Thread: I guess I got lucky...

Some time ago I posted a thread here with some old razors my dad and I found at my great-aunt's place while cleaning up her house. The straight razors belonged to her late husband who used to be a barber. In that same thread I mentioned another razor that I had received from a friend of the family. He had inherited that one as well as a bunch of others from his own uncle (or great-uncle, I'm still not sure about that, I should ask). I go by his house a couple of times every month, mostly to discuss fossils and the likes (we're always out together hunting fossils ) and today he had a surprise for me.
Apparently he found the rest of them and he said that I could have them. He said they were just in the attic rusting away and that it would be good for these blades to receive a spa treatment. He didn't lie. Lot's of them have rust all over them, some even have it on the edge...
Well, it was a LARGE bunch of old razors. Together with the ones I had already found at my great-aunt's, I've gotten myself a nice little collection without even spending a dime! If it may comfort you guys: I'm not always thàt lucky

Here's a list of some tang stamps and/or paint on the blades or handles. Some of them have the same handles but different blades, some of 'em are the same but with different lettering etc. Anyway, here goes:

- AK34 (no other markings). This one was in a box that said Nicholson File Co. Providence. I'm guessing it's not the original box of the razor
- 15 C. Friedr. Kratz & Co., Wald Solingen garantie. On the other side of the tang are two guys sawing through a log.
- 60 Dorko "Resco Luxe", Solingen
- 60 Resco, Dorko
- 60 Colibri "qualité superieure, marque déposée", Forgé & évidé à Solingen
- Best quality Tuckmar Silver Steel Solingen "Sonderklasse fur salen u. kabinet"
- Bartpuzer modell-1930 (one with a Dorko stamped handle and one with a Chabatz stamped handle), Weltz ruf schutz marke, Solingen Germany
- Luxury Special Solingen, forgé & évidé à Solingen
- 65 4/8 Fermarud "best silver steel", Gebr. Lang, soldene medaillen, Solingen
- HO...(blurry because of rust), Solingen Wald
- 50 Chabatz Solingen, forgé & évidé à Solingen.

I also took some quick pics. It's a quarter to 11 PM here so it's already dark. Just wanted some pics up before cleaning them tomorrow.












Some have been well sharpened and/or are heavily rusted.


There are still some examples with beautiful paint on 'em:



I'm definitely going to clean these guys up. I'm not sure how long it will take to get these done.
ANY kind of information is highly welcomed! Age and the like, information about model numbers and so one.
I would also like some kind of information on what I should use in order to get the rust off the blades where the paint is WITHOUT removing or damaging the paint jobs. I think that will be the most difficult. I'll post this thread up on some other boards as well, so you might run into this more than once. Just want as much information as possible, I hope you don't blame me.

I hope you guys enjoys these fella's and are able to give me some good advice. I'll update this thread when the blades are cleaned up. If you guys want any specific pics of a specific blade, don't hesitate to ask.

Cheers,

Jerry

Don't take this te wrong way....... But I may hate you.... Just a little.........

OK, I'm better now. WOW! Definatly one hell of a score. As far as restore / cleaning up goes, here are a couple quick tips.

1). Do not use anything on the gold wash / paint unless you are prepared to loose it. It is that fragile. I'm sure someone with more experience will be along shortly.
2). For a quick clean up to get the surface rust off and not resort to sandpaper, use 0000 steel wool and WD-40.
3). If you feel the need to restore a blade read the wiki here
4) Oil the blades now, even if you aren't going to be doing anything with them ATM

Best of luck!

Whoa..that is a very nice collection! I'm sure others will jump in with restoration/razor info...I've only been using a SR for about a month. Cant wait to see these babies cleaned-up and ready to shave! Good Luck!

That's one great start. it looks to me like you've got some winners in there. I think that you also have a "bad apple" -- I can't read the blade or the scales -- looks like cell rot to me --it's the one with all the pitty rust. When celluloid deteriorates it releases a corrosive gas that eats right into steel. I'd keep that razor away from the others, this is a contagious condition. Don't plan on doing much with that one.

I'm open to other opinions, smart people are welcome to chime in here.....

The scales look in great shape and the blades can be restored. I wouldn't worry about the gold wash on the blades to restore it you'll loose the wash. You hit the Mother Lode! Congrats.

Originally Posted by MattCB

Don't take this te wrong way....... But I may hate you.... Just a little.........

OK, I'm better now. WOW! Definatly one hell of a score. As far as restore / cleaning up goes, here are a couple quick tips.

1). Do not use anything on the gold wash / paint unless you are prepared to loose it. It is that fragile. I'm sure someone with more experience will be along shortly.
2). For a quick clean up to get the surface rust off and not resort to sandpaper, use 0000 steel wool and WD-40.
3). If you feel the need to restore a blade read the wiki here
4) Oil the blades now, even if you aren't going to be doing anything with them ATM

Best of luck!

I knew someone would hate me for this. Can't blame 'em for it
I did use some WD40 and some cloth. Lot's of it already cleaned up, lot's of it didn't. Gonna give it a coca cola treatment next. The previous ones I had gotten, even the ones that weren't rusted got a nice coat of mineral oil before I stored them so that will definitely happen at some point. Now I just want to make sure that the rust won't spread or get any worse. Maybe even reverse it a bit but we'll see how it goes.

Originally Posted by stimpy52

That's one great start. it looks to me like you've got some winners in there. I think that you also have a "bad apple" -- I can't read the blade or the scales -- looks like cell rot to me --it's the one with all the pitty rust. When celluloid deteriorates it releases a corrosive gas that eats right into steel. I'd keep that razor away from the others, this is a contagious condition. Don't plan on doing much with that one.

I'm open to other opinions, smart people are welcome to chime in here.....

Thanks for the warning. I'll see how they turn out after their spa treatment. Some of 'em are just dirty and not rotten.

Originally Posted by Gehring9006

Whoa..that is a very nice collection! I'm sure others will jump in with restoration/razor info...I've only been using a SR for about a month. Cant wait to see these babies cleaned-up and ready to shave! Good Luck!

Thank you!

Originally Posted by rmagnus

The scales look in great shape and the blades can be restored. I wouldn't worry about the gold wash on the blades to restore it you'll loose the wash. You hit the Mother Lode! Congrats.

Thanks man. I still hope I can keep some of the paint on there. I'll just have to be happy with grey spots instead of a nicely polished blade but that wouldn't matter to me. I'll be happy if the red rust is gone.

I'll keep you guys updated.

A bit more in detail now. Cleaned these guys up a bit but I still have work to do. Not all rust has been removed yet. Sorry for the shine on the pics, they're covered in some oil

The barber did seem to have a thing for Dorko razors, especially the renamed ones for the French market (Resco).


All of these have the same pattern number (60) but the markings may differ, both on the blade or handle.

Odd duck: dorko handle scales but Bartputzer modell 1930 blade



Next up are two blades with a Chabaz handle but... again one of 'em has a Bartputzer blade. I can't find any useful info on Chabaz... so help is welcome





There was a Tückmar among these guys too. I like it.

Two other black handled ones.


One has markings...


And one only says AK34, nothing else. Info?


This guys does come close to a full wedge, but it's still slightly hollow. By far the heaviest blade of the batch.

Some additional yellow handled specimens...



Unreadable to me though...


Nr2 and 3



Ah, and last but not least... Maybe my favourite of the batch. It's the smallest, the finest and has the coolest engravings by far.



I hope you guys enjoyed! Any additional info on the companies, blade types, numbering,... is very welcome!