Thread: Worden Razor Honing Machine?

So I was reading this article ((1895) Essay on Barbers' Razors, Razor Hones, Razor Stropes & Razor Honing) that somebody had posted and was wondering if anybody out there has ever actually seen one of the Worden Honing Machine's on page 33 in person and also if anyone has ever used one. Or the shark hide strop as I know shark skin is quite rough and sand papery.

We have discussed several honing machines that have come up however I don't recall someone ever having one or seeing one in the flesh. Now and then some come up on Eboy but not the one you bring up. That is a more sophisticated machine than the others. Either way they were not popular items. if they were you would see them all over the place. Curiosities really.

I had a shark strop. It was a soft as butter.

Originally Posted by cosperryan

Or the shark hide strop as I know shark skin is quite rough and sand papery.

The denticles on the skin can be chemically removed. Then you just have leather.

Ah the denticles, I knew there was a name that was dental related just couldn't remember it exactly, I would not have expected that about the shark strop. How did it perform? And I figured that the honing machines were probably junk being that like you said they are not still around and that people aren't looking for them like crazy.

The shark performed like any other quality strop. it did it's job.