J R Torrey retractable strop

[Kavik79]

Got a fun little item here today....J R Torrey & Co retractable strop, Pat Dec 8 1896, with an additional patent date of May 16, 1899 stamped along the edge by the wood to the left of the main stamp'

The strop itself is useless at this point. It's a super thin piece of leather glued to a fabric backing....but aside from being well worn, it's separating from the fabric and has gone all wavy

Trying to decide if I should just leave it as is for a neat dust collector, or take it apart and try replacing the leather and hoping it goes back together and still works. At this point the spring that makes it retract is still very strong and it rolls up without a hitch

 

[LMTMRP]

Well thats the coolest thing I have seen today. I would restore it and use it as a travel strop.

 

[Kavik79]

Yeah, I thought it was neat. Got it for $14, so why not, right? Just tried finding more info on them earlier today and all the ones I find made by Torrey are in these ugly painted tins, instead of this nice engraved one

I was thinking maybe as a pasted fabric strop. I've never used pasted strops, but that could keep my other ones clean and keep me from having to find leather flexible enough for this tight of a roll. That or maybe find some roo for it, been wanting to try that out anyway. Would make traveling a breeze though, you're definitely right on that one

 

[Doc226]

Strip of Kangaroo leather, thin, strong.

 

[Lexbomb]

Hey I have an even fancier one of those in pewter or silver. I'll post photos later

 

[Kavik79]

Strip of Kangaroo leather, thin, strong.

Any idea where to get a good piece of that? I was looking recently and didn't find much other than roo cut into string or full hides

Hey I have an even fancier one of those in pewter or silver. I'll post photos later

cool, looking forward to seeing it!

 

[Lexbomb]

Here is my pretty sorry for the dodgy phone pics but its in my garage mid restoration.
I can't find a makers mark on it I assume its worn off.

 

[joshua1970]

Here is my pretty sorry for the dodgy phone pics but its in my garage mid restoration.
I can't find a makers mark on it I assume its worn off.

saw and bid on one similar tot his on the bay, alas I didn't win. both are VERY cool looking!

 

[Kavik79]

I came across an old ebay listing for one like that when I was trying to research mine. Very neat looking, a little too flashy for my tastes, but very cool all the same

 

[Kentos]

Maybe email Tony Miller to see if has any synthetic strop material that would work in that strop.

 

[Gamma]

I wanted one of them for a long time - both are pretty cool.

A strip of Roo would work.

 

[Kavik79]

Maybe email Tony Miller to see if has any synthetic strop material that would work in that strop.

A good idea, but I like leather too much, and have been wanting to try roo for too long

It may have to just sit on a shelf for a bit, I've been spending faster than I've been earning these last couple weeks....eventually I'll probably end up having to just get a full roo hide, replace this one, make myself a regular hanging one, see what's left and maybe toss one or two up in the BST

 

[Lexbomb]

Time to kill me a roo. This is going to start a new thread 'I shot me a dead roo, how to make a strop' Yes thats right Americans we can still have guns...just not very fun ones!

 

[Kavik79]

LOL good luck with that! I'm happy to just let someone who knows what their doing handle the killing, skinning and tanning

 

[Legion]

I have this one which is on the To-do list for a restore. One day.

 

[Kavik79]

lookin' good Legion

now, is it hooked on the edge of the table there? Or has the retracting mechanism given up the fight? Just curious. I'm glad to say mine retracts strongly, mainly because I wouldn't have a clue how to fix it up right if it didn't LOL

 

[Legion]

lookin' good Legion

now, is it hooked on the edge of the table there? Or has the retracting mechanism given up the fight? Just curious. I'm glad to say mine retracts strongly, mainly because I wouldn't have a clue how to fix it up right if it didn't LOL

It's hooked on the edge of the table. The spring is still good, but one of the side caps is popped off and the thread stripped. Shouldn't be a big deal to fix, and at least it allows me to see inside and check out how it all works.

 

[joshua1970]

thats a beauty Legion, so elegant! looking forward to seeing pics of it restored!!