Hoffritz Slant Questions

[wscottb7862]

I got lucky and found a really great Hoffritz Slant in a box of assorted razors. Was gonna sell it until I shaved with it, best shave ever with 2 passes and minor touch-ups. I found out thru google and here that they were made by Merkur? right? Other than that that's about it. Is there a way to date them? What's the connection with New York? What are they made of? I used the baking soda method to clean it up a bit, because I read somewhere the handle may be silver?? MAAS to clean the rest of it, is there anything else to use?? Are there many made?? Do they make other razors??
Here is the one I found, really like to know the year it was made?

 

[Ron Scott]

Would like to hear those answers too. Got several nice shaves from my "new" gold 'fritz my wife found in an old box of her dad's a week or so ago.

 

[shavefreak]

A slant will be my next purchase and was wondering how this measures up with the 39c and 37c and all the differences. Is the vintage better etc? etc? Anyone that has used them please chime in.

 

[blzrfn]

At the bottom of this very page, right below the quick reply box is a box of similar threads. I think all of the questions asked to this point will be answered in those threads. I don't have the answers specifically, but just thought I would point this feature out since it comes in really handy and unfortunately works way better than the actual search function of this forum.

 

[wscottb7862]

Beautiful Slant Ron Scott.... and blzrfn..the search function on this forum leaves something to be desired(putting it nicely).. still no idea how to date it??

 

[mistercitizen]

Nice score. Congratulations!!

Ben

 

[Ron Scott]

Beautiful Slant Ron Scott.... and blzrfn..the search function on this forum leaves something to be desired(putting it nicely).. still no idea how to date it??

Thanks.

It does appear difficult to date these things, but at least one seller thinks yours might be from the mid-'50s: http://www.executive-shaving.co.uk/vintage-hoffritz-slant-safety-razor.php

Also, FWIW I find the best way to search B&B is through a standard Google search.

 

[wscottb7862]

Thanks.

It does appear difficult to date these things, but at least one seller thinks yours might be from the mid-'50s: http://www.executive-shaving.co.uk/vintage-hoffritz-slant-safety-razor.php

Also, FWIW I find the best way to search B&B is through a standard Google search.

Thanks Ron..

 

[shavefreak]

Out of all those posts below the only real info is that Merkur made all the razors and the old ones may have been made better, and better cases with Hoffritz. Nothing about agressiveness, weight, balance, feel, so I say more info please.

 

[franz]

Great score. Love those Hoffritz slants, need to pick one up one of these days.

 

[rxonmymind]

They have a nice heft to them which lends itself to a great feel when shaving with them. They were also built very well. Congrats.

 

[Harry Snider]

A slant will be my next purchase and was wondering how this measures up with the 39c and 37c and all the differences. Is the vintage better etc? etc? Anyone that has used them please chime in.

I owned a Hoffy and traded it away. With all honesty I found the shave a little rough. After that one, I borrowed a vintage Merkur "chessman" and it was a super smooooooth shaver. It was hard to return that one and I even tried to tell the owner that ninjas broke in and stole it after a long, fierce battle, but he didn't buy it! To cure my slant RAD I picked up a Merkur 37c and it shaves very well. Def start with either the 37 or the 39 depending on your tastes in handles. Go from there.

 

[Oel]

Got some answers as I have many slant razors from them:

Yes from Merkur/Emil Hermes in Solingen/Germany back then.

It's difficult to date them. Is there printed M.I. New York on the bottom of the handle then its an older one (until mid sixties), is the M.I. printing missing than its a later one.

Hoffritz cuterly had stores in New York.

The head is make out of zamak, the handle out of brass.

These are still made but only with the Merkur-branding.

The case your razor came in indicates the razor to be made in the early seventies.

 

[wscottb7862]

Thanks Oel!! Mine has M.I. Germany. Would that be consistent with the leather case? Most of the Hofritz cases I've seen on Google have the blade holders set underneath the razor, unlike mine which are 2 slits in the leather and upright. So have you found any differences in how earlier or later Hoffritz shaves? So I'm assuming the new Merkurs 37C &39C are just newer versions of these older Hoffritz and Merkurs.
What's your favorite Hoffritz, Oel??

 

[Oel]

Yes, thats the problem in finding out how old a Hoffritz is.

They used the case mostly for their razors in the seventies BUT they did use this case for their Hoffritz super slant that is definitaly older.

Although they used different cases for their razors in different times you cannot say that they only used one kind of case in that area.

I also bought a vintage Merkur/Hoffritz, that was definitaly introduced in 1962 but came in a pre WWII bakelite case with the D.R.P. marking. So one cannot be sure that the razor he buys comes in the original case.

If you get a good Hoffritz, no matter from what decade, the razor will give fine shaves. If you get a bad Hoffritz, you might be disappointed and say that it is a monster. They had some quality issues like Dovo has today. But I'd always prefer a vintage slant.

I have a Coles razor from the early sixties. The baseplate is slightly more slanted than the top cap and shaving with it is not very comfortable, because there is always a gap between the blade and the baseplate. I had the same problem on a older Merkur, too.

It's a littebit like collecting old Fenders, they are good, but some are better. All you can do is buy and see what you get.

 

[Ron Scott]

That Hoffritz of mine up there is a nice shaver too although I don't have the greatest ability to discern differences between razors and blades like a lot of guy here do. For the past week I've used a Gillette adjustable set to 5 and today I used the 'fritz. Same three pass w/ touch-up shave, same effort, same smooth feel.