Thread: Latherking Latherizer Machine

I'll be 65 this month and have shaved with straight razors only since 16 years age. Till 1992 I used brush and shaving mug with Williams being the soap because it was readily available. I started with the razor because I started cutting my own hair and insist on razor lining around ears and back of neck which cannot be done safely and easily any other way. In 1992 I purchased a Lather King Jr. and it has been plugged in everyday 24/7 since and has never had issues even on occasions when it has been run dry. In such case I just add water and let it sit for a few hours, press the button for a while and add cap of Campbell's soap. One 8 FL.OZ. bottle will last me two years for home use. At $3.00 a bottle please.

As for thick lather, that you don't want. What you do want is moisturizing that does not evaporate before you finish. Also you want the lather to be thin enough to be able to swipe your thumb to remove the lather so you can see where the razor line is when trimming around your ear or getting sideburns straight and even, as well as, your mustache, beard or what ever needs close cropping.

Originally Posted by gcubed

I'll be 65 this month and have shaved with straight razors only since 16 years age. Till 1992 I used brush and shaving mug with Williams being the soap because it was readily available. I started with the razor because I started cutting my own hair and insist on razor lining around ears and back of neck which cannot be done safely and easily any other way. In 1992 I purchased a Lather King Jr. and it has been plugged in everyday 24/7 since and has never had issues even on occasions when it has been run dry. In such case I just add water and let it sit for a few hours, press the button for a while and add cap of Campbell's soap. One 8 FL.OZ. bottle will last me two years for home use. At $3.00 a bottle please.

As for thick lather, that you don't want. What you do want is moisturizing that does not evaporate before you finish. Also you want the lather to be thin enough to be able to swipe your thumb to remove the lather so you can see where the razor line is when trimming around your ear or getting sideburns straight and even, as well as, your mustache, beard or what ever needs close cropping.

Evidently the Junior model is no longer available. I have fond memories back in the day when the barber would start that machine and put that warm lather around my ears and neck and shave it after the haircut.

What I do to have warm lather is keep a bowl of very hot water to dip my brush in before each pass. Feels good.

Originally Posted by gcubed

I'll be 65 this month and have shaved with straight razors only since 16 years age. Till 1992 I used brush and shaving mug with Williams being the soap because it was readily available. I started with the razor because I started cutting my own hair and insist on razor lining around ears and back of neck which cannot be done safely and easily any other way. In 1992 I purchased a Lather King Jr. and it has been plugged in everyday 24/7 since and has never had issues even on occasions when it has been run dry. In such case I just add water and let it sit for a few hours, press the button for a while and add cap of Campbell's soap. One 8 FL.OZ. bottle will last me two years for home use. At $3.00 a bottle please.

As for thick lather, that you don't want. What you do want is moisturizing that does not evaporate before you finish. Also you want the lather to be thin enough to be able to swipe your thumb to remove the lather so you can see where the razor line is when trimming around your ear or getting sideburns straight and even, as well as, your mustache, beard or what ever needs close cropping.

Welcome to SRP. j had a lather king 25 years or so ago but liked the brush/mug better. Thanks for sharing your experience. Goes to show, different strokes for different folks.

Ive just had a look at one , bloody ugly machines arnt they.

Back in the old days they were chrome plated stylized machines to match all the chrome on cars in those days.

I have one that I just got back from my barber. His heating element died and while it was getting repaired he borrowed mine. I use soaps and creams more than I use my Lather King. Mine is like the one thebigspendur describes. My dentist geve it to me, it was in his dad's barber shop for years. It does produce nice hot lather, just not as dense as what I can whip up with a brush and puck.

Originally Posted by whavens

It does produce nice hot lather, just not as dense as what I can whip up with a brush and puck.

IME nowhere near as dense. Thin actually, that is why I don't care for it. BTW, I had the pro chrome one too. Bought it off an old barber.

I have one. I got this soap/cleaner off an Ebay merchant. Sucker makes piles and piles of lather right now. I thought about experimenting with grated soaps and such, but have not. This soap and a squirt of glycerine works fantastic, though!

Can we see the lather? As far as lather thickness goes more and more i am liking a more slick lather over a thick and mashmellowy lather. I have been rubbing the lather in with my hand on my face after the brush too...

Originally Posted by Disburden

Can we see the lather? As far as lather thickness goes more and more i am liking a more slick lather over a thick and mashmellowy lather. I have been rubbing the lather in with my hand on my face after the brush too...

Many barber shops still use the device to do the neck and around the ears after the haircut. If yours does, ask for a dab in your hand and you'll have an idea. IIRC, it was very thin stuff.