Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1889-10-12
SATURDAY. OCTOBER S, 1885.
QUEER TEMPERED RAzoRs.
Shaving Instruments Discussed from the
Metnnhvsical Point of View.

Shaving Instruments Discussed from the
Metaphysical Point of View.
"Nhen | say that razor has a good tenn
per- said barber TO q reporter, II mean
something more than that the steel has been
hardened by fire and water to just the right
point. In my opinion razor has DISPOSE
ton like human being. 1t may be amiabln
and always do its work smoothly-though
never did see a razor yet that wasn't subject
to off spells once i'll a while-or it may be
sulky half the time and refuse to cut prop
erly, even i the best of tools when in good
humor. And what you've got to do is to
humor it. ueres no use trying to drive
razor that doesn't want to shave; you'll only
put yourself out maybe cut the customer
and make the razor so angry that it won't
work again for goodness knows how long.
The thing to do is to put it right away in
drawer, without disputing the matter, and
give it a rest
Take it ou5 again at the end of a week, and
ten TO one 1t VIII be in prime condition and as
willing as possible. There was a college pro-
fessor in here one day not long ago who
stuffed me with what he called a scientific
explanation Of razors' fits. He sairGt 2at if
would look at the edge of a razor through
microscope l would see that it looked like
cross cut saw with teeth projecting on either
side. By use these teeth were bent out Of
shape; but if the razor was put away for o
while the teeth wonld get back into adjust
ment again and the tool would once more APP
pear sharp OF course, that all sounds very
well, but silc'i to - theory just the same
And ] ought to know, for I've seen more
razors, and handled 'em, than that bald
headed Old professor ever dreamed Of"
1T seems to me, = said the reporter, upon
whom the tousoral artist was operating,
shat the razor you are using upon me at
this moment must be suffering from no small
degree of irritation on some account or other,
judging by the way it hurts"
The baroer paused for moment in the
scraping performance, and extending one
thumb drew the edge of the blade slowly
across the nail in "a manner that sent cold
sh1yer down the newspaper mans backbone
TITS sharp enough" he remarked, "but III
try another. Perhaps this razor did not like
you. You see, there's no doubt of the fact
that razors have their personal preferences.
The blade that viii shave one customer to a
charm won't shave another. OF course. a
difference III the toughness and thickness of
the beard makes difference in the sort of
razor required, but am not speaking of that
at all. Ii a razor doesn't happen to like you
it won't shave you well under any circum-
stances. Now, you observe, the razor | am
using at present takes to you first rate. I
bought it for iifty cents off man whom It
didn't like. It's good one, and, though 1
should hate to part with it, might let it go
to you, sir, for g. The handles broken, but
youcould easily have another put on, and it
wouldn't cost SO much. Did you say 'tonicp
Your hairs getting trifle thin on top"
s'Thanks, no, replied the customer.
ave been thirty years in the business"
went on the barber, accompanying his words
with brief shampoo, land what | don't
know about the ways Of razors isn't worth
knowing. There was something the professor
was speaking about told me, however, that
I hadn't heard before though don't guaran-
tee that it is correct, mind you. What he said
was that the edge of a cold razor, seen
through microscope, was wavy line, but
when the blade was plunged into hot water
the steel expanded and the edge was made
straight, like a string drawn taut, and that
was the reason why it was a good thing in
cold weather to dip your razor into hot wa
ter, so as to make shaving easier, as of course
it would be, with a straight edge than with
crooked one.
Its a funny thing about razor that buy
ing one is always a perfect gamble, even for
an expert. a first rate blade is an accident,
and often a fifty cent razor will be better
than another for 81. You see razors have to
be hand made from beginning to end and the
most slillful workman can't be sure Of get
ting two just alike. 1t is in the temper draw
ing process that the quality of the razor is
determined. Laid upon plate of hot sand
the blade changes gradually from light
yellow TO Il dark straw color, and it is by this
color that the workman must judge of the
degree of temper. If it is shade too light
the steel will be too soft, if a shade too dark
it will be too hard and will crumble So it
happens that razors Of the same brand always
vary and really fine one is prize.
'But no man can tell good one when he
goes 70 buy with any certainty unless he is
given an opportunity to try it on hone In
that, case if he is an expert he can Judge.
Ninety per cent of all the razors used in this
country are made in England, though deal-
ers have put their own names on them. /
should advise any man who shaves himself
to have a razor TOR each day in the week
Then no one Of the seven will ever get tired,
and if they are all honed once year it will
be enough The chief troubleswith beginners
at shaving is that they don't know how to
gtrop their razors. If they would get some
one that knew how TO show them that, and
always have their lather thick and rub it in
well, they would be saved great deal of dis
treSs 'Next!"-W Washington Star