Thread: Monopol Straight Edge Razor

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

To my mind the real maker is Friedrich Baurmann & Son of Solingen - they marketed razors under a large variety of names, Monopol included.

I think so too.







Stamps on the Friedrich Baurmann & Son razor and the S.G. Amendola are the same.
Monopol of S.G. Amendola:


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.





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

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?