Thread: Anyone have any idea on this?

Jimmy's correct. Those are mechanical/hand operated hair clippers--long since replaced by the electric version.

My grandfather had a pair of them. I think he bought them so that he could save money on hair cuts to have more money to spend on booze.

I have a pair exactly like that. When I got them 3 years ago they cut hair comfortably. Unfortunately they picked up some rust during a few moves and no longer cut well.

There are still new clippers like these made in Germany and Pakistan. The Paki clippers go out to all of east Asia, where barbering is more low-tech. I don't know where the German clippers usually end up, but possibly all over East Asia as well, considering my experience with Pakistani steel.

I know that type of clipper was still a standard piece of headquarters equipment for Army combat units when I went to Desert Shield/Storm. I managed to avoid them by shaving my head for most of the deployment. I only had a field-haircut once and for that the First Sergeant fired up a generator and a set of power clippers, which must have been thoroughly dulled from the sand in our hair by the time he finished barbering the artillery battery. I expect those clippers are still part of headquarters gear; the Army has no plans to let its soldiers grow their hair long, no matter how far they may serve from an approved civilian barber.

A quick search reveals H. Dorwal of Solingen, Germany made pocket knives, table cutlery and even guns too.

Not a lot can be found on the company itself it seems, but here I found this remark:

At the Blade Show Ernst Felix gave me the history, adding that Dorwal was a trademark of Boker’s for knives to be sold in the Canadian market.

That seems to be corroborated by the information on a sample set of 22 Böker knifes in a box marked H. Dorwal Solingen here.

Still no date on your clippers, but maybe the above helps you in your quest.

Well, if that's the case (being a Boker brand for the canadian market).

World Knives: Knives of Solingen, Germany
Hermann and Robert Boeker, for example, began production of sabers in 1829 in nearby Remscheid. By 1830 his firm was producing up to 2000 swords per week and employed more than 100 smiths, grinders and laborers.

Later Hermann Boeker would emigrate to the US and founded H. Boeker & Co. in New York. Robert brought the Boeker company to Canada and Mexico in 1865.

In 1869 Heinrich Boeker moved the short distance to Solingen, Germany which was fast becoming a hot bed for industrial tool production. He founded Heinr. Boeker and Co. which produced shaving blades, scissors and pocket knives. As the overseas demand for pocket knives grew, Heinr. Boeker and Co. began to produce more pocket knives and fewer scissors and razors.

As early as the turn of the century the majority of Boeker knives have been exported to the US and distributed by H. Boker & Co. in New York.

It's as early as 1865, and given that my father remembers getting haircuts as a child with them (born 1951), it's anywhere in that 90year period. but at least we're narrowed down now.

According to Goins H Dorwal was in business between 1900 and 1920

Hope this helps

My, that takes me back. Used to have those used on me as a kid, not an entirely pleasant memory.

Looks to me like that thing would give you a good case of carpal tunnel.