Post by Deleted on Aug 16, 2014 17:22:15 GMT -6
Well, my collector interests seem to have evolved and narrowed over time. Lately, I've been on the prowl for:
1. Razors that seem to have used the Auto Strop design as "inspiration."
2. Razors that aren't listed in Waits (or may be mentioned, but with no information about manufacturer, nation of origin, etc. Just a name.
3. Razors that are designed around DE blades, but are SE in design (usually to take advantage of some sort of on board stropping/honing system, e.g Shake Sharp).
4. Durhams. I've recently got around to using a T model Durham with a NOS blade and am smitten.
Number four is not appropriate for this forum, but I recently acquired a razor that by itself fit into the first three categories. For those of you following at home, please refer to page C2 of Waits' compendium, bottom of the second column.
Here is... The Capital:
Yes, the auction included not just the razor pictured in Waits, but a second model as well. The leftmost razor has a traditional solid handle. The razor on the right has a hollow handle which I think is formed out of folded sheet metal. When possible, I like acquire examples that include packaging or instructions or anything else that adds knowledge about the razor. I was giddy when I saw that the razors were in their boxes, because I hoped to get more information to augment Waits. Well, once in hand, I learned that the boxes revealed little except that box designers were not expert in the English language (or poor, poor proofreaders):
Given that I got the razors from a Japanese seller, I'm guessing that the Capital may have originated there.
Here's a look from several angles:
As to chronology, it looks to me that the razor was designed with the old style Gillette type blades in mind.
But a modern DE blade fits as well:
The blade is sandwiched between the two metal plates. The plates are held together by twisting the t-shaped knob on top. A push rod at the rear (a la Auto Strop A-types) pushes the guard forward so that the blade can then slip under the stops.
I haven't tried to shave with it yet. I'm not sure the design is compatible with thinner modern blades. I'll give it a try... sometime.
Another matter: I think examples of the razor are fairly uncommon in part due to manufacture. As seen by the following photo, the razor is prone to rust:
I had cleaned the razor thoroughly and thought I had dried it adequately. By the time I took the pictures, rust. The rust shown is emitting from the innards of the gear mechanism. I think that were in regular use probably rusted away and fell apart. I'll not make it a daily shaver.
Anybody else ever run across these, or have other background info?
1. Razors that seem to have used the Auto Strop design as "inspiration."
2. Razors that aren't listed in Waits (or may be mentioned, but with no information about manufacturer, nation of origin, etc. Just a name.
3. Razors that are designed around DE blades, but are SE in design (usually to take advantage of some sort of on board stropping/honing system, e.g Shake Sharp).
4. Durhams. I've recently got around to using a T model Durham with a NOS blade and am smitten.
Number four is not appropriate for this forum, but I recently acquired a razor that by itself fit into the first three categories. For those of you following at home, please refer to page C2 of Waits' compendium, bottom of the second column.
Here is... The Capital:
Yes, the auction included not just the razor pictured in Waits, but a second model as well. The leftmost razor has a traditional solid handle. The razor on the right has a hollow handle which I think is formed out of folded sheet metal. When possible, I like acquire examples that include packaging or instructions or anything else that adds knowledge about the razor. I was giddy when I saw that the razors were in their boxes, because I hoped to get more information to augment Waits. Well, once in hand, I learned that the boxes revealed little except that box designers were not expert in the English language (or poor, poor proofreaders):
Given that I got the razors from a Japanese seller, I'm guessing that the Capital may have originated there.
Here's a look from several angles:
As to chronology, it looks to me that the razor was designed with the old style Gillette type blades in mind.
But a modern DE blade fits as well:
The blade is sandwiched between the two metal plates. The plates are held together by twisting the t-shaped knob on top. A push rod at the rear (a la Auto Strop A-types) pushes the guard forward so that the blade can then slip under the stops.
I haven't tried to shave with it yet. I'm not sure the design is compatible with thinner modern blades. I'll give it a try... sometime.
Another matter: I think examples of the razor are fairly uncommon in part due to manufacture. As seen by the following photo, the razor is prone to rust:
I had cleaned the razor thoroughly and thought I had dried it adequately. By the time I took the pictures, rust. The rust shown is emitting from the innards of the gear mechanism. I think that were in regular use probably rusted away and fell apart. I'll not make it a daily shaver.
Anybody else ever run across these, or have other background info?