ID: Merkur Open Comb

[David in Boston]

Folks,

Would like some help IDing this Merkur.

It is a three piece Open Comb.

What is interesting about it is the handle is thin as compared to the Merkur HDs.

It is light and somewhat smaller than a HD.

Thanks.

 

[David in Boston]

Guys, I need your help.

Anyone?

 

[luvmysuper]

Can't say for certain David, but Waits Compendium shows one that looks identical as an Emil Merkur rather than a Merkur Solingen, so that puts it before 1920.

 

[David in Boston]

Can't say for certain David, but Waits Compendium shows one that looks identical as an Emil Merkur rather than a Merkur Solingen, so that puts it before 1920.

Phil,

The only markings are the following:

Profile of Mercury
MERKUR
Germany
Solingen

Could it be an earlier version of the HD?

 

[luvmysuper]

It honestly looks like a Merkur knock off of a Gillette Single Ring.

 

[David in Boston]

It honestly looks like a Merkur knock off of a Gillette Single Ring.

Can you suggest a resource I could use to check this razor out?

Thanks.

 

[luvmysuper]

Can you suggest a resource I could use to check this razor out?

Thanks.

For the Merkur, Waits Compendium.
For a Gillette Single Ring

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=176609

You have a Gillette Old Type head on a Merkur Handle. The length of the threaded screw on the cap is very different from a Single Ring.

 

[David in Boston]

For the Merkur, Waits Compendium.
For a Gillette Single Ring

You have a Gillette Old Type head on a Merkur Handle. The length of the threaded screw on the cap is very different from a Single Ring.

OK, but I don't see any Gillette markings on the head.

Unless I can find a Merkur model under the mentioned resources I'll settle with the fact that it is a Frankenstein razor.

Thanks for the help.

 

[luvmysuper]

The early early Gillettes did not have the marking on the head.
Many of the other early razor manufacturers didn't either.

There were many models that were "copied" back and forth in the days of DE manufacturing, in fact Ian Fleming in his James Bond novels talks about Bond preferring the Hoffritz Open Comb which he felt was a better razor than the Gillette it was copied from.

 

[David in Boston]

So I could settle on the ID of this razor as a Frankenstein type which has a Merkur handle and a Gillette head.

One reason I needed to know was when I sell it I wanted the potential buyer to know what he is getting.

Thanks

 

[luvmysuper]

So I could settle on the ID of this razor as a Frankenstein type which has a Merkur handle and a Gillette head.

One reason I needed to know was when I sell it I wanted the potential buyer to know what he is getting.

Thanks

David, I don't know that the head on that IS a Gillette. It could very well be a Merkur. Unless there is evidence presented otherwise, I would assume the entire razor is Merkur.

 

[David in Boston]

Phil,

Looks like I'll have to do more research via Waits Compendium etc.

Thanks.