1940's razor type question

Whenever the subject of shaving comes up, my 70yr old father always reminisces about my grandfather's razor which he would "put in this thing and he'd just move it back and forth and the blade would be sharp again". The razor went missing not long after my grandfather passed away and my dad has no idea what is called or even how it worked. Does anybody happen to have an idea what this might have been? I'm not even sure if was a safety razor or a straight. Or even if it could have just been a honing stone. All I have to go on really is that it was something around in the early 1940's, possibly earlier.

This would be the Rolls Razor, more straight - less safety; I use one several times/week for fun and touch-ups. Get one. Join the club. :D

http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...azor-fans.html

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Originally Posted by NotMuchOfAChin

Whenever the subject of shaving comes up, my 70yr old father always reminisces about my grandfather's razor which he would "put in this thing and he'd just move it back and forth and the blade would be sharp again". The razor went missing not long after my grandfather passed away and my dad has no idea what is called or even how it worked. Does anybody happen to have an idea what this might have been? I'm not even sure if was a safety razor or a straight. Or even if it could have just been a honing stone. All I have to go on really is that it was something around in the early 1940's, possibly earlier.

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Hey - I had one, gave it away, and then the person returned it to me.

The kit is complete, even have the cardboard box it came in. The leather strop part and the hone part have some wear, but if you want it, let me know and we can make arrangements and I'll send it over to you for free.

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Originally Posted by Phrank

Hey - I had one, gave it away, and then the person returned it to me.

The kit is complete, even have the cardboard box it came in. The leather strop part and the hone part have some wear, but if you want it, let me know and we can make arrangements and I'll send it over to you for free.

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That would be fantastic! It's his birthday later next month and it would make a fantastic present. A PM is on its way.

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Originally Posted by NotMuchOfAChin

That would be fantastic! It's his birthday later next month and it would make a fantastic present. A PM is on its way.

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Sent you back a PM - I will send it off today or early tomorrow, like I said, it's just sitting in my cupboard.

Cheers!

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Originally Posted by NotMuchOfAChin

That would be fantastic! It's his birthday later next month and it would make a fantastic present. A PM is on its way.

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Got your PM with address, will send it today, have to go out anyhow and mail my notification of Jury Duty in, sheesh.

It could have been one of those contraptions that had two glass balls like marbles touching and you were supposed to draw your razor between the glass balls to sharpen them. I have no idea how well it worked but I am gonna guess not really well. I have tried one of the concave glass DE blade sharpener that my dad had. it is shaped like a trough and it did not good at all in my opinion.

Will N.

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Originally Posted by NotMuchOfAChin

That would be fantastic! It's his birthday later next month and it would make a fantastic present. A PM is on its way.

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It's on the way...Post Office said it will take around two weeks.

Best wishes to you and your Father!

Enjoy.

Note to Not'chin - the Rolls Razor was a UK-produced device. Ebay-UK offers a lot of them at very reasonable prices.

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Originally Posted by NotMuchOfAChin

Whenever the subject of shaving comes up, my 70yr old father always reminisces about my grandfather's razor which he would "put in this thing and he'd just move it back and forth and the blade would be sharp again". The razor went missing not long after my grandfather passed away and my dad has no idea what is called or even how it worked. Does anybody happen to have an idea what this might have been? I'm not even sure if was a safety razor or a straight. Or even if it could have just been a honing stone. All I have to go on really is that it was something around in the early 1940's, possibly earlier.

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This looks exactly like the one I sent you...an image from Mister Moo's link to the Rolls Razor Fans club.

Attachment 140105

I like the way they are patented in England and abroad. Not anywhere specific, just "abroad" :)

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Originally Posted by Phrank

This looks exactly like the one I sent you...an image from Mister Moo's link to the Rolls Razor Fans club.

Attachment 140105

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It arrived safe and sound. I think my Dad's going to love it. I know I do. Were I a less ethical man, I'd be tempted to keep it to try for myself :)

It's still not entirely clear to me what the funny shaped wire frame thing is for. I have seen a pic with the blade going into the handle so I sort of get how that works and the 2 strops seem fairly self explanatory but that frame is a mystery.

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Originally Posted by NotMuchOfAChin

It arrived safe and sound. I think my Dad's going to love it. I know I do. Were I a less ethical man, I'd be tempted to keep it to try for myself :)

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Glad you got it!!

That only took, what, 3 weeks to get there?

Send, "Happy Birthday Anniversary", to your father...cheers!

:gl:

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Originally Posted by edhewitt

It's still not entirely clear to me what the funny shaped wire frame thing is for. I have seen a pic with the blade going into the handle so I sort of get how that works and the 2 strops seem fairly self explanatory but that frame is a mystery.

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This might help ED.

rolls razor - YouTube

Bob

Phrank

You get a big Bravo Zulu for that deed.

Bob

Thanks Bob, that makes sense now. Presumably you are also able to hone the blade when it needs it too?

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Originally Posted by edhewitt

Thanks Bob, that makes sense now. Presumably you are also able to hone the blade when it needs it too?

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There's effectively two lids to it, with one having a strop interior and the other a hone. Well, I assume one of them's a hone. I've resisted playing with too much lest I break it.

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Originally Posted by NotMuchOfAChin

There's effectively two lids to it, with one having a strop interior and the other a hone. Well, I assume one of them's a hone. I've resisted playing with too much lest I break it.

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Yes, one lid is a strop and the other a hone, in addition to using the wacky inside mechanism the goes back and forth....:D

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Originally Posted by NotMuchOfAChin

There's effectively two lids to it, with one having a strop interior and the other a hone. Well, I assume one of them's a hone. I've resisted playing with too much lest I break it.

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Be very careful with the hone in the lid, it is very thin and subject to cracking if handle roughly.

Bob

You can also hone the blade on a conventional hone used for straights. There are a few threads on here about doing just that.

Bob