Anyone ever see a Solingen razor with these (I am assuming) Japanese characters? Thanks.
I've seen Sheffield razors with fake Chinese/Japanese writing on the tang. They were made at a time when Asian stuff was fashionable, and the writing didn't really say anything.
The writing on this one looks a bit more legit, so maybe it was made for export.
It's legit - it says - "Made in Germany"....
The writing is Japanese and it says "Made In Germany". I asked a neighbor.Anyone ever see a Solingen razor with these (I am assuming) Japanese characters? Thanks.
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@Eshebert,
I assume that this razor was manufactured by "Alcoso-Werk" in Solingen for the Japanese market.
I took the liberty of making an enlargement of your picture (I hope you agree) and copying it into a photo of one of my razors to show that the two tiny symbols (circled by me in blue) on the left and right above the “WA” are identical with the symbol on the tang of razor. My own razor was manufactured by the Alcoso works.
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The two larger letters "W" above "A" probably represent another reminiscence of the name "Alcoso-Werk". It seems that this specific composition of symbols in the trademark of your razor is probably not well known, at least I have not seen it before.
The Alcoso works go back to the Alexander Coppel company, which was founded in Solingen in 1821.
A trade directory from the 1960s states that the company had representatives in most countries around the world and exported its products within Europe and overseas, so it is no surprise to find their products in Japan.
The history of the company Alexander Coppel is well summarized in the book "J. Anthony Carter: German Knife and Sword Makers, The definitive directory of makers and marks, from 1850 to 1945, International Military Antiques, Inc., 2015", but you can find a lot in the internet as well.
I think you're right.
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