Thread: has anyone ever seen this particular razor?

I have seen many imperial razors before so I know they are normally fairly common. I haven't been able to find this particular imperial razor anywhere online though and I have done a lot of searches is this a rare find or average find? I am definetly keeping it either way as its beautiful even in the shape its in and very unique. I got it at a antique store locally the guy sold me it for 6 dollars due to the fact it was from his bag of really beaten up razors that a person dropped off for free. When I got it it had bone scales that were in decent shape but somehow on the way home one ended up getting cracked and when I tried removing them unfortunately the other one cracked as well I kept one for a reference but now need new scales which I need to find at a good price I have been searching the bay for a messed up blade with decent scales but have been having trouble as I want something in decent shape and other than celluloid since this is a very unique blade. the blade as a eagle design on it next to a cameo style cartoonish picture of theo Roosevelt the other end has a crest looking etch with a cameo style cartoony picture of Kaiser Wilhelm the second. If anyone can give me history on the manufacturer or this particular razor I would greatly appreciate it as well as a place to get decent scales for this. When I got this the blade was beat the cutting edge had lots of rust all the way across and it had pitting all over so still has some left but after the restore I checked the edge with my buddys jewelers loop and no swiss cheese edge and no cracks anywhere. any history on this particular razor or manufacturer appreciated thank you all-john

A nice bit of history.

I have what one might consider the sister razor to this one. Except instead of the kaiser, the pic is of Prince Henry of Prussia. Made in 1902 to commemorate the Princes' visit w Roosevelt while he was in the country picking up a new yacht.

President themed razors aren't very common but they do turn up every so often.

Nothing else?

Originally Posted by 2010johnjef

Nothing else?

Well, first of all, here's mine. It's alongside a razor from the 1901 PanAm World Fair in Buffalo, NY, which is where President McKinley was assassinated- thereby making the renowned Rough Rider and Vice President, Teddy Roosevelt, the new President of the U.S. Which in turn would lead to his involvement when Prince Henry came to the U.S the following year.
...I love when commemorative razors can be historically tied together in some way.



As for what your razor is meant to commemorate, I can't be sure. Roosevelt and Kaiser William II met at least two or three times I believe. I think once in Berlin, and once in Africa for sure. If we were wanting to tie it to my razor, I suppose it may commemorate this:

The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, July 06, 1902, Magazine Features, Page 8, Image 34 « Chronicling America « Library of Congress

Evidently, in a politically controversial move, the Kaiser gifted a statue to America- to commemorate Prince Henry's visit.

As for the Imperial Razor Co... I can't find much, other than they had ties to both New York and Germany (the company's founder, Adolf Kastor was a Jewish German immigrant to NY). So maybe they had more reason to celebrate American - German/Prussian relations (when things went well). "Hey, they're being nice to each other! Let's celebrate by putting out a commemorative razor!"
Although, with that said, my Roosevelt/Henry razor doesn't have the Imperial Razor Co. stamp. It simply says The Magnetic Razor, Made In Germany. For all I know though, it might have been made by Imperial.

All I know is this is probably the coolest razor I have and I have had quite a few nice ones I am stoked to learn more on it and get it in some scales I am searching actively as we speak for some bone horn or other nice scales but not much luck. And yours is a imperial I am pretty sure due to how the scales are shaped I have never seen bone shaped scales with that shape till I got this razor yours has identical scales to mine. Mine didn't make it out though this whole razor was beat to he'll edge blade spine scales etc it's a miracle that this razor came out with any of the etching still there and without cracks in blade or swiss cheese edge it's a miracle it's All intact I even checked then double checked it all with a jewelers loup because I couldn't believe it