm

NO! No forgiveness! No backsliding! The bastinado for him if he doesn't shape up pronto! Hydra heads?....bah!...twaddle!
Gordon

drumana · Post by **drumana** » Tue Dec 14, 2010 7:19 am

Meh... Whatever works for you, Michael. Doesn't bother me.

Although I'm a supporter of switching things up and experimenting, I have to say that I am surprised that you of all people went straight up Hydro on us. What's next, Gordon using a Fusion? Buzz trading in his trusty Plisson for a Tweezerman boar? Sheesh.