slant identification please .

[chukka]

i pick up this razor on ebay this week for 10€, it is dull grey ,on the lightweight side (may be aluminium)and comes with a bakelite case with the razor pictured on top of the case ,no brand & no more information on the case.it looks like a merkur 1904 handle with a slant head ,it was advertised like an "ancient razor" ,the seller living in the german frontier & selling a lot of german razor i suppose it's german.any information would be appreciated.
i have polished it with maas so it's no longuer dull but it's still grey ,i have plan to replate it in nikel but i don't know if it's still possible to replate after polishing with maas .
i have shave with it yesterday & it's a great shaver .

 

[Greybeard]

It looks like a vintage Merkur.
Since it's lightweight and grey, then it's probably made out of zinc or zinc based pot metal. It may have been plated with chrome that wore off, but probably not. If it's bare zinc, then it was probably made during WWII when a lot of unplated razors were produced.

Polishing the razor will have no affect on the plating process since platers use their own cleaning and prep process anyway.
Zinc, however, is a Pita to plate. It requires a very thorough prep by the plater to remove the zinc oxide and smooth pitting. It then has to be plated in copper first to fill in any micro pits and provide a bond for the nickel plating. Then it is prepped again and nickel plated. If you want it shiny chrome, then that is an aditional plating.



- Peter

 

[chukka]

thanks for the answer ,i think i have ruined the value of the razor by trying to polishing ,maybe it's a better idea to let it as is .i 've email the seller but he don't answer yet .

 

[ShaveAddict]

For me it looks more like an old Apollo, but i am really not sure.

 

[Greybeard]

thanks for the answer ,i think i have ruined the value of the razor by trying to polishing ,maybe it's a better idea to let it as is .i 've email the seller but he don't answer yet .

I don't think you've ruined it. As long as you don't put it on a buffing wheel, MAAS won't remove any of the base material, just the oxide. Tarnished zinc is dark grey with a powdery feel.

It is possible to get zinc shinier. I've done it with a toothbrush, Flitz (MAAS is the same thing), a cotton rag and lots of elbow grease. Unfortunately it will never be as shiny as nickel, will always have that greyish color and will oxidize again fairly quickly. You can shave with it, however, and it's unlikely that you are allergic to zinc oxide.



- Peter

 

[chukka]

the handle & the cap have polished well ,but not the middle part ,hence the bar don't slide correctly on the skin otherwise it 's a great shaver .it looks like it have been painted with graphite & a bit of this paint went off on the cap make it ugly .

 

[chukka]

the seller says it was made in germany around 1930 ,nothing on the brand .

 

[melyus]

Not Slant , Apollo Safety Razor Made in Germany.

Regards.

 

[chukka]

thanks, it looks like it is the best match .yours have a nice finish .mine have a strange bar, one side have 10 grooves & the other 15 this makes a mildier side & an agressive side ,2 razor in one ,interresting .

 

[PaulUK]

Melyus's razor looks beautiful....