Thread: The Frankonian

Thanks Neil! Its all coming back to me now. You're like institutional memory around here lol. Its great to have back!!

Anyway, now that you have jogged my memory, I recall concluding that they never had the ability to provide a consistent product but loved the lime light!

Its as good a theory as anyone else's lol!!

It's too bad really - I really lusted over that E. German hunk oh rock!

Originally Posted by Neil Miller

Good luck getting a reply from Olivia. She has been elusive for years and her being a founding member of another razor forum that Bart from coticule.de presided over, at the time of renewal of the site she was 'incommunicado' and so the site went under.

I corresponded with her for a while around that time, wasting my time on telling her exactly what I wanted and establishing a received-by date to allow me enough time to cancel the PayPal transaction. Everything was set, but she didn't send the PayPal request and numerous emails I sent asking why went unanswered. Then I asked Bart about it and when he said she was unreachable I counted myself lucky that I hadn't parted with any money.

As far as I know she is not and has not been a vendor for some cosiderable time - years - and is still incommunicado, although another enthusiast directed my attention to her brief appearance on some german (?) Tv show or podcast sometime after she went missing.

The stone came from her brother, who has a mine specialising in utility slate for landscaping, flooring and tiling. Being incommunicado must run in the family: he has an email address and a website but never bothered to reply to my emails.

I remember that prior to his web book Henk Bos and his wife visited this quarry and the owner gave him a couple of hones. I think I recall that correctly - no doubt Henk will correct me if I am wrong.

I gave up the quest in the end, partly out of chagrin and partly due to other dubious info on Olivia's site. If you are going to part with hard earned cash for something described as the bees-knees, then you bdtter have complete faith in your source's credentials, and to be quite frank I did not.

Regards,
Neil

I bought some pins and washers from her site some time last November. Items delivered on time but not been back since, as I now use stuff from micro fasteners and I've got enough brass and steel rods to last my lifetime.

I have a large Franconian and I really like it. I've had it for about 3 years now. I read a review on another shaving forum by Harvits81 (Joe Edson, custom razor and knife maker)

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthr...ght=franconian

I know that Gabor Buddel, the German custom razor maker rated the Franconian very highly. He finished a Damascus custom that I commissioned from him on one. Super smooth finish.

I've never used an Escher but I've had a few Thuringians and I prefer the Franconian. The one I've got is a large stone which makes using it very easy. I've found it a little slower than the Thuringian but no where near as slow as a C12K.

Maybe the people mining them didn't know what they were cutting, maybe there is a huge variability in them but I'm very happy with mine.

Originally Posted by johnmrson

I have a large Franconian and I really like it. I've had it for about 3 years now. I read a review on another shaving forum by Harvits81 (Joe Edson, custom razor and knife maker)

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthr...ght=franconian

I know that Gabor Buddel, the German custom razor maker rated the Franconian very highly. He finished a Damascus custom that I commissioned from him on one. Super smooth finish.

I've never used an Escher but I've had a few Thuringians and I prefer the Franconian. The one I've got is a large stone which makes using it very easy. I've found it a little slower than the Thuringian but no where near as slow as a C12K.

Maybe the people mining them didn't know what they were cutting, maybe there is a huge variability in them but I'm very happy with mine.

From what I have read, most people who tried it, disliked it, and few loved it.
It might be because the demand for Frankonians exceeded the number of quality stones that could be found and tested. If it's a dozen of people who want one, you might be able to satisfy both the demand, and, the buyer with the quality of the stone.
If there are hundreds of orders, the quality will drop, unless you have the absolutely perfectly homogenous stone with unbelievably consistent results. Like the old Thuringians. In any other case, you will get a paperweight, that has the name of a famous stone, with a disappointing performance.

Oh, I know the site is still there Anthony - from what I recall it has never been stopped or suspended.

That is not the same as saying Olivia is running it though. If she is, she seems to have been struck dumb - she was quite voluble in the old days.

The stone database is what I had no faith in, by the way, and I still have issues with it.

Regards,
Neil

I hear eschers are underwhelming! (Waits for prices to fall)

Just to be clear lots of guys don't stick around long enough to see fads come and go.

Were I one of those guys I would have given up after my magic coti didn't quite pan out thinking I just didn't have the skill!

So who knows "real" History about these Stones ?

I want some real facts and no personal meanings on this one....sorry...if this one might be a good stone there should be any literature or other source....

Originally Posted by doorsch

So who knows "real" History about these Stones ?

I want some real facts and no personal meanings on this one....sorry...if this one might be a good stone there should be any literature or other source....

If I recall correctly, the stones were mined in a part of Germany that was under communist rule. You have a valid point, but one that may not conform to what you would expect out of the Germany of today.

Originally Posted by doorsch

So who knows "real" History about these Stones ?

I want some real facts and no personal meanings on this one....sorry...if this one might be a good stone there should be any literature or other source....

It's here on the site somewhere, along with a picture of the quarry sign including its address (I think).

If the address is not in the pic then the salient details were given in tbe accompanying text.

You will just have to search for it.

Regards,
Neil

PS:just remembered the quarry is in the Hof region, Bavaria.