Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 12
Results 11 to 16 of 16
Like Tree13Likes

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

  1. #11
    32t
    32t is offline
    Senior Member blabbermouth 32t's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    50 miles west of randydance
    Posts
    9,573
    Thanked: 1352

    Default

    This is getting fun for me.

    From here.

    Full text of "St. Paul city directory"


    Cutlers and Grinders.

    Franke & Schnell, 52 B Third.
    sharptonn likes this.

  2. The Following User Says Thank You to 32t For This Useful Post:

    JP5 (03-29-2015)

  3. #12
    JP5
    JP5 is offline
    Senior Member blabbermouth JP5's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    Duluth, GA - Atlanta OTP North
    Posts
    2,546
    Thanked: 315
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default

    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!

  4. #13
    32t
    32t is offline
    Senior Member blabbermouth 32t's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    50 miles west of randydance
    Posts
    9,573
    Thanked: 1352

    Default

    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

  5. #14
    Moderator rolodave's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Racine, WI USA
    Posts
    7,531
    Thanked: 1927
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default

    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.
    32t likes this.
    If you don't care where you are, you are not lost.

  6. #15
    Senior Member blabbermouth
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Essex, UK
    Posts
    3,816
    Thanked: 3164

    Default

    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

    Name:  franke 1881.jpg
Views: 122
Size:  10.7 KB

    1879

    Name:  franke schnell 1879.jpg
Views: 117
Size:  14.8 KB

    1876

    Name:  franke schnell 1876.jpg
Views: 116
Size:  12.8 KB

    1874

    Name:  franke 1874.jpg
Views: 134
Size:  34.7 KB

    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:

    Name:  aj krank 1884.jpg
Views: 133
Size:  35.3 KB

    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
    Last edited by Neil Miller; 03-30-2015 at 04:40 PM. Reason: typos
    sharptonn and 32t like this.

  7. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Neil Miller For This Useful Post:

    32t (03-31-2015), JP5 (03-30-2015)

  8. #16
    JP5
    JP5 is offline
    Senior Member blabbermouth JP5's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    Duluth, GA - Atlanta OTP North
    Posts
    2,546
    Thanked: 315
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Neil Miller View Post
    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

    Name:  franke 1881.jpg
Views: 122
Size:  10.7 KB

    1879

    Name:  franke schnell 1879.jpg
Views: 117
Size:  14.8 KB

    1876

    Name:  franke schnell 1876.jpg
Views: 116
Size:  12.8 KB

    1874

    Name:  franke 1874.jpg
Views: 134
Size:  34.7 KB

    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:

    Name:  aj krank 1884.jpg
Views: 133
Size:  35.3 KB

    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.
    Neil Miller and 32t like this.

Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 12

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •