Irving Angle Razor- nice curiosity

natchez · Jul 9, 2012

I picked this up in my continuing search for slant-type razor variations. It takes a proprietary blade and was only made for a couple years in the 1920's. I think 1926-1928 and was made in Torrington, Connecticut. It is one of many proprietary blade razors that failed to catch on.

I could not resist, so I forced a regular DE blade down onto the post and locked it up tight. Shaved a little better than I expected. The fun thing about this razor set is that the case, razor head and special blades are parallelograms, and if I recall correctly, rhomboids.

ShavinBacon · Jul 9, 2012

That is, without a doubt, one of the most unusual razors I have ever seen. That handle is crazy thin and not even thin in the way I would want it. I could understand if it was turned 90 degrees but it just looks uncomfortable to hold. Anyway, thanks for sharing.

drocu · Jul 9, 2012

What a cool looking razor. It's too bad you couldn't find appropriately shaped blades. I'm not sure you could probably mod a DE blade either.

Are you looking for slant-type razors for inspiration for the upcoming Tradere slant?

Krona Kruiser · Jul 9, 2012

Wow! That's unique. I'd try to rehone the original blade but the edges look in pretty bad shape.

ShavinBacon · Jul 9, 2012

It just dawned on me....Richard has access to a fancy machine to cuts metal. Surely you could just make a few blades to try out in it can't you, Richard? :biggrin1:

celestino · Jul 9, 2012

What a fascinating razor!

natchez · Jul 9, 2012

Yes, I am always looking at different razors for inspiration. This one just struck my fancy, maybe because as a boy I went to summer camp in Torrington, CT where it was made. Or just that the angle approach is a slant variation. The patent was fun reading. This razor is very solidly built and the flat handle was very different, but not really bad at all.

The factory could probably turn out straight razor blanks, but DE blades are made from rolls of steel that use an entirely different production set-up. There is a good utube on DE blade manufacture here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9PnTPIKd3g
Anyhow, I think if I suggested that they let me near their fancy machines, they would surely freak. :ohmy:

Actor07 · May 20, 2017

I recently picked up a cased Irving complete with blades. I just finished my first shave with it. No I didn't use the original blades. But I was able to modify an Astra blade with a pair of nail scissors and using an original Irving blade as a template. It was an easier blade modification than my blade modifications for the Segal razors. Now onto the shave. It is a very aggressive razor leaving no blade gap between the razor and the head. It is a true open comb slant and yields a BBS quality on the first run. But you have to be very careful and precise with your technique. Hmmmm, I may keep it because of its uniqueness and because it was made in Torrington, CT in my home state.Here are a few pics.