Thread: Shaving at an 1830’s C&O Canal Lockhouse

(I don’t know if this goes here or in the SOTD forum – Mods, please move as appropriate.)

I just got back from a multi-day biking/camping trip with my family along the C&O Canal. We tented, transporting all of our gear in a DIY bike trailer, but we were lucky enough to rent one of the lockhouses for one night’s stay. This particular lockhouse was built in the 1830’s and is outfitted with period authentic furnishings. The cabin has not been retrofitted with any electricity or running water – just the way I like it.

Normally I wouldn’t shave at all on a camping trip, but when the lockhouse was added to the itinerary (especially when I saw the website photo of the 19th century style wash basin) I just had to bring a period authentic razor to complete the experience, right? Nerdy, for sure, but I just couldn’t help myself. I grabbed the only pre-1830 razor I own, a 1700’s razor that Glen restored for me a few weeks ago. (Yes, I actually carried a 200+ year old razor on a camping trip.)

I boiled water in my alcohol stove (DIY, of course) and used the pitcher of cold water to get the temperature just right. Shaving sitting down was a new experience, and lighting was very poor inside the cabin making for very slow going. If I had to shave this way everyday I’d chronically be 30 minutes late for work for sure. But I enjoyed myself immensely. I’m so glad I brought the razor and ignored my family’s geek-o-meter alarms when I announced I was bringing it.

Thanks for reading. Enjoy.

Brian

Who cares what everyone else thought. I think its very cool, and something i think i would have done myself. Thanks for sharing.

That's fantastic. Well done.
What was your razor, by the way?

Thanks. The razor is marked “London Acier-Fondu” – beyond that I don’t know that much about it. Below is a link to Glen’s restoration thread that provides a little more details about the razor.

200 Years old requires PATIENCE !!!!

that looks like a great trip. I think I would have been right with you on this one, damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead. Glad you enjoyed it.

nice story, how was the resultant shave?

Except for taking a long time, the shave was OK. It would have been much better, though, had I packed my favorite shave soap (instead of a miniature ziplock filled with cream) and my strop. I didn’t want any of my strops to get damaged, or take up valuable space in the bike trailer, so I elected to go without. At home the razor shaves surprisingly well for its age, make, and style, but without the proper equipment I score the “in the field” shave about a B or B-. On this particular day it was more about the experience than the closeness of the shave itself.