"C. Franke St Paul" Anyone familiar with them?

This is getting fun for me.

From here.

Full text of "St. Paul city directory"


Cutlers and Grinders.

Franke & Schnell, 52 B Third.

I haven't gotten to read everything yet, THANK YOU 32t! For some reason I was thinking it was an overseas maker, but it looks like they were right here in the states. It may have been made Germany for them though, I'll have to do some more reading.
There ARE references to Alfred J. Krank here on SRP.

In this thread
http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...azors-age.html
a member says their razor was stamped "MADE IN GERMANY FOR ALFRED J. KRANK ST. PAUL MINN." So mine is probably is probably German made as well, but made before the U.S. started requiring the country of manufacture be put on the item. SWEET!

Your welcome JP5. I am glad that I could help you on your way. I will keep watch here for any further developments. I personally was expecting a hardware or dry goods store. Besides the obvious of the razor I have had fun because I am from St. Paul and recognize the addresses mentioned.

Tim

I have one krank blade but I think it is a ladies razor. Called a Habby.
also have a shell strop that must be a zillion years old and still works well.

Thanks to 32t I think I have confirmed some of his ideas re: C. Franke.

Christian Franke was of german origin (born 1843 in Saxony, but naturalized later in the USA). He was married in 1867 and had children - non of the boys first names began with a 'C'. He lived in St. Paul Minnesota and died there in 1924.

The following clips are all from Minnesota/St. Paul City Directories of various years:

1881

Attachment 197189

1879

Attachment 197187

1876

Attachment 197188

1874

Attachment 197190

As far as I know re: the Alfred Krank connection is that until he became a partner in the firm, the old marks applied, then Christian Franke left, then we have the firm renamed H. Schnell & Krank, then Schnell & Krank, then when he took over it bacame various flavours of 'Krank' - no mention of either Schnell or Franke.

Alfred Krank was of Bavarian origin but born in the US. He sought a trade in 1880 because his father had died and he had to support his mother and other siblings - all girls, so he joined a cutlery and scissor grinders company. I have no documentary evidence, but is must have been the firm of Franke & Schnell.

By 1884 he had set up his own business:

Attachment 197191

and both Franke and Schnell were out of the picture.

Regarding Christian Franke, he was a cutler and grinder in his own right before he teamed up Schnell. He might have been one afterwards, too - who knows?

All I know is that razor bears Christian Franke's mark - no one else's - and Christian Franke was a cutler and grinder who resided in St Paul, Minnesota.

Regards,
Neil

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Neil Miller

Thanks to 32t I think I have confirmed some of his ideas re: C. Franke.

Christian Franke was of german origin (born 1843 in Saxony, but naturalized later in the USA). He was married in 1867 and had children - non of the boys first names began with a 'C'. He lived in St. Paul Minnesota and died there in 1924.

The following clips are all from Minnesota/St. Paul City Directories of various years:

1881

Attachment 197189

1879

Attachment 197187

1876

Attachment 197188

1874

Attachment 197190

As far as I know re: the Alfred Krank connection is that until he became a partner in the firm, the old marks applied, then Christian Franke left, then we have the firm renamed H. Schnell & Krank, then Schnell & Krank, then when he took over it bacame various flavours of 'Krank' - no mention of either Schnell or Franke.

Alfred Krank was of Bavarian origin but born in the US. He sought a trade in 1880 because his father had died and he had to support his mother and other siblings - all girls, so he joined a cutlery and scissor grinders company. I have no documentary evidence, but is must have been the firm of Franke & Schnell.

By 1884 he had set up his own business:

Attachment 197191

and both Franke and Schnell were out of the picture.

Regarding Christian Franke, he was a cutler and grinder in his own right before he teamed up Schnell. He might have been one afterwards, too - who knows?

All I know is that razor bears Christian Franke's mark - no one else's - and Christian Franke was a cutler and grinder who resided in St Paul, Minnesota.

Regards,
Neil

---

Thanks for the information Neil! That definitely adds to the story. I was wondering why it didn't have Krank on the blade, but it looks like Franke made razors independently.

I ran into a guy at an antique store while looking for SR's and he said he had been collecting them for 63 years. I told him my experience was closer to 63 days!!
I asked him if he had ever heard of C. Frank St Paul, and he said he had without even hesitating. He said he was an American SR maker and I believe he said he made them for hardware stores and other businesses. We talked for a while, unfortunately I can't remember everything that was said though. He explained a couple things to me I didn't know about and answered some of my questions regarding SR's.