Thread: Royal Palmer Weekend Set

I won this matched pair of Royal Palmer and Company German razors in neglected but saveable condition.

Wanting a weekend set that was small enough to fit in a travel kit or overnight bag and also wanting a bow strop, I was inspired by a razor box kit I saw on ClassicEdge and got busy putting my own spin on it.

I used a strip of balsa, sanded, wetted and resanded thrice then coated with .25 micron diamond as the lid under the strop. Measured, turned, and cut the dowels out of balsa as well and ensured they were taller than the height of the space under the strop to guarantee everything stays snug during travel.

I used walnut on all ends and 3/8-16 tpi stainless steel rod, as well as stainless socket heads and threaded metal inserts in the walnut. I also used a brass tube in the main body to receive the rod and aid in strength while under tension.

I made the strop body out of lighter elm stained walnut and dished out under the wedge end to allow easy removal of the razors.

Glued green felt in the razor cradles, engraved it with the maker and my own personal name for the creation, and covered it in Varathane.

Researching the origin of the maker I presumed they were affiliated with 'The Palmer House' in Chicago, but do not thing that was the case after all. Found this 1908 advertisement.

So believe they were a stand alone entity. I liked the ad enough that I decided to seal it to the back of the case forever.

They are honed, one finished on a jnat, the other an Escher, polished up and done like dinner.
Cured the leather faithfully to an old Japanese manual I was given, and it turned out very smooth with a nice draw. The diamond on the inner board is a handy feature that will ensure I have a way to refresh an edge while away and provides nice support under the strop while stropping.
Finished dimensions are 2"x16.5" to top of handle with a 14" stropping surface, balsa board has a 12.5" length.
Test shave tomorrow but they both came up sticky, tree topping sharp so I expect to be happy.
Thanks for looking guys. Feedback always welcome.

Nice work! That's a really cool take on a weekend set.

Lovely work and resourceful as well.

Very Nice Mike...I like it!

Completely awesome...love the .25 diamond paste addition!

Very well done! I have wondered why I haven't seen more travel strop set ups like that. I have a few old examples but that is the best example I have seen in quite awhile. Well thought out and executed!

Appreciate the feedback gentlemen.
It came together quite well and is very secure when all tensioned up. Fits in the side pocket of the overnight perfectly with room for the toiletry kit as well. I am still trying to figure a travel brush design I like that I can make myself to complete the set, but for now, an old lipitor container works..
Test shaved tonight and the one was perfect out of the gate, the other a little edgy still.
Love the bellied grinds from Germany for their sound and flex. To me, they feel more like a razor should. Thin, tempered, and tight.
The strop has a nice draw on the top surface. Backside had defects which is why I chose this particular piece of hide.
It is light enough for hand stropping and fits the left hand well while doing do. But works equally well on the counter since it stands 1 3/4" tall.
I wanted a lengthwise handle initially but decided horizontal would save some space. Works great in the hand with just the thumb on the handle for balance.
Like Matt, I have seen some old examples on the web, and a really nice single razor case made for the Bison razor that was really the inspiration for the strop tightening components I used, but I came up with the rest from my own twisted imagination.
I think I'm going to make a couple more sets for some other twins I have and refine the dimensions a bit.
Thanks again.

Very well done Mike.
Thats just awsome.[emoji106]

Yea, nothing like a bellied hollow to let you know you are shaving with a lean mean hungry machine.

Bob

Really nice work, Mike!, As usual! Thinking out loud, here. Perhaps a sleeve or box of sorts to protect the leather during transit?