Old German Handle, Merkur Head

[nemo]

Yesterday I got another handle for some Merkur heads I have. This one came from ambrose and he said it was a German clone of a Gillette old style. That's pretty much all I know, it came in a half a box with a pretty cool open comb setup with a bit of plating loss. Eventually I'll put it all back together as original but for now I'm using it like this. Fun stuff!

Anybody know anything about this handle like make, year? Looks pre-war to me. It cleaned up pretty easily, nice and soft, almost like silver plate.

Whaddya think?

Brand new head

 

[theologist]

Very nice!

I use a Merkur head on a Parker handle - a 71R I think. The Parker head went in the bin (it was horrid) but the "Frankenrazor" combo is one of the best in my lineup!

 

[AsylumGuido]

Nemo,

Could you please post a picture of the head that came with that handle?

 

[nemo]

Nemo,

Could you please post a picture of the head that came with that handle?

No problem but it won't be for several hours since I'm at work. My combs are even and there's no indication of Gillette anywhere. The handle fits the small recess nicely. I'll make photos around 5:00 Pacific time.

 

[nemo]

Could you please post a picture of the head that came with that handle?

OK, here we go! I hope this helps clear up some mystery both to me and for moshulu with a similar handle. This is the razor as I got it yesterday from Ambrose.

 

[moshulu]

Doug,

Does the "step" at the end of the handle fit all the way inside the big central hole in the combed plate? From your picture, it kind of looks like it does (it does NOT on mine). If that is the case, then you have the authentic (non-Gilette, presumably) complete razor, and mine is a strange bastard with some still unexplained features.

 

[Haiku]

The original razor is one beauty.

 

[TobyC]

BUMP.

The handle looks familiar, anyone these days know what it is?

 

[nemo]

Someone did figure it out definitively, showed one paired with an English head.

Now for the life of me I can't remember the brand.

 

[TobyC]

Do you remember who?

 

[nemo]

I think it is an Oxford but still some doubts in my mind.
looking for help

Do you remember who?

I'd be more likely to remember the brand of my razor than some member, if I could do that I would have searched it don't you think?

 

[TobyC]

I'd be more likely to remember the brand of my razor than some member, if I could do that I would have searched it don't you think?

There was at least one in the "not Gillette" thread, I was just looking and many of the pictures didn't survive the transition.

 

[nemo]

Obviously not the same handle which is why I have my doubts but the tip is similar.
Pics survived in this post -->
The "Not Gillette" Vintage DE Thread

 

[TobyC]

Same company, different model?

 

[JimmyHAD]

Funny thing, today is my first time seeing this old thread. I had forgotten I had the razor in the photos below, but came across it this afternoon while looking for something else.
At first glance I thought this was the same, but it is not, though somewhat similar. No idea where it was made, as country of origin is not specified, just the letter 'A' under the base plate. Cool old 'art-deco' slant.

 

[Highspeedlane]

Same company, different model?

View attachment 763075 View attachment 763076

What's with the size of that center hole?

 

[Komboloi]

Whatever its history, that's a nice razor. Congrats and enjoy!

Merkur made a lot of razors on a contract basis for other firms. They often had the Merkur "Mercury" logo somewhere but would be stamped with the name of the contracting firm somewhere else. Fengel, Wecks. and Adams were some of the contractors. But I'm sure there were others. Merkur was trying to sell where they could and were willing to stamp razors for customers as need be.

But as far as I know, if it's got the Merkur logo somewhere, it's a Merkur-made razor of Merkur quality.

 

[nemo]

What's with the size of that center hole?

If you're referring to the Oxford in the "not Gillette" thread, that large hole size is to precisely center the plate over the stepped end on the handle. My handle luckily doesn't employ that feature.

 

[Highspeedlane]

If you're referring to the Oxford in the "not Gillette" thread, that is to precisely center the plate over the stepped end on the handle. My handle (and head) luckily doesn't employ that feature.

Ah got it, didn't notice that stepped end. Thanks Doug.

 

[TobyC]

Pointy bullets big center hole.

View attachment 763077

If you're referring to the Oxford in the "not Gillette" thread, that large hole size is to precisely center the plate over the stepped end on the handle. My handle luckily doesn't employ that feature.

Doesn't it?