Thread: Escher advertising ?

The vintage Escher stones that I have seen have come with end labels of Dark Blue, Yellow Green, Light Green, and Blue Gray. I have put them in the order that I believe they would be used for progressive honing. I assume that Escher must have published either an instruction sheet detailing the the intended use of the various colors or in advertising within catalogs for barber supply houses. Anyone have any print material on the color code used by Escher ?

Jimmy,

I haven't seen such a list, but I would assume that the price would have indicated the quality more than color.

As to the order you put the stones in, I don't have a clue as I only have one greenish grey colored Escher type stone.

However, I don't think it is color that determines the stones character. I think that there are two things to look for.

One is that the better stones will have an even color without blemishes or flaws.

Two, the size and quantity of the grit that is released for honing. Usually, the softer stones yield the most grit.

I think that there are probably superb examples of hones in all colors and Escher had the reputation as the brand that sold high quality stone.

Not sure that this helps, but I tried or maybe I'm just trying.

Originally Posted by English

However, I don't think it is color that determines the stones character.

I believe you're correct here. I was having such a conversation with a longtime experienced member recently about this very subject. He owns and has used Eschers for a very long time. His position is that the labels do NOT definitively dictate the quality and ability of one "Escher" over another. He strongly disagrees with such a notion. In his opinion, a flat claim can not be made that a dark blue Escher will always be substandard to a yellow green Escher. I have experience with Thuringian hones (Hohenzollern, unlabeled Thuringian stones) and more experience with Belgian Coticules. I have found variances form stone to stone. Some subtle, some very obvious.

Bottom line regarding Escher brand stones; we obviously can't help but be fixated on the labels (end labels) but it all comes down to how each stone performs, that's what matters. Just like razors: it all comes down to how each one shaves. I would disagree with anyone who would make a statement that a yellow green will always perform better than a blue green, dark blue, etc.

Chris L

Thanks English. In the past I read at least one post on the forum that suggested the order in which to use the Escher series. In speaking with a collector of Escher stones the axiom that all natural stones are individual was pointed out. So you have to try the stone. I accept that but my intuition tells me that the Escher company printed up those labels as a selling point and must have given an explanation for them. I am assuming that this must have been detailed in catalogs of the time offering hones to barbers, tool and die makers, or even rabbis. I am hoping that there is a forum member out there with one of these who can shed some light on this.

I do not know for sure but am willing to speculate that the color does make a difference and the stones were labeled accordingly, why else label them. The color would probably indicate cutting ability, one color having more the next color having less. I would like to see either an explanation in some old catalog or sales advertisement, the color had to mean something other than color, thus the labels.

Somewhere, in the land of Deutsch, there undoubtedly has to be a vintage catalog which includes descriptions of Eschers.

Can anyone who is familiar with the language ask one of the German razor sites about this?

I don't sprech that language.

Chris L

Originally Posted by nun2sharp

I do not know for sure but am willing to speculate that the color does make a difference and the stones were labeled accordingly, why else label them. The color would probably indicate cutting ability, one color having more the next color having less. I would like to see either an explanation in some old catalog or sales advertisement, the color had to mean something other than color, thus the labels.

The only reason I'm skeptical of this is that the instructions – for blue, yellow-green, all the colors – is identical. Nowhere is any sequence alluded to. And of all the companies to market thuringians only Escher & Co. graded their stones.

The old geological encyclopedia entries on "German waterstones" mention in passing that the "brownish" stones – which I take to refer to what we call yellow-green – are generally considered superior. I tend to think it's basically the equivalent of the quality grades on coticules (as opposed to say, blue vs. yellow Belgians or the distinct grits of various Scotch hones). I've had eschers of various colors, and frankly haven't seen much variation in the quality of the edges.

Very interesting, Dylandog.

I have a "Fox" brand razor hone that is Thuringian and is advertised on the paper label in the box as the "best in the world" (marketing claim of course). But, it looks nothing like the other Thuringians I have or have seen. It is in fact brownish purple with figure and NOTHING even remotely close in color to a YG Escher or any other color Escher for that matter.

Chris L

Originally Posted by Chris L

Somewhere, in the land of Deutsch, there undoubtedly has to be a vintage catalog which includes descriptions of Eschers.

Can anyone who is familiar with the language ask one of the German razor sites about this?

I don't sprech that language.

Chris L

A BIG +1! Thanks Chris for reviving this thread. If you observe my avatar you will see four Eschers, a dark blue, blue/green, light green and yellow/green. All of the stones are labeled so there is no doubt as to what they are.

I stuck my foot deep in my mouth in another thread when I said that the dark blue was equivalent to a 4K. I had just gotten the blue and made the statement on the basis of the Belgian blue. A different animal. Since then using the hones I am thinking that my particular dark blue Escher may be the hardest of the four stones.

I will eventually figure out where I think they all fit in the scheme of things but it appears that they are all finishing stones. It would be nice to find some sort of printed matter put out by Escher describing the stones and what their explanation might be.

Originally Posted by Chris L

Very interesting, Dylandog.

I have a "Fox" brand razor hone that is Thuringian and is advertised on the paper label in the box as the "best in the world" (marketing claim of course). But, it looks nothing like the other Thuringians I have or have seen. It is in fact brownish purple with figure and NOTHING even remotely close in color to a YG Escher or any other color Escher for that matter.

Chris L

Wow, that is interesting indeed. I'd always assumed it was just the yellow-green being referred to...

How are the edges off that Fox hone?