CUTTING EDGE, 1970’s STYLE

I enjoyed reading the article on the razors (How Your World Works, April 2017).

The attached picture is of my Gillette single-blade something or other that my mother bought for me in 1974 when I was invited… er, compelled to spend nine months at the Sixth South African Infantry in Grahamstown.

Part of the package was to get up at stupid o’clock and run around the fields doing various training and inspection of self and equipment by the corporals. Hence the razor. We shaved in cold water, of course.

I don’t remember what Mom paid for it, but it certainly wasn’t more than a few rand. Today the blades cost about R15 for five. They last more than a month with my daily shaving and the razor is still in good condition.

Your article’s single-blade razor costs $400 (a bit more than R5 000).

I do have an electric razor that I infrequently use and have on occasions used the Gillette twin blade disposable – and it does give a closer shave – but I return to good old faithful.