Merkur Slant - Question of its History

[chongo gordo]

I notice that on the older Merkur Slants the head cap is smooth along the edge. With the modern versions the edge of the cap is rippled, matching the indentations of comb/bar of the base plate.

Does anyone know what year this design change took place?

 

[smalltank]

Pomco...Hoffritz..now Merkur makes em..minor differences

 

[nemo]

Pomco...Hoffritz..now Merkur makes em..minor differences

Merkur sold razors in the US under many names, rebranded like those above.

That's a good question regarding the rippled cap, I think that change came fairly recently (2000 or later). I'm guessing though, just from seeing some of the smooth ones you describe for sale and still looking fairly new. Hopefully we can nail down when the change occurred.
The caps have undergone other changes, they have not always been divided into three flatter sections and were smoothly curved, I've got one like that.


Here is a scan of some non-adjustable Merkur models, vintage 1962! Heads were quite different back then.

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[shanman]

Cool scan!

 

[Sledgehammer39]

The Slant heads on the scan are really pronounced!! Looks awesome.

 

[celestino]

Great info, here. Thanks Doug.

 

[shanman]

The Slant heads on the scan are really pronounced!! Looks awesome.

That they are because those two aren't the regular slants, this are "double slants". I have some good pics of the Hoffritz version in my gallery.

 

[nemo]

That they are because those two aren't the regular slants, this are "double slants".

Huh? Haven't heard this before, can you elaborate on the origins of that term -- double slant?

 

[chongo gordo]

It'd be great to hear from people that know the history of the Merkurs. Info on Gillette is pretty extensively covered, but I've been tryying to find history on some other brands without much success.

I have a Fasan. It looks like the razors identified as double slants in the scan above.

 

[shanman]

I'm sure it was not officially termed as that in sales literature, but I think I adopted the term after seeing either Jake or Amishmotorboat use the term, can't quite remember. It stuck as to how to describe the other types of slants that are much more exaggerated than the commonly seen Merkur/Hoff/Pomco/Coles.
http://www.badgerandblade.com/forum/media/32733&catid=member&imageuser=37970

 

[chongo gordo]

Wow, that's wicked looking razor. Awesome. I think the Merkur I have has a more pronounced slant than the current version, but nothing like that.

 

[xraygun]

Here's a photo album of my Hoffritz, which I hope to put up for trade on an Eclipse soon. Click on the pic below to go to the album.