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Post by drumzalot on Oct 31, 2013 13:56:35 GMT -6
I ran across the Adelene razor that is referred to as a hoe type and was manufactured by the Unsinger Razor Blade company. The price for the razor was ridiculously cheap fetching under $7 so I thought why not? The razor was a bit dirty it came with an original blade that is quite rusted and not worthy of using. After giving the razor a clean up it looked significantly better. This razor is unique in that the top plate is not just thin but rather small and it slides completely off the razor. The top plate reads "ADELENE PAT'D AUG,31 - 1909." Other varieties of this razor will read "HODES-HYMAN SPEC CO." or they will simply just have the patent date on the top plate. The razor is light weight (but not too light) with a good sized handle that has a multi swirl pattern (giving it a good grip). The top plate is thin but thicker then the bottom plate which is screwed into the handle. I am not sure if the bottom plate can be removed from the handle it does look as if it's screwed into the handle but mine is jammed. To load a blade the top plate must slide towards the comb it will then come off. The blade is then simply placed into the bottom plate then the top plate must slide back into place and the razor is ready for use. This has to be one of the most basic and easiest ways of loading an SE razor blade I have come across.
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Post by drumzalot on Oct 31, 2013 14:00:16 GMT -6
The blade for the Adelene is a proprietary blade though you can install a modern single edge blade into this razor. I have only come across little information regarding the razor blades for the Adelene. The information indicated that a modern SE blade will fit into the razor but it would leave a wide blade gape. Below is picture of the original Adelene razor blade next to a modern SE blade. They share the same width but the original blade is roughly 1/16 of an inch taller then a modern SE blade. For anyone who might own an Adelene razor I have found a way to load a modern SE blade with the best results possible. Below is a set of 3 pictures. The first picture shows the original blade installed it leaves only a very slight blade gap. The second picture shows a modern SE blade installed. Due to the size difference of the modern blade you can see that it leaves a notable blade gap. On the third picture you can see a modern blade installed but without any blade gap. What I did to alleviate the wide blade gape was to simply push the modern blade towards the razor's blade stops (with the top plate on of course). These blade stops are actually more like blade bumps since they barely catch the blade. I litteraly had to use my finger nails to push the blade forward it does take a little bit of force but not enough to make it impossible. The final result alleviates the wide blade gap. The razor has a closed comb that is a bit sharply angled down because of this design the blade sits very close to the edge of the bar. I have yet to shave with razor but by testing the razor it will give an extremely close shave.
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Post by InfernoOrangeSS on Oct 31, 2013 16:37:37 GMT -6
Awesome review my friend! The razor looks beautiful, and I applaud your ingenuity in getting a modern blade to fit. Let us know how it does in a try out.
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Post by sleddog on Oct 31, 2013 19:10:15 GMT -6
Thats really cool! Thanks for posting the info, good pics!!
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ShadowsDad
Gem Star
None boring shaver!!
"It's not the bow, it's the Indian"
Posts: 4,534
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Post by ShadowsDad on Oct 31, 2013 21:37:01 GMT -6
Neat! Now we need to hear about the shave. Yes, I know we're never satisfied.
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papabear
Blade King
Looking for one that is just right
Posts: 465
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Post by papabear on Nov 1, 2013 7:46:16 GMT -6
Yes, yes we want a shave review. I wonder if the spine was left on, would that help with spacing issue?
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Post by drumzalot on Nov 1, 2013 14:07:12 GMT -6
Hello gentlemen, thank you all for the compliments and for chiming in. As for a review, today I finally tried the Adelene razor. My suspicions were correct in that the razor blade is so close to the comb that it must equal a close shave. In fact I would say that the shave is too close that it became an aggressive and unpleasant shave. I regret that I have to give this razor a not so good review ...
When holding the razor it has some weight but during the shave it becomes very light. Usually light razors tend to skip and jump around for me and that's what the Adelene did going against the grain. With the grain it went smooth though you can feel it's close touch. Across the grain it was a tad smooth and again the blade felt very close to the skin. Against the grain went okay at best here is where the problems began.
Against the grain on the neck and cheeks went okay but I had to keep a very light touch. The upper lip was absolutely uncomfortable so I kept an incredibly light touch. I can best define the Adelene as a razor blade on a stick. The razor's safety bar is so angled down that the blade literally press right on your skin. I didn't want to keep going against the grain but I figured why not go all the way. I ended up with razor burn and a small weeper on the upper lip. I also had one small weeper on the neck.
I ran an alum block across my face knowing it would sting which is a sign of a not so good shave. The alum block burned badly. After going through 19 SE razors this was the one that I don't believe I will be using anytime soon. In fact almost near the end of the shave I wanted to reach for my OCMM now imagine that! Keep in mind this is just my personal experience not that this experience will repeat itself with anyone else. In the end it was not an expensive piece to my collection but I think it will just be a show piece.
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Post by drumzalot on Nov 1, 2013 14:13:51 GMT -6
Yes, yes we want a shave review. I wonder if the spine was left on, would that help with spacing issue? Rich, I tried doing this but the razor blade sits over the blade stops going past the safety bar. I aligned the razor blade snug behind the blade stops as it was intended to be used. I could seat the modern blade all the way back giving it a notable blade gap this might change it's performance but it is nowhere near the way the original blade seats (leaving virtually no blade gap). I should mention I used a Gem Blue Star for this review.
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RocketMan
Gem Star
RazorAddict
Welcome To The Sharp Side!
Posts: 4,167
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Post by RocketMan on Nov 4, 2013 0:41:10 GMT -6
A unique SE for sure. Sounds like it was a tiger to shave with!
Can a modern blade with the spine be loaded into it? That might make up the difference in the gap?
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Post by drumzalot on Nov 4, 2013 17:40:21 GMT -6
I have recently taken a picture of the Adelene with a modern SE razor blade that has the spine. I hope you can see how the blade actually rests over the blade stops which will increase skin contact. Since the original post I have tried the razor again with a modern SE blade without the spine removed ... it was too aggressive for me. I then decided to use a modern blade without the spine and then seated the blade far back creating the wide gap. This did soften up the razor's bite though I want to review the razor as it was originally intended to be used. I should stress that with the grain and across the grain the Adelene is not harsh but against the grain it was just too aggressive for me. IMO the best way to use this razor is to keep the razor's head almost flat to your skin. I should add that this razor was sold to hardware stores under different names such as Curbo, Okay, and Majestic. Out of all my SE razors this is the one I just can't click with and I love the OCMM I think it's actually quite smooth! I don't want to dissuade anyone from scoring one by all means you might love this razor it just doesn't work for me.
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RocketMan
Gem Star
RazorAddict
Welcome To The Sharp Side!
Posts: 4,167
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Post by RocketMan on Nov 4, 2013 22:16:24 GMT -6
Thnx. You have really given this razor a full chance to show its stuff. We can't shave with em all I guess. Drat! : )
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Post by wchnu on Nov 14, 2013 0:50:16 GMT -6
Great work on this one. Thanks for the write ups!!!
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Post by PJGH on Jan 9, 2014 6:00:51 GMT -6
For anyone who might own an Adelene razor I have found a way to load a modern SE blade with the best results possible. Below is a set of 3 pictures. The first picture shows the original blade installed it leaves only a very slight blade gap. The second picture shows a modern SE blade installed. Due to the size difference of the modern blade you can see that it leaves a notable blade gap. On the third picture you can see a modern blade installed but without any blade gap. Looking at this, I wonder whether simply pushing a match in behind the blade would hold it in place. Which way do you load the blade in? If it's front loaded, perhaps a more permanent stop could be glued into place?
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Post by drumzalot on Jan 9, 2014 23:07:41 GMT -6
For anyone who might own an Adelene razor I have found a way to load a modern SE blade with the best results possible. Below is a set of 3 pictures. The first picture shows the original blade installed it leaves only a very slight blade gap. The second picture shows a modern SE blade installed. Due to the size difference of the modern blade you can see that it leaves a notable blade gap. On the third picture you can see a modern blade installed but without any blade gap. Looking at this, I wonder whether simply pushing a match in behind the blade would hold it in place. Which way do you load the blade in? If it's front loaded, perhaps a more permanent stop could be glued into place? Paul, there is no need to place anything behind the blade. Though the top plate is small (as you can see) it simply slides in but it holds the blade perfectly in place. Even if you have pushed the blade towards the stops the blade would need a good amount of force to be moved back away from the stops. The light force of a shaving stroke won't move the razor blade back. To load the blade you must remove the top blade by sliding it out (towards the safety bar). Then you place the blade on top of the bottom plate. In the next step, you slide the top plate in from here all you do is simply push the blade forward (since sliding in the top plate will push the blade back). Slowly slide the top plate in and at the same time keep pushing the blade near the stops, it really doesn't take too much force. I have to mention this again, if you let the blade sit all the way back it will create a wide blade gap. The wide blade gap actually softens up the Adelene making it much less aggressive. In the review I wanted to use the Adelene as it was intended.
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Post by PJGH on Dec 22, 2014 14:08:58 GMT -6
Was the shave good, Joe? I have one of these in my sights at the moment, but it's not cheap ($17 plus $14 postage) ... and it's tatty, will need some rust removal and re-plating. If it's the best thing ever, great, I'll get it ... but having just bought a GEM Junior Bar, my razor fund is running low.
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