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Thread: A Brief History of L. S. Morgan and The Curve Cut Razor

  1. #1
    Senior Member Hanlon's Avatar
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    Default A Brief History of L. S. Morgan and The Curve Cut Razor

    Lingreon "Lingue" Selby Morgan (1858-1931) was a farm and ranch hand who moonlighted as a small time inventor/entrepreneur. It was in this second role that he became responsible for an odd little footnote in razor history: The Curve Cut razor.

    Name:  Morgan obverse.jpg
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    Name:  Morgan mark 01.jpg
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    Name:  Morgan mark 02.jpg
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    (You can see pics of a nicer example in Voidmonster's Three Curiosities thread).

    Born January 27, 1858 in Kentucky, Morgan eventually moved to South Dakota and from there to Kendall, Kansas where in the late 19th and early 20th centuries he worked as the manager of the Lombard Ranch. While holding this position he was awarded at least three separate patents.


    Morgan’s first two patents (patent #620,950 and patent #643,332) involved fences. The first was filed June 26, 1898 and awarded March 14, 1899. The second was filed July 11, 1899 and awarded February 13, 1900.


    His third patent (patent # 779,233)—the one we’re most interested in—was for the Curve Cut Razor. It was filed August 29, 1904 and was awarded January 3, 1905.

    In the patent, Morgan lays out what he believes are the advantages of this particular blade shape:


    By reason of the peculiar formation of the cutting edge of the blade a more perfect shearing action is effected on the beard during the act of shaving, for thereason that during a straight pull on the blade over the face a running cut is producedthat is, the cutting edge of the blade travels or constantly changes, as it were, in the longitudinal direction of the blade, thereby effecting a more perfect and safe cutting of the beard in the hollow places of the face and neck, and, furthermore, since the curvature of the cutting edge terminates in an abrupt circular line ending at the small protuberance or toe projection in the forward end of the blade can be the more freely rocked during the operation of shaving and which also permits the blade being handled in such manner that the hand will not throw a shadow over that part of the face being shaved, especially while trimming the face above the ear.


    In his later years Morgan moved with his wife Lucille to Golden City, Missouri where he passed away on January 16, 1931.


    Due to the fact that this seems to be a rather rare razor, my guess is that the pattern was not manufactured in great numbers or over any extended period of time. It most likely dates to within a few years of the patent. It may be noteworthy that the example in my collection didn’t make it far from Kansas. It came out of an estate in Hastings, Nebraska. Perhaps Morgan couldn’t broker a deal for the widespread distribution of his product.
    Last edited by Hanlon; 02-13-2015 at 08:02 PM. Reason: adding info I forgot

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  3. #2
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    It looks like it probably would be a great shaver for the neck hollows. He should have reached out to Crown & Sword. Imagine that blade with the Crown & Sword stamp on the tang and the blade etched "Scimitar". Would be kind of cool.

    Neat posting. Reminds us all to keep our eyes open as there are still pieces of history lurking in small town America.
    BobH likes this.

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    (John Ayers in SRP Facebook Group) CaliforniaCajun's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Hanlon View Post
    Lingreon "Lingue" Selby Morgan (1858-1931) was a farm and ranch hand who moonlighted as a small time inventor/entrepreneur. It was in this second role that he became responsible for an odd little footnote in razor history: The Curve Cut razor.

    Name:  Morgan obverse.jpg
Views: 332
Size:  32.7 KB

    Name:  Morgan mark 01.jpg
Views: 312
Size:  37.7 KB

    Name:  Morgan mark 02.jpg
Views: 287
Size:  47.3 KB

    (You can see pics of a nicer example in Voidmonster's Three Curiosities thread).

    Born January 27, 1858 in Kentucky, Morgan eventually moved to South Dakota and from there to Kendall, Kansas where in the late 19th and early 20th centuries he worked as the manager of the Lombard Ranch. While holding this position he was awarded at least three separate patents.


    Morgan’s first two patents (patent #620,950 and patent #643,332) involved fences. The first was filed June 26, 1898 and awarded March 14, 1899. The second was filed July 11, 1899 and awarded February 13, 1900.


    His third patent (patent # 779,233)—the one we’re most interested in—was for the Curve Cut Razor. It was filed August 29, 1904 and was awarded January 3, 1905.

    In the patent, Morgan lays out what he believes are the advantages of this particular blade shape:


    By reason of the peculiar formation of the cutting edge of the blade a more perfect shearing action is effected on the beard during the act of shaving, for thereason that during a straight pull on the blade over the face a running cut is producedthat is, the cutting edge of the blade travels or constantly changes, as it were, in the longitudinal direction of the blade, thereby effecting a more perfect and safe cutting of the beard in the hollow places of the face and neck, and, furthermore, since the curvature of the cutting edge terminates in an abrupt circular line ending at the small protuberance or toe projection in the forward end of the blade can be the more freely rocked during the operation of shaving and which also permits the blade being handled in such manner that the hand will not throw a shadow over that part of the face being shaved, especially while trimming the face above the ear.


    In his later years Morgan moved with his wife Lucille to Golden City, Missouri where he passed away on January 16, 1931.


    Due to the fact that this seems to be a rather rare razor, my guess is that the pattern was not manufactured in great numbers or over any extended period of time. It most likely dates to within a few years of the patent. It may be noteworthy that the example in my collection didn’t make it far from Kansas. It came out of an estate in Hastings, Nebraska. Perhaps Morgan couldn’t broker a deal for the widespread distribution of his product.
    Never saw anything like that before. I'll be honest with you, I have been leary of "smiling" razors because they intimidate me. I also don't know how to hone them. But I can see the logic in using the curved part to get the neck area on both sides of the Adam's apple.

    Straight razor shaver and loving it!
    40-year survivor of electric and multiblade razors

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    Senior Member blabbermouth engine46's Avatar
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    Those are all VERY INTERESTING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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    Razor Vulture sharptonn's Avatar
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    I love smilers. He certainly did not invent them, but his example looks scary. Don't reckon he got rich from it.
    Neat rarity and fine thread! Love that history!
    "Don't be stubborn. You are missing out".
    I rest my case.

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    Senior Member Hanlon's Avatar
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    Glad you all are liking the history. This is probably the most luck I've had researching the make of a particular razor. Usually it seems I can't find something like a few key dates.

    I really like the looks of this razor - the scimitar shape is so striking - but I don't know about the practicality of the point. It seems like that long curved edge would make it really easy to nick your nose or ear. Unless you pretty much only used the curved portion for shaving and mostly ignored the long flat-ish part of the blade.

    Can't say I'm surprised L. S. Morgan's design didn't catch on.

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