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

I found a razor at an antique store, but I've never heard of the maker before. I haven't had much luck finding any information about it either.
When I saw it I thought it was a W&B or other Sheffield since it had a larger blade. It looks like it has black horn scales. I think the blade is a little under 7/8 (I'd have to measure to be sure), but it is hollow ground.
I'll try to get some pics for you, but I wanted to see if anyone recognized the name first.

The tang stamp says:
C. FRANKE
ST PAUL

Nothing else is stamped on it and I don't believe it ever had any etching. It didn't have the original box either. Maybe one of you guys has come across one or heard the name at some time or another.

Thanks

Here are a couple pics. You might be able to make out the bevel on the end of the blade/spine. I think that looks nicer than the plain flat end on most blades.

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f1...ps56lwoys7.jpg

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f1...ps75oqzdc9.jpg

Looks like a beauty. . Send it to Baymontate for proper honing.

Is that a piece of string holding the scales together? I imagine that the crack could be glued.
it might be the pics or just the fact that it's 5 am but the toe looks a bit off, i don't know why, it might just be the bit of pitting at that end.
If its not too spendy and you like it then get it, just factor in some extra cash for honing and repairing the scale ( if you can't glue it) unless of course you like the string :)

I am not trying to sound damning of it it's just my thoughts, i don't dislike it.

Nice -looking blade. It looks to have horn scales from here, so if it does, they are very repairable. From what I gather, Franke is an old name in St. Paul. The mayor's name is Franke as well. There was most likely an outfitter or hardware concern back late 1800's, early 1900's run by C. Franke. Perhaps the razor was 'bought out' and stamped with his name for resale? Might be he was a German immigrant who actually made cutlery there.
You might get with the St Paul historical society if you really want to find out more.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Avenolpey

Looks like a beauty. . Send it to Baymontate for proper honing.

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Thanks, I may try to clean it up and get (or make) some more scales for it before honing it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by edhewitt

Is that a piece of string holding the scales together? I imagine that the crack could be glued.
it might be the pics or just the fact that it's 5 am but the toe looks a bit off, i don't know why, it might just be the bit of pitting at that end.
If its not too spendy and you like it then get it, just factor in some extra cash for honing and repairing the scale ( if you can't glue it) unless of course you like the string :)

I am not trying to sound damning of it it's just my thoughts, i don't dislike it.

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Yeah, it's string. If it wasn't for that it would be in amazing condition for the age. The horn scales on some of these older razors seem a little too thin to me.
The toe of the blade is fine. It has some light tarnish, but fortunately I don't think there is any real pitting yet. Some razors blades look a little strange in pictures to me, it much be from the steep hollow grind a lot of them have. Some blades almost look like they're completely ( shaped at certain angles.

What gets me is that I cannot find ANY information on the internet about them.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sharptonn

Nice -looking blade. It looks to have horn scales from here, so if it does, they are very repairable. From what I gather, Franke is an old name in St. Paul. The mayor's name is Franke as well. There was most likely an outfitter or hardware concern back late 1800's, early 1900's run by C. Franke. Perhaps the razor was 'bought out' and stamped with his name for resale? Might be he was a German immigrant who actually made cutlery there.
You might get with the St Paul historical society if you really want to find out more.

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THANKS! That is interesting.
I may do that sometime.

I see that Herman Schnell started a boot and shoe business with C. Franke in 1875. and C. retired in 1881. :shrug:

https://books.google.com/books?id=YU...20PAUL&f=false

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JP5

Thanks, I may try to clean it up and get (or make) some more scales for it before honing it.


Yeah, it's string. If it wasn't for that it would be in amazing condition for the age. The horn scales on some of these older razors seem a little too thin to me.
The toe of the blade is fine. It has some light tarnish, but fortunately I don't think there is any real pitting yet. Some razors blades look a little strange in pictures to me, it much be from the steep hollow grind a lot of them have. Some blades almost look like they're completely ( shaped at certain angles.

What gets me is that I cannot find ANY information on the internet about them.

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Sorry i misunderstood, i thought you were thinking of buying it, and were looking for advice, my mistake. There are a lot of razors that are stamped with hardware/ supply company names that were made by others, yours is probably the same, as Tom said, maybe try to contact a local historian from st paul, we have a few members here from st paul who might be able to help.

This looks much better. Taken from here.

Thursday Night Hikes: St. Albans/Lower Crocus Hill Architecture Notes, Part 6

803 West Osceola Avenue: Alfred J. Krank House; Built in 1906; Mildly Tudor Revival in style; Augustus F. Gauger, architect, and Krapp & Holm, builder. The house was built for $20,000. The house is a three bay, 2 1/2 story (two story according to Ramsey County property tax records,) 3711 square foot, 12 room, six bedroom, three bathroom, one half-bathroom, stone and random ashlar structure with an intersecting gable slate roof and with a detached garage. It has one chimney. It also has a two story three sided bay window on the west side of the house. It has rockfaced stone sills and an entrance on the east side of the house. It has a flat open porch. The 1930 city directory indicates that Mrs. Emma Krank, the widow of Alfred J. Krank, and Erma Krank, a clerk, both resided at this address. Alfred J. Krank (1866- ) was born in New Ulm and came to St. Paul in 1877. He apprenticed for the cutlery firm of Christian Franke & Herman Schnell, then became a partner in the firm. He took over the firm in 1903 and renamed it Alfred J. Krank Inc. He also expanded the firm to include retail and wholesale barber and beauty shop furniture and supplies. He also later manufactured cosmetics, creams, and shampoos. In 1920, his firm had 220 employees. In 1926, the firm moved to 1885 University Avenue, in the St. Paul Midway area. The Krank building features glazed terra cotta panels with brightly carved floral and classical motifs to adorn an otherwise utilitarian structure and has recently been renovated and renamed "Iris Park Place." Krank's Review, a publication for the benefit of the barber and beautician, was published monthly from 1925 to 1930 and eight times per year from 1930 to 1931. Alfred J. Krank was killed in an automobile-trolley car accident near Lake Minnetonka in 1928. The 1910, 1912, 1914, 1916, 1918, and 1924 city directories indicate that A. J. Krank resided at this address. Herman Schnell (1843-1905) was born in Germany and died in Ramsey County. Alfred Jacob Krank, Sr. ( -1928,) died in Hennepin County. Alfred Jacob Krank, Jr. (1928-1985,) was born in Minnesota, had a mother with a maiden name of Gauer, and died in Washington County, Minnesota. Lancer Catering is now located at this address. The current owners of record of the property are Glenn P. Baron and Kathryn M. Holum. [See note on Augustus F. Gauger.]

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:

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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

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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.