Ok, I have only been DE'ing for about 6 weeks. And while a straight is certainly in my future, I'm still focused more on learning proper lathering, etc before I'm ready.
At least that's what I thought, until my neighbor showed me a bunch of vintage straights and gear:
Here are some notes on what I found, taking only 10 or so minutes.
Strops:
1. No name, large 4 sided (on left side of box). Brass handle. Good condition. Each side seems to be a different grade of leather.
2[*]. Boston Metallic Hone & Strop. Victorian Era typography. Contains one flat hone with round handle, distinct grits each side. Separate flat strop with round handle. Very few nicks.
3. Genuine Emerson's elastic razor
Razors, with cases:
1. Red Point Razor, Utica Knive Co., Solingson Germany "Designed especially for Professional Barber Use".
2. (1) J.R. Torrey Co Sheffield England. (1) George Wester(?, rusty writing) Sheffield England. Single case for both.
3. Joseph Rogers. Sheffield. Case: M. Oberhauser, 9 Water St Boston Ma. Was this a dealer, or did folks get custom engraved cases back then?
4[*]. Rudolf Schmidt, Solingen Germany. Blade also has "TradeMark MasterPiece on main portion of blade (what's this area called?) Case: C. Klauberg & Bros, 173 William St N.Y.
5. Wester Bros. Yankee Shaver #1.
6. Alpha Extra Hollow Ground Harrison.
7[*]. John Prince (Handmade). Case: Iver Johnson Sporting Goods Germany.
8. New England Razor, Boston. Case: Broadway Cutlery
9[**]. The Celebrated Hollow Ground Razor. Manufactured by Wade&Butcher Sheffield. Case: T. Noonan&Sons Boston Ma.
Razors, no case:
10. Broadway Cutlery Germany.
11. (3) Urum Uplex USA comb beard trimmer, with single edge disp blades. All 3 different sizes.
12. Blake&Co Germany. "Barbers Choice".
13. Wade&Butcher Sheffield England. "Special". Tortise shell is really pretty.
14[*]. Wade&Butcher. Train motif in blade, very fine engraving work. Seems to be hollow ground. Stunning.
15. Geo Wostenholm&Son Sheffield England. "Original Pipe Razor".
16. Frederick Reynold Sheffield.
17. F.G. Voss Solingen Germany.
[*] Are the ones which seemed easiest to restore: very little rust, no divots, etc. They are also the most interesting in terms of aesthetics, at least to me.
My friend offered me a strop and a straight of my choice. I, in turn offered to document, and to do my best to get them in the hands of folks who could appreciate them.
Any thoughts on this collection? I will be grabbing the Nikon and some good glass to document these properly, but for now I guess I need some help on deciding what are some good ones to start with.
I'm guessing I'd want to find someone to professionally restore, etc.
Geez, I came to B&B to learn some more about DE, and one week later all these straights fall on my lap!
Thanks for any guidance or info. This is going to be a great project learning more about the history of these finely made pieces.
At least that's what I thought, until my neighbor showed me a bunch of vintage straights and gear:
Here are some notes on what I found, taking only 10 or so minutes.
Strops:
1. No name, large 4 sided (on left side of box). Brass handle. Good condition. Each side seems to be a different grade of leather.
2[*]. Boston Metallic Hone & Strop. Victorian Era typography. Contains one flat hone with round handle, distinct grits each side. Separate flat strop with round handle. Very few nicks.
3. Genuine Emerson's elastic razor
Razors, with cases:
1. Red Point Razor, Utica Knive Co., Solingson Germany "Designed especially for Professional Barber Use".
2. (1) J.R. Torrey Co Sheffield England. (1) George Wester(?, rusty writing) Sheffield England. Single case for both.
3. Joseph Rogers. Sheffield. Case: M. Oberhauser, 9 Water St Boston Ma. Was this a dealer, or did folks get custom engraved cases back then?
4[*]. Rudolf Schmidt, Solingen Germany. Blade also has "TradeMark MasterPiece on main portion of blade (what's this area called?) Case: C. Klauberg & Bros, 173 William St N.Y.
5. Wester Bros. Yankee Shaver #1.
6. Alpha Extra Hollow Ground Harrison.
7[*]. John Prince (Handmade). Case: Iver Johnson Sporting Goods Germany.
8. New England Razor, Boston. Case: Broadway Cutlery
9[**]. The Celebrated Hollow Ground Razor. Manufactured by Wade&Butcher Sheffield. Case: T. Noonan&Sons Boston Ma.
Razors, no case:
10. Broadway Cutlery Germany.
11. (3) Urum Uplex USA comb beard trimmer, with single edge disp blades. All 3 different sizes.
12. Blake&Co Germany. "Barbers Choice".
13. Wade&Butcher Sheffield England. "Special". Tortise shell is really pretty.
14[*]. Wade&Butcher. Train motif in blade, very fine engraving work. Seems to be hollow ground. Stunning.
15. Geo Wostenholm&Son Sheffield England. "Original Pipe Razor".
16. Frederick Reynold Sheffield.
17. F.G. Voss Solingen Germany.
[*] Are the ones which seemed easiest to restore: very little rust, no divots, etc. They are also the most interesting in terms of aesthetics, at least to me.
My friend offered me a strop and a straight of my choice. I, in turn offered to document, and to do my best to get them in the hands of folks who could appreciate them.
Any thoughts on this collection? I will be grabbing the Nikon and some good glass to document these properly, but for now I guess I need some help on deciding what are some good ones to start with.
I'm guessing I'd want to find someone to professionally restore, etc.
Geez, I came to B&B to learn some more about DE, and one week later all these straights fall on my lap!
Thanks for any guidance or info. This is going to be a great project learning more about the history of these finely made pieces.