I notice that many of the surviving barbers hones are American, but so many of our favorite razors are from Sheffield. Does anyone know what the old English barbers, or casual razor users used to touch up their edges?
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I notice that many of the surviving barbers hones are American, but so many of our favorite razors are from Sheffield. Does anyone know what the old English barbers, or casual razor users used to touch up their edges?
Most likely crocus or iron oxide rouge on a piece of leather. Thats what they had available to them at that time. Perhaps lamp black?
In terms of stones they had a wide variety available for touch up, Charnely Forest, Tam O'Shanter, Water of Ayre, Cutlers Green, Dragons Tounge, Escher, Coticule , Turkish Oil Stone to name a few.
Just my $ 02,:)
Though i'm not able to post a picture right now, I've got a blue box aloxite carborundum co. #200 that says Manchester and made in england instead of niagra falls.
Here are some pics of one:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...7/IMG_3818.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2.../IMG_3815a.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...7/IMG_3815.jpg
There are others, but like Randy says there were lots of other natural stones available to use, and a plethora of pasted paddle strops - lots of the old strops had sharpening sides, too. In antique markets I have seen lots of small coticules, barber-hone size, for sale too.
Regards,
Neil
I have Carborundum 102 and one same as Neil. Both from UK.