About one year ago I purchased a Panther straight razor and tried to find out the manufacturer with no success. Finally, a German expert in straight razor history gave me the information that Panther was made in Japan and distributed by Compass Industries. He also told me that C.I. had Falcon as a second brand. Also Falcons were made in Japan.
Which this information I started my own research and found out the following (if someone here from the US does know more, please add or correct, if necessary): COMPASS INDUSTRIES (C.I.) is based in New York (USA) and was founded in 1937. The company still exists today and the following information can be found on their website: “Compass Industries was established in 1937 and from that time has been dedicated to providing high quality merchandise at affordable prices. Compass carries a wide array of well known name brands, such as Buck, Gerber, Schrade, Leatherman, United Cutlery, Columbia River, Zippo and Mag-Lite, as well as high quality imports.”
C.I. imported high-quality German and Japanese goods, such as the two straight razors I would like to show here, both of which were made in Japan. It appears that initially the products were distributed through two companies: COMPASS INDUSTRIES, INC. and COMPASS INSTRUMENT & OPTICAL CO., INC., both located in New York.
In the 1950s and 1960s, the following brands belonged to COMPASS INSTRUMENT & OPTICAL CO., INC.: Panther (hunting knives, pocket knives and razors), Compass (binoculars and technical devices), Monolux (microscopes and other optical devices), Cadillac (binoculars), Monoscope (scopes).
Trademarks of COMPASS INDUSTRIES INC. were Binolux (binoculars, microscopes, opera glasses, optical lenses and sports glasses), Silver Falcon and Compass (both hunting and pocket knives). According to the expert, knives were initially marketed under the Falcon name, later under the Silver Falcon name, but straight razors were only ever marketed under the Falcon name.
Here come the pictures of my vintage Panther:
The expert told me that since this Panther is only marked on one side of the tang, it could easily be assigned to the early specimens, because from 1952 onwards the knives were marked "C.I." and the number of the steel used on the back of the tang. I cannot verify this information, but I believe it to be true.
And this is my Falcon, which I got in NOS condition:
If you find this interesting (as I do
as the history of the companies behind the razor interests me much), I can post from time to time what I found out on other straight razor manufacturers. If not, please let me know.
Which this information I started my own research and found out the following (if someone here from the US does know more, please add or correct, if necessary): COMPASS INDUSTRIES (C.I.) is based in New York (USA) and was founded in 1937. The company still exists today and the following information can be found on their website: “Compass Industries was established in 1937 and from that time has been dedicated to providing high quality merchandise at affordable prices. Compass carries a wide array of well known name brands, such as Buck, Gerber, Schrade, Leatherman, United Cutlery, Columbia River, Zippo and Mag-Lite, as well as high quality imports.”
C.I. imported high-quality German and Japanese goods, such as the two straight razors I would like to show here, both of which were made in Japan. It appears that initially the products were distributed through two companies: COMPASS INDUSTRIES, INC. and COMPASS INSTRUMENT & OPTICAL CO., INC., both located in New York.
In the 1950s and 1960s, the following brands belonged to COMPASS INSTRUMENT & OPTICAL CO., INC.: Panther (hunting knives, pocket knives and razors), Compass (binoculars and technical devices), Monolux (microscopes and other optical devices), Cadillac (binoculars), Monoscope (scopes).
Trademarks of COMPASS INDUSTRIES INC. were Binolux (binoculars, microscopes, opera glasses, optical lenses and sports glasses), Silver Falcon and Compass (both hunting and pocket knives). According to the expert, knives were initially marketed under the Falcon name, later under the Silver Falcon name, but straight razors were only ever marketed under the Falcon name.
Here come the pictures of my vintage Panther:
The expert told me that since this Panther is only marked on one side of the tang, it could easily be assigned to the early specimens, because from 1952 onwards the knives were marked "C.I." and the number of the steel used on the back of the tang. I cannot verify this information, but I believe it to be true.
And this is my Falcon, which I got in NOS condition:
If you find this interesting (as I do
as the history of the companies behind the razor interests me much), I can post from time to time what I found out on other straight razor manufacturers. If not, please let me know.
