Hoffritz Unslant?

[granty]

Hi all,

I've just received an old Hoffritz razor. Expecting it to be a slant, I was disappointed to find it has a straight comb head, exactly like a Merkur HD. Did Hoffritz make these, or is it more likely to be a Hoffritz handle with a Merkur head attached?

thanks.

 

[Luc]

Hoffritz is pre-Merkur...

I think I saw one once before. Those are better built than the current Merkur IMO.

 

[c0ry]

Hoffritz did make regular open comb razors. In fact, in the James Bond books, James Bond is mentioned to favor the open comb Hoffritz razors. Lucky you!

 

[granty]

I should have put up a pic.

Actually the more I think about this, I think someone bought a Hoffritz Slant and really liked it, but the handle had a crack in it (which you can't see in this picture, it's on the other side). So they maybe had a Merkur HD already and swapped over the head to make up a slant with a new handle, and sold the remaining result to make up for the cost? The head looks like it's brand new, no scratches at all.

To be fair I didn't look close enough at the ebay photos, which on second examination have this head on, but the seller did say it was a slant top and I just didn't put 2 and 2 together to realise what it was!

I have another Hoffritz slant, which is my favourite razor by far, and was looking for a back up one for holidays and travelling.

Oh well. At least the case was in good condition and it wasn't expensive!

 

[c0ry]

The head and handle are certainly plated differently--this could be a Frankenritz.

 

[Jaymo]

I would offer to trade you my like-new Merkur 37G slant for your Frankenritz, but I like that slant way too much to get rid of it. I see why slant fans have such a strong preference for them. I actually get less irritation using a slant than I do using a straight bar razor. I think it's because of the slicing action of the blade. It reduces friction, pulling, dragging, tugging, etc.
Now, if I could only make up my mind to go ahead and pop the cherry on the unissued Wehrmacht Bakelite open comb slant I bought and see how it shaves.
I just hate to use it, because once you deflower it, you can't make it unused again.

 

[cooncatbob]

Here's a picture of a Hoffritz with a different head then any other I've seen.
The client sent me the razor because the barrel was cracked the full length.
I made a new barrel and knob assembly for it.
It was also unusual in that it was nickel plated instead of chrome.

 

[granty]

That is a nice handle, reminds me of the #16 Aristocrat I've got.

 

[granty]

Thanks everyone. I think I'll be offloading the Frankenritz at some point in the near future, and the hunt for an uncracked Hoffritz slant continues!