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Audio Recording "Then you take the razor strap, and this is called honing: strapping the razor."

"Then you take the razor strap, and this is called honing: strapping the razor."

About this Item

Title

  • "Then you take the razor strap, and this is called honing: strapping the razor."

Names

  • McDowell, Rev. Louis (Narrator)
  • Levitas, Susan, 1961- (Interviewer)

Created / Published

  • 1994-08-30

Headings

  • -  African Americans
  • -  Interviews
  • -  Barbershops
  • -  Oral history
  • -  Sound recordings
  • -  Work processes
  • -  Vocational education
  • -  Family-run businesses
  • -  McDowell's Barber Shop (Paterson, N.J.)
  • -  Ethnography
  • -  United States -- New Jersey -- Paterson

Genre

  • Ethnography
  • Interviews

Notes

  • -  Interview with Reverend Louis McDowell, owner, McDowell's Barber Shop.
  • -  Summary of audio segment: (Do you know how to strop the razor?) Honing the razor. (He goes to demonstrate it) The procedure was that you take the razor and sharpen it and turn it over and do it on the smooth side, and that puts an edge on it (demonstrates it). Then after that, you go over your fingernail with it to test it. Today, you use a stone to sharpen it. (Know barbers who do rhythms?) Yes, but you have to be very careful; some used to play hambone on it (demonstrates: "Hambone, hambone where you been? Round the corner and back again."). I never did practice doing it. I have some old straps at home; I was taught better how to do it at barber school, "Make your wrist do the work." Taught to use my wrist; you can do it faster. You always keep this razor closed; never let it be open because it's a dangerous weapon. If you cut someone, the law would hold you because this is a very dangerous weapon.

Medium

  • Digital Audio Tape

Call Number/Physical Location

  • AFC 1995/028: WIP-SL-A022

Source Collection

  • Working in Paterson Project Collection (AFC 1995/028)

Repository

  • American Folklife Center

Digital Id

Online Format

  • audio

Rights & Access

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Credit line

Working in Paterson Project collection, 1993-2002 (AFC 1995/028), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

Mcdowell, Rev. Louis, and Susan Levitas. "Then you take the razor strap, and this is called honing: strapping the razor.". -08-30, 1994. Audio. https://www.loc.gov/item/afcwip002840/.

APA citation style:

McDowell, R. L. & Levitas, S. (1994) "Then you take the razor strap, and this is called honing: strapping the razor.". -08-30. [Audio] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/afcwip002840/.

MLA citation style:

Mcdowell, Rev. Louis, and Susan Levitas. "Then you take the razor strap, and this is called honing: strapping the razor.". -08-30, 1994. Audio. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/afcwip002840/>.