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Post by willyb on Dec 19, 2012 21:17:12 GMT -6
Well... I sent in a copy of the little coupon for the Dammy Stropper.... and look what came in the mail today! LOL Yes Im just kidding, I picked this up on the bay and it showed up today, I think I did great only paying about 9 bux inc shipping. First one I have seen available in quite some time. I wonder, way back in 1912 ish , how many gents pulled the coupon for the stropper out of their cased new dammy and promptly ordered it for the cost of $1.50 shipping included.. hmmmm... The patd date is June 13, 1899. on the coupon the buyer had the option of an all metal stropper, or one with a wooden handle for 5 cents more. Well once the holidays are come and gone, I intend to clean this stropper up, get a piece of leather of correct size and embark on a journey to see how long I can make one new damaskeene blade last. I have several and I tell you what, the new wrapped blades are deadly sharp even after approx 100 yrs. I unwrapped one, and it popped hair cleanly off my forearm just like a new pella blade does. I really like how rigid the old blades are. The craftsmanship, even in the blades is amazing. If anyone wants close up pics of the stropper, dammy blades or the stropper coupon, let me know. Was short on time today or I would have taken more. Attachments:
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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 Dec 19, 2012 22:54:13 GMT -6
Please keep us updated.
I've tried stropping blades with the Valet Autostrop and clearly, something eludes me. I just destroy blades.
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Post by razorx on Dec 19, 2012 23:32:08 GMT -6
Nice...
My hat's off to you willyb,you sir are a true believer.That's something I'm never going to try.
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Post by sleddog on Dec 20, 2012 0:51:07 GMT -6
Thats an interesting device Willy. I wonder if it was originally designed to strop the wedge blades? Since it is called a Damaskeene Stropper it must be made for the early Dammy blades. Does the piece of paper have a date on it? Very cool and you got it for a great price!!
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norfolkdick
Master Shaver
Captain of the Razor Blades
Posts: 1,601
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Post by norfolkdick on Dec 20, 2012 1:57:36 GMT -6
Greetings
My experience of stropping SE blades has sadly been the same as Brians; I have a 100% failure rate both with my Valet Autostrop and with the ER stropper from my streamline set, to be quite fair I have never tried with a Damskeene blade but have tried a variety of NOS carbon blades including some valet blades in mint condition still with the grease on them.
I have not given up completely and my next move is to perhaps try dressing the strop with some stropping paste.
The big advantage with your Damskeene stropper is that if it does not work you could always return it within the 30days and get your one and a half dollars back! ;D
Regards Dick.
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Post by HoosierTrooper on Dec 20, 2012 9:58:56 GMT -6
Very cool!
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Post by wchnu on Dec 21, 2012 5:34:05 GMT -6
I have tried stropping with a ER stropper. It seems to make the blades duller. I hope it works out for you. Great looking piece of history though anyway it goes.
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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 Dec 21, 2012 21:56:47 GMT -6
I wonder if the stroppers we've used aren't at fault, or our technique, but that we've just come to accept (demand?) a higher level of sharpness than what was the norm in the day? Just a thought.
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Post by willyb on Dec 21, 2012 22:34:45 GMT -6
I wonder if the stroppers we've used aren't at fault, or our technique, but that we've just come to accept (demand?) a higher level of sharpness than what was the norm in the day? Just a thought. Glad you brought this up... I really think the standard of DFS or BBS is something we spoiled gents of this time period have come up with. My gruff grows fast, but could I shave EOD and still look good in the office? Of course. Back in the day of stropping your blades, you gave it your best and went about your day, most likely with a few less than ideal spots about the face and neck. I would venture to say we whine a good bit.
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norfolkdick
Master Shaver
Captain of the Razor Blades
Posts: 1,601
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Post by norfolkdick on Dec 22, 2012 13:22:14 GMT -6
I wonder if the stroppers we've used aren't at fault, or our technique, but that we've just come to accept (demand?) a higher level of sharpness than what was the norm in the day? Just a thought. Glad you brought this up... I really think the standard of DFS or BBS is something we spoiled gents of this time period have come up with. My gruff grows fast, but could I shave EOD and still look good in the office? Of course. Back in the day of stropping your blades, you gave it your best and went about your day, most likely with a few less than ideal spots about the face and neck. I would venture to say we whine a good bit. Greetings This whole area of shaving I find really quite fascinating, if we consider the period of time around and before the turn of the century the only method of ‘home shaving’ was the straight razor. Many men still sported full naval style beards partly out of necessity as the only available ‘good’ shave was to be had from visiting your local barber who was one of the few people who could actually hone a straight razor rather than just refreshing the edge on a strop Neatly lined out beards were not common as they involved shaving rather than just trimming with scissors. Today we all know people who are into straight shaving, they are devotees who are in the main practiced in the art of razor honing and sharpening and stropping and have all the necessary equipment and hobby skills to do it, they do so out of a sense of enjoyment not necessity. In early Victorian times I suspect most men owned a straight razor but very few could hone it, it was after all a time when most working men in Britain (and the states) were so hard up they (to quote the old expression) didn't have a pot to p*ss in! Any reasonable edge they could put on the blade to supplement the once a week visit to the barber was better than not shaving at all. Then the SE razor appeared with wedge blades initially and most men faced the same problem of how to put a decent edge on them and the stroppers and honing devices were born, they were not perfect but they put an edge on the blades that removed most of three days growth. Single edge disposable blades then arrived but they were only disposable if you had the money to buy more, which many men did not, so they were stropped in an effort to wring more shaves out of them and I suspect that by today’s standards many of those shaves were dire. WillyB and Shadows Dad are IMHO absolutely correct the standard has risen so much that we are judging yesterday by today, we are now in the main shaving with modern blades all of which have coatings, mainly PTFE enabling them to glide effortlessly over the skin and when they are dull we bin them because we can afford to do so. We all enjoy the nostalgia of shaving with yesterdays razors but I bet that if we had to always shave with yesterday’s blades we would be less enthusiastic and dare I say it, many of us would use cartridge razors. I believe many straight razor enthusiasts who are experts in the field of honing could probably put a decent edge on the wedge blades and the disposable blades but they would still be inferior to a slick modern coated blade. In an age when, what we would judge today as a crap shave, was a good shave, stroppers for SE blades had their place, but today they are just out of their time era. I shall still however not give up on mine just because I have a couple and the time to play about with them, and it’s fun! If however I at any time manage to turn any SE blade into anything nearly as good as a modern GEM stainless PTFE coated blade I will be astounded! Regards Dick.
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RocketMan
Gem Star
RazorAddict
Welcome To The Sharp Side!
Posts: 4,167
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Post by RocketMan on Dec 22, 2012 14:52:27 GMT -6
Great comments!! I too have tried using these antiquated devices - and loved it! I tend to agree with the thoughts that we have such technologically advanced shaving edges these days we would be hard pressed to identify a well stropped reusable blade.
I have learned to live with the stiffer edges with Rolls razors and have been experimenting more and more with the wedge blades. It is a goal to be using resharpened razors at least half of the time for me. Right now - every other week is all I get in.
Wonderful post Willyb and if you are in the mood for pics - fill yer boots!! Your photos are always spot on and make terrific archives of these historic items.
VIVA LA SINGLE EDGE!!! : )
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Post by willyb on Dec 22, 2012 15:50:05 GMT -6
Dick, you silver tounged devil! Such a wonderful thought provoking reply, much appreciated!
Rocketman, I will certainly shoot a few today and get them posted, Thanks for your kind coments!
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Post by razorx on Dec 22, 2012 15:56:16 GMT -6
Fine writing Dick,well done...
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Post by willyb on Dec 22, 2012 16:03:09 GMT -6
***********Neatly lined out beards were not common as they involved shaving rather than just trimming with scissors.**********
something I completely failed to realize, until Dick pointed it out.
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Post by sleddog on Dec 22, 2012 17:12:07 GMT -6
Great post Dick, really enjoyed that!! I have some wedge blades but havent had the stones to try them. (they feel sharp ) I have a friend who is a straight razor connoisseur, I would like for him to try and sharpen them first
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