Thread: Barber hones

Recently I've been buying these off of ebay. I'm surprised at how many manufacturers there must have been in the first half of the 20th. century. Also the variety of grit sizes. I got one, a Pike "EzyEdge" that seems smoother that a 12K Chinese stone. The instructions on the box say that 5 or 6 strokes should be sufficient but the surface is like glass. Of course all these companies are gone, bar one or two, but does anyone know how many there were and what they used to make their hones?
GK

I believe the question of what was used in barber hones is one most frequently asked, right up there with grit ratings. Unfortunately, I've not seen many conclusive answers to either question.

If you have several barber hones, see if you can get hold of a microscope to see what the different hones look like magnified. You will be amazed at the variety!

Tilly known as redtradder was selling barber hones for a couple of years until she ran out. She had bought the remaining stock from what was probably the biggest barber hone maker in the U.S. I forget the name of the company however they made hones for probably hundreds of companies. I think they were located in Iowa.So I would imagine there were just a handful of manufacturers making all these hones.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

I forget the name of the company however they made hones for probably hundreds of companies. I think they were located in Iowa.So I would imagine there were just a handful of manufacturers making all these hones.

American Hone Company of Moravia, IA? Still in business I believe but no longer selling hones. Maker of the Lithide among other brands. Legend has it that there was one woman who actually formulated the hone composition and when she died, so did the secret.

Chris L