Thread: Saw a very cool razor yesteday

I was at a new client's house, last name of Barber. He collects "barber" items. I commented on the straights he had out on some shelves. He told me he had lots of them packed away in boxes but doesn't use them. I was thinking I need to figure out how to get a couple away from him, hmmm.

Then he showed me a "safety" type razor set in a case. The head and handle screw together and then there were 7 wedge blades that fit into a holder and then are placed on top of the head. A bail swings over the top to "clamp" it all down. The whole set was there in the case including a rolled up strop for the "little" wedges. Anyone know the make or era?

I wished I got a picture. Maybe I will try to get by there again....

It was similar to this set.

Ancien Coffret A Rasoir Magnus Kindal Suede | eBay

Sounds a bit like a Valet Autostrop, but as far as I know the autostrops take the usual de blades, not wedges. Very interesting indeed!

James.

Any of many that were made from about 1880 to late Fifties. The Bail/Bar started about 1901 and allowed the use of the 'newfangled" flat SE blades. Gem, I believe, held that patent as its GEM Junior. Some of them came in sets and had a stropper and strop included. Wilkinson and Valet had the self Stropper sets but were not alone. Most everybody made them for missionaries, travelers and adventurers.
~Richard

If the blades were wedges it's more likely to be something like the Magnus set linked or a Heljestrand or Wilkinson. My Heljestrand 7 day set looks very similar to the Magnus set - the handle that you can see is used for holding the wedges when honing. The strop holds the blades inside the two sides and works by pulling one side at a time. Much the same as the auto stroppers a small gear changes the angle of the blade when the direction is changed.

p.s. The flat SE blades don't fit these models.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/show-...7-day-set.html
Sounds like my Wilkinson 7 day.

Originally Posted by souschefdude

http://straightrazorpalace.com/show-...7-day-set.html
Sounds like my Wilkinson 7 day.

I don't think the Wilkinson has the same bail arm as described whereas the Heljestrang and Magnus do.

These show how the bail arm clamps over the wedge blade. Part of the handle is removable so that the honing attachment fits in.

They are very nice shavers when the blades are honed and stropped. By the way the 'wedge' blades are nowhere near wedges but hollow ground.