Perfecta Lotus? Help me ID this razor please

[ajkenne]

Just received this beauty from Riga Latvia. One SRP member thought it may be French in origin? Has replacement scales and wedge believed to be celluloid with stainless steel pins and washers, there was a nail in the pivot end with no inside washers. Steel is very hard, still has a nice edge. It has nice scallop work on top and nice bottom jimps. It has unusual "edge" jimps on the top of the tang, something I am not familiar with, at least it is new to me anyway. Have Googled this razor and have found only one other entry from another SRP member with photos. It is the same razor as this one. Can't find any other info on this razor such as the mfg, country of origin, date etc. Any help on this would be appreciated. Thanks, AJ

[Suavio]

Hi AJ, love the spine on that one! Could you post some closer up/clearer pictures of the marking on the tang? It looks familiar but I can't quite make it out...

[ajkenne]

Hi AJ, love the spine on that one! Could you post some closer up/clearer pictures of the marking on the tang? It looks familiar but I can't quite make it out...

Ok. This is a better set of photos using a real camera vice phone. Hope this helps. Tx, AJ

[ocelot27]

Looks nice but appears to have a frown? Maybe just the angle?

-john

[Neil Miller]

I found a few french examples online which seem a bit more recent, but the "Perfecta" name was not in a lozenge.

However, there are plenty of Perfecta made vintage ('lather catchers') SE razors taking blades like the rolls razor, which are also marked with the "Perfecta" trade mark in a lozenge.



Some of the razors look very similar to designs made by other french makers, so it is possible that either someone else made them for this manufacturer.

The mark seems to belong to the Chambre Syndicale Des Couteliers Detaillants Francais (Cutlery Retailers Union of France) and is to be found in the 1931 handbook issued by them.

Regards,
Neil

[ajkenne]

Thanks Neil for your insightful comments on this razor. This is my second French razor. Both seems to have good steel and keep a decent edge. Not sure that they can beat the comfort of an old Sheffield though. Will clean it up a bit more and will put and edge on it and give it a new set of custom scales, probably in a green or black horn as I am somewhat concerned about the long term effects of cellulose on steel. I have read many of your posts and am amazed at the depth of your knowledge especially on Sheffield razors and their history. Thanks for sharing and I certainly appreciate what you do. Regards, AJ

[Rockabillyhelge]

As far as i know was Lotus a TM of Hospital in Thiers, could there be an Relation between Hospital and Perfecta?

[Neil Miller]

As far as i know was Lotus a TM of Hospital in Thiers, could there be an Relation between Hospital and Perfecta?

Doubtless there could be a tie with another maker, as the SEs look uncannily like another makers models, possibly Le Grelot, but I doubt that 'Lotus' gold etched on the blade has anything to do with that, particularly as the makers mark is already on the tang.

I would have thought that 'Lotus' is just a designation of one of Perfecta's range, in much the same way as we find Le Dandy, Spartacus, Hamburg Ring, etc, on others makers razors. Using a blade etching as a link is a bit of a tenuous proposition at best in my opinion.

Regards,
Neil

[Neil Miller]

Thanks Neil for your insightful comments on this razor. This is my second French razor. Both seems to have good steel and keep a decent edge. Not sure that they can beat the comfort of an old Sheffield though. Will clean it up a bit more and will put and edge on it and give it a new set of custom scales, probably in a green or black horn as I am somewhat concerned about the long term effects of cellulose on steel. I have read many of your posts and am amazed at the depth of your knowledge especially on Sheffield razors and their history. Thanks for sharing and I certainly appreciate what you do. Regards, AJ

Thanks AJ, you are very welcome.
Regards,
Neil

[Rockabillyhelge]

I Found this an an ebay look-a-like Site, a Perfecta Razor, marked as Importe de Allemagne,
maybe the Perfecta Mark could be located in Solingen?
Ancien couteau rasoir coupe-chou (402916)
On the other Way, like Olympic (Pierre Thiers) and Widerstrahl (Champredon Cognet) a Solingen / german Blanket could
be used to be grounded in France.