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Thread: Election Day Top Flight

  1. #11
    Senior Member blabbermouth
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    Lovely razor, Tom!

    If the scales are celluloid, which they look to be, then they were made in the same way as the ivory effect celluloid scales. These consisted of poured layers of alternating layers of ivory-coloured and milky-clear coloured celluloid, and the pouring went on until a reasonably thick block was produced.

    While still wet and 'green' it was sawn into strips at an angle, then pressed back into a block again and seasoned. It was then re-cut and you got all the ivory patterns in it depending on how the first cut was made and how the green block was pressed back together.

    Striped celluloid was done a similar way - the layers poured in the same quantity one on top of the other either sliced while green and pressed together again, or sawn into thin strips after seasoning.

    One fountainpen maker, Vacumatic, I think, exhausted their stock and since it is no longer available artisans who fix these pens have resorted to cutting thin strips of different coloured celluloids and gluing them together to make a sheet - a very time consuming and costly exercise.

    Candy stripe celluloid was used on a number of razors and knives - Case Bros made some, for instance.

    Real cellulose - cellulose nitrate - is a very problematical material as far as long term life and storage is involved, but the candy stripe pattern was used with this version first. Later, it was used with Cellulose Acetate. Some people can tell the difference just by feel - cellulose nitrate is slightly warm to the touch and feels like it is slightly wet or oiled as the fingers slip over it with ease, giving it a really nice feel. Cellulose Acetate on the other hand feels like most modern plastics, slightly cool. shiny and smooth but not with that same oily feeling that the cellulose nitrate has.

    Both break down over time. Cellulose Nitrate releases a vapour of nitric acid, while celluloid acetate releases a vapour of acetic acid (vingar smell) both of which corrode metal.

    Regards,
    Neil

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  3. #12
    Senior Member Walterbowens's Avatar
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    Great job!! I love the Patriotic Theme!!
    sharptonn likes this.
    We have no control of what other people do or say to us, but we have control to how we REACT !! GOD BLESS

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  5. #13
    Razor Vulture sharptonn's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Neil Miller View Post
    Lovely razor, Tom!

    If the scales are celluloid, which they look to be, then they were made in the same way as the ivory effect celluloid scales. These consisted of poured layers of alternating layers of ivory-coloured and milky-clear coloured celluloid, and the pouring went on until a reasonably thick block was produced.

    While still wet and 'green' it was sawn into strips at an angle, then pressed back into a block again and seasoned. It was then re-cut and you got all the ivory patterns in it depending on how the first cut was made and how the green block was pressed back together.

    Striped celluloid was done a similar way - the layers poured in the same quantity one on top of the other either sliced while green and pressed together again, or sawn into thin strips after seasoning.

    One fountainpen maker, Vacumatic, I think, exhausted their stock and since it is no longer available artisans who fix these pens have resorted to cutting thin strips of different coloured celluloids and gluing them together to make a sheet - a very time consuming and costly exercise.

    Candy stripe celluloid was used on a number of razors and knives - Case Bros made some, for instance.

    Real cellulose - cellulose nitrate - is a very problematical material as far as long term life and storage is involved, but the candy stripe pattern was used with this version first. Later, it was used with Cellulose Acetate. Some people can tell the difference just by feel - cellulose nitrate is slightly warm to the touch and feels like it is slightly wet or oiled as the fingers slip over it with ease, giving it a really nice feel. Cellulose Acetate on the other hand feels like most modern plastics, slightly cool. shiny and smooth but not with that same oily feeling that the cellulose nitrate has.

    Both break down over time. Cellulose Nitrate releases a vapour of nitric acid, while celluloid acetate releases a vapour of acetic acid (vingar smell) both of which corrode metal.

    Regards,
    Neil
    Thank You, Neil!
    I suppose there were as many formulas for Celluloid as there were makers. Some seem to me to be much better in the long run as others. For instance as in the old Case striped ones you referred to. Those things crumble if you look at them. I am thinking they are of Cellulose Nitrate. Adversely, these on two Genevas I restored a while back are rock-solid with no signs of shrinkage or warpage and feel like modern plastic as do the ones on this Top Flight (Which were originally on a Cattaraugus). From your description, I am supposing these are of Cellulose Acetate.
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    Last edited by sharptonn; 11-06-2014 at 06:16 PM.
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  6. #14
    The Dude Abides wingdo's Avatar
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    Love the scales. I'm usually into natural materials for scales, but those are fantastic. Beautiful blade as well. Good show!
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    Really cool scales!
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  10. #16
    The original Skolor and Gentileman. gugi's Avatar
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    Wait, is this the french flag

    or the russian
    Name:  225px-Flag_of_Russia.svg.png
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    'Cause both the texan and the usa-ian have the blue differently plus one or more stars

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  12. #17
    Senior Member Tarkus's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Neil Miller View Post
    Lovely razor, Tom!

    If the scales are celluloid, which they look to be, then they were made in the same way as the ivory effect celluloid scales. These consisted of poured layers of alternating layers of ivory-coloured and milky-clear coloured celluloid, and the pouring went on until a reasonably thick block was produced.

    While still wet and 'green' it was sawn into strips at an angle, then pressed back into a block again and seasoned. It was then re-cut and you got all the ivory patterns in it depending on how the first cut was made and how the green block was pressed back together.

    Striped celluloid was done a similar way - the layers poured in the same quantity one on top of the other either sliced while green and pressed together again, or sawn into thin strips after seasoning.

    One fountainpen maker, Vacumatic, I think, exhausted their stock and since it is no longer available artisans who fix these pens have resorted to cutting thin strips of different coloured celluloids and gluing them together to make a sheet - a very time consuming and costly exercise.

    Candy stripe celluloid was used on a number of razors and knives - Case Bros made some, for instance.

    Real cellulose - cellulose nitrate - is a very problematical material as far as long term life and storage is involved, but the candy stripe pattern was used with this version first. Later, it was used with Cellulose Acetate. Some people can tell the difference just by feel - cellulose nitrate is slightly warm to the touch and feels like it is slightly wet or oiled as the fingers slip over it with ease, giving it a really nice feel. Cellulose Acetate on the other hand feels like most modern plastics, slightly cool. shiny and smooth but not with that same oily feeling that the cellulose nitrate has.

    Both break down over time. Cellulose Nitrate releases a vapour of nitric acid, while celluloid acetate releases a vapour of acetic acid (vingar smell) both of which corrode metal.

    Regards,
    Neil
    Wow all that work involved, for something that back in the day would fetch what, a few dollars for the latest straight razor?
    Seems like alot a work for little payout, plus how many scales could one generate with a celluloid laminate block?
    Granted they are incredible.
    D/
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  14. #18
    Razor Vulture sharptonn's Avatar
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    Soooo. It COULD be red, white and blue. OR blue white and red. OR white red and blue. Perhaps blue, red and white?
    I suppose it depends on which side of the razor you look at and where you start looking.
    Makes me dizzy!
    Last edited by sharptonn; 11-06-2014 at 11:31 PM.
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    "Don't be stubborn. You are missing out".
    I rest my case.

  15. #19
    The original Skolor and Gentileman. gugi's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by sharptonn View Post
    Ya I went in and told em I was Wullie. They said 'Wullie who?". I said "Wullie get to vote?" They gave me a ticket!
    Good thinking - you don't want to be thrown in jail over voter fraud just for being Bruce...
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  17. #20
    Razor Vulture sharptonn's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by gugi View Post
    Good thinking - you don't want to be thrown in jail over voter fraud just for being Bruce...
    Ain't THAT the truth!.. Not to mention being Bruce and in jail could not be a good thing!
    gugi, Neil Miller and Wullie like this.
    "Don't be stubborn. You are missing out".
    I rest my case.

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