Thread: News Paper

Just a question for general knowledge. Does anyone know why in all of the old movies (especially westerns) you always see the person shaving wiping the lather and whiskers on a piece of what looks like newspaper. In some of the shots the barber will have a piece of paper laying on the customers shoulder and be wiping the razor on it. When I was a kid and would get a haircut at the barber shop after the barber was finished cutting my hair he would take the cape off, unwrap the little paper thing from around my neck, lay it on my shoulder and shave around my ears and neck and wipe the razor on the paper. Thanks, Mike

It's just a convenient way of getting rid of the lather I'd guess.

In practice in the old days most people living in the old west probably had little or no access to any newspaper at all.

I would imagine it's just some Hollywood thing like shaving with a straight at a 90 degree angle.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

In practice in the old days most people living in the old west probably had little or no access to any newspaper at all.

I would imagine it's just some Hollywood thing like shaving with a straight at a 90 degree angle.

I had a guy arge with me that the razor had to be at 90* or it would cut my face off i handed him my w&b and told him to try it at a 90 degree he wouldent so i let it wach me try to take my sideburn off and when it wouldent i showed him what angle to use and he appologised.

Originally Posted by Deerhunter1995

I had a guy arge with me that the razor had to be at 90* or it would cut my face off i handed him my w&b and told him to try it at a 90 degree he wouldent so i let it wach me try to take my sideburn off and when it wouldent i showed him what angle to use and he appologised.

I had an older gentleman tell me the same thing. He claimed that he'd shaved with one when he was younger. If he did, no wonder he quit.

I had to stop my dad from trying it at a 90° angle a few days back.. he's decided it's not for him just yet after I told him that'd be a bad idea... but i'm slowly winning him over!