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Has anyone heard of Monopol Straight Edge Razor? Apparently they were made in Solingen which makes me think it is probably a good razor but I don't know if they are or not. Let me know if you have any experience or knowledge on how they shave. Thanks in advance!
I have had a Monopol - still got the broken scales somewhere. It was a classy piece - gorgeous scales with 'Monopol' in gold foil on them, wedgeless and one-piece, and the razor was a bit of a stiff grind with a square/american tip. It performed very well.
I'm almost sure it had no makers mark on it. However, I have seen S. G. Amendola of Solingen quoted as the maker, and another that was retailed in Bruges by G. Huyghe & Fils that was recently sold on Ebay.
Neither of which, I'm afraid, looked much like my example. I don't know what to make of the S. G. Amendola story, particularly as there was a company in the 1920s in New Haven, Conn, called Amendola Bros - although they were noted for selling pianos, stringed instruments and radios, they are also known for selling boxed razors and strops, so I am beginning to think that the two Amendola companies are related and just import/export agents for the razors. This would tie-in with the Bruges Monopol having a retailers name on it rather than a makers name.
To my mind the real maker is Friedrich Baurmann & Son of Solingen - they marketed razors under a large variety of names, Monopol included. Despite erroneous info being posted (by the same source that alleges S G Amendola as makers) saying that they were in business from 1880 to 1940, the Archiving Industry site lists them as still trading in 1983.
Regards,
Neil
I think so too.Quote:
To my mind the real maker is Friedrich Baurmann & Son of Solingen - they marketed razors under a large variety of names, Monopol included.
http://strazors.com/uploads/ForSale/...70_monopol.jpg
http://strazors.com/uploads/ForSale/...rmann_ad_1.jpg
http://strazors.com/uploads/ForSale/monopol_4.jpg
Stamps on the Friedrich Baurmann & Son razor and the S.G. Amendola are the same.
Monopol of S.G. Amendola:
http://www.strazors.com/uploads/ForS...amendola_2.jpg
The modern website of Friedrich Baurmann & Söhne.
Sad show. IMO.
http://www.scheren-solingen.info/
Any Friedr. Baurmann razor is probably a safe bet. I have two and they are great shavers.
Yes indeed, and registered in 1894.
Attachment 137740
Interestingly there was also an Amendola Brothers Beauty and Barber Supply of West Haven.
A couple of years ago one of the two German Sellers was selling those big time. it's a quality piece for sure.
I have a 7 day set in Ivory and they are very good shavers, they take an edge very fast and hold an edge well.
One just sold on e-bay this morning for $22.50. Did you get it or bid on it?
hey,.. stumbled upon this thread when I tried to find some info about this razor,.. bought it online (local site) with the main reason of seeing how it looks/performs and sell it cheap (same price as I bought it) to someone wanting to start shaving with SR and doesn't want to spend too much,.. that is if I'll succeed getting it into shave ready, bought it together with a strop, should be (and is) unused.. it has single piece scales and the only markings are Monopol Renaissance on the blade (none on the tang).. looks to me more like a GD kind of ..
what do you think,.. anyone has it? maybe just a Dovo knockoff?
Edit add: ok found the producer (I guess I was too quick at posting).. http://www.scheren-solingen.info/ass...index_ger.html .. looks it's solingen product.. hope it'll hone nice :)
http://shrani.si/f/P/RL/1UJ0x63F/photo-1.jpg
http://shrani.si/f/2Y/FQ/3O7kpVwZ/photo-2.jpg
well, here is an update on the issue,.. after trying 3 times (setting the bevel and up) I wasn't able to get it shave ready, far from that, dull as a ****, does anyone have any tips on honing low quality steel razors?
Looks like this blade comes from a country in the north of India... Pakistani? Probably.
Don't waste your time, the steel is not tempered, so you cannot expect to shave with it.
..ok this might be a stupid question,.... what if I take the blade out and try to temper it, meaning give it someone to temper it, and than clean it and scale it, do you think this might work?
Considering the price it may costs and the fact that nobody one earth knows of what kind of steel it is made (if at least it is steel... who knows...), you'd better purchase an old Solingen, clean it, hone it and enjoy your daily shaving ;)
Yes I guess you are right. I actually bought it with the aim to give it forward, just check if it is ahave read, the gentleman selling said he got it as a present and that it "is" solingen... I got burned on this one i guess. The manufacturer or seller (not sure) is actually german, located in solingen area (at least that's what their page says).
Yes put it away, lesson learned.Quote:
Originally Posted by miha
Ah ah, you're so right Martin :)
It just doesn't work with a hollow blade, the steel is too thin and does what we call "potato chip" along the edge. Think about the edge of a real potato chip how each one curves different ways...this is what happens. You can try to hone with several layers of tape, but I never go over two layers personally...three layers is the most I have ever heard of from other honers that had much success...even then you have to let a little slack in your strop. See if a razor buddy can have any luck with it...maybe they have a different honing style that can bring it to life.Quote:
Originally Posted by miha
@Martin103: I'm afraid this is what's going to happen yes..
@shooter74743: ok, no tempering than :D, thanks,.. i actually tried to hon with 1 layer of tape, but it didn't work,... another honer is a good idea, just that there aren't (m)any around here :D ...
thanks for the help to you all
Attachment 144624Monopol seven day set
My Monopol looks slightly different the the rest shown. I haven't had a whole lot of luck honing it as I think the edge is too far up into the stabilizers. It was an online purchase and when I got it in hand it definitely looked like someone took it to the buffers in a bad way. Basically I can't say what kind of edge it takes until the heel is reshaped.
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c6...l/IMG_4377.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c6...l/IMG_4378.jpg
you could try to temper it yourself since its not usefull anyway little bit of brake fluid I use dot3 and a lot of heat or do the used motor oil method itll look ugly and need a lot of cleaning but it will be tempered lol we generaly blue what we temper so you could make a nice show pieceQuote:
Originally Posted by miha
I think mine is different kind of monopol, the no good one, you can see the difference in details work plus mine has only etchings on the blade, nothing on the tang... Maybe I'll give it another try with honing some day, otherwise it'll just be a wall showpiece for someone ..
