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Post by broadsword on Feb 13, 2014 9:04:34 GMT -6
1. Mint VC3 Valet 2. Wilkinson Sword 1925 Pall Mall Hollow Ground In pretty decent nick and has a blade holder so I can get the blades honed and stropped for use. Hopefully I will be able to use this blade holder with the blades from my Empire & Seven Day sets too... thoughts? Anyway a couple of nice additions. Cheers, Jon
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Post by PJGH on Feb 13, 2014 9:06:31 GMT -6
Beautiful!
Don't forget, you can use a regular GEM disposable in the Pall Mall.
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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 Feb 13, 2014 22:16:54 GMT -6
Nice!
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RocketMan
Gem Star
RazorAddict
Welcome To The Sharp Side!
Posts: 4,167
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Post by RocketMan on Feb 13, 2014 22:33:37 GMT -6
Very nice additions to your collection Broadsword. Very nice.
The Valet looks near mint as you say and the box appears to be in great shape. It would be nice to see a couple of pics of the box if you have a camera handy. Late 40's early 50's???
The Wilkinson is also a lovely kit. The strop looks fabulous! Very nice strop. The strop frame is underneath the strop or is it not there? I posted a Pall Mall razor earlier and I have the strop frame for that kit but no strop. : / But my problem is the most common so you have an edge there! And I really love the oak boxes - they look great! (I think oak eh??)
The stropper handle will not work for holding the Empire style of blade. The Empire blades, while as wide as the wedge (approx 40mm) are much slimmer (12mm depth vs 20-22mm for standard wedges) and when in the stropper handle not enough blade is exposed to make the handle of any use. The stropper handles from these 1920's Wilkys might offer the best blade stropper handle available in my opinion. It is a substantial handle that fits the hand better than most and the holder keeps the blades nice and tight. No movement like you find with the light, almost flimsy (sacrilege!!) Kampfe Star style handle. But a no go with the smaller Empire style of blade.
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Post by broadsword on Feb 14, 2014 3:06:51 GMT -6
Very nice additions to your collection Broadsword. Very nice. The Valet looks near mint as you say and the box appears to be in great shape. It would be nice to see a couple of pics of the box if you have a camera handy. Late 40's early 50's??? The Wilkinson is also a lovely kit. The strop looks fabulous! Very nice strop. The strop frame is underneath the strop or is it not there? I posted a Pall Mall razor earlier and I have the strop frame for that kit but no strop. : / But my problem is the most common so you have an edge there! And I really love the oak boxes - they look great! (I think oak eh??) The stropper handle will not work for holding the Empire style of blade. The Empire blades, while as wide as the wedge (approx 40mm) are much slimmer (12mm depth vs 20-22mm for standard wedges) and when in the stropper handle not enough blade is exposed to make the handle of any use. The stropper handles from these 1920's Wilkys might offer the best blade stropper handle available in my opinion. It is a substantial handle that fits the hand better than most and the holder keeps the blades nice and tight. No movement like you find with the light, almost flimsy (sacrilege!!) Kampfe Star style handle. But a no go with the smaller Empire style of blade. MMmm, I feared that may be the case. Do you know of anything that may be an aid in stropping the Empire style blades?
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Post by broadsword on Feb 14, 2014 4:29:08 GMT -6
Valet Box Pics I notice that on the Box the identifier 101 is printed... a model number perhaps. Anyway, this razor has not been used. The cardboards blade insert was still in situ. However I will put that right next week when it will be used Saturday through Friday with a Feather SE balde, some Coates Sandalwood cream, a Thater 4125/2 brush and lots of enjoyment and satisfaction, I'm sure. I also notice that is displaying a price of 8 shillings and sixpence, which in today's money would be 46p. Cheers, Jon
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papabear
Blade King
Looking for one that is just right
Posts: 465
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Post by papabear on Feb 14, 2014 7:45:26 GMT -6
Great pieces. Thanks for sharing.
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RocketMan
Gem Star
RazorAddict
Welcome To The Sharp Side!
Posts: 4,167
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Post by RocketMan on Feb 14, 2014 20:14:17 GMT -6
MMmm, I feared that may be the case. Do you know of anything that may be an aid in stropping the Empire style blades? If your blade edge has managed not to corrode and you are patient and careful, you can strop these blades directly on a bench strop. This can be as simple as a good small piece of leather on a table. The blade is essentially designed to be flat stropped - as when you use the Wilkinson handle itself with their strop. (When I have tried using the original set up - and I've tried different preps on the strop - I get very poor shaves and it appears the blade is blunted more every time you strop with the darn thing!) There is quite a bit of info online about bench strops so you can check there if interested. I have taken a shot at reconditioning a few Empire blades but wouldn't claim any great success. I have honed them on Norton waterstones and also on coticule natural stones. I have tried progressions, taped, untaped - a few things. However the shaves were tuggy and uncomfortable. Granted I could get a shave that was presentable as far as hacking hairs off, but the discomfort makes it a no go for me. I need add here too that I'm still in the learning phase of sharpening so there is a lot of operator error in my attempts. Perhaps folks with good honing knowledge could jump in with suggestions. Diamond paste on hardwood? ChromOx charged leather? There are probably a lot of things to try!
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Post by broadsword on Feb 15, 2014 5:44:40 GMT -6
MMmm, I feared that may be the case. Do you know of anything that may be an aid in stropping the Empire style blades? If your blade edge has managed not to corrode and you are patient and careful, you can strop these blades directly on a bench strop. This can be as simple as a good small piece of leather on a table. The blade is essentially designed to be flat stropped - as when you use the Wilkinson handle itself with their strop. (When I have tried using the original set up - and I've tried different preps on the strop - I get very poor shaves and it appears the blade is blunted more every time you strop with the darn thing!) There is quite a bit of info online about bench strops so you can check there if interested. I have taken a shot at reconditioning a few Empire blades but wouldn't claim any great success. I have honed them on Norton waterstones and also on coticule natural stones. I have tried progressions, taped, untaped - a few things. However the shaves were tuggy and uncomfortable. Granted I could get a shave that was presentable as far as hacking hairs off, but the discomfort makes it a no go for me. I need add here too that I'm still in the learning phase of sharpening so there is a lot of operator error in my attempts. Perhaps folks with good honing knowledge could jump in with suggestions. Diamond paste on hardwood? ChromOx charged leather? There are probably a lot of things to try! Thanks for the information. I'd so love to get a couple of those blighters in a shave ready state. I've a few blade holders so need to work my way through them with an Empire style blade and see how they go. All the best & thanks, Jon
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Post by wchnu on Feb 15, 2014 14:31:45 GMT -6
Great looking razors.
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Post by mjclark on Feb 15, 2014 20:47:57 GMT -6
To reduce the harshness and tugging, I'd strop with CrOx on balsa then lots more stropping on canvas then leather. After a progression on stones, this is what gives my Rolls blades some super smoothness, so why shouldn't it work for others?
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dino
SE Super Freak
Posts: 13
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Post by dino on Feb 20, 2014 12:07:50 GMT -6
I managed to win this the other day, and it arrived today. I will shave with it in the morning, It is a thing of beauty though. Attachments:
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papabear
Blade King
Looking for one that is just right
Posts: 465
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Post by papabear on Feb 21, 2014 8:24:44 GMT -6
well done in obtaining a holy grail item. Looks sweet.
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Post by lutebro on Feb 21, 2014 11:31:32 GMT -6
View Attachment I managed to win this the other day, and it arrived today. I will shave with it in the morning, It is a thing of beauty though. Gorgeous! Good work.
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Post by lutebro on Feb 28, 2014 0:27:06 GMT -6
This beauty came in the mail today! Attachments:
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