Thread: 2 New Vintage Razors - Found in the Wild!

I found these antiquing around Denver today. I know a little bit about the Engstrom in that I recognize the name. The Pluto razor is totally unfamiliar to me. Any information you guys have would be appreciated. Not looking for a value obviously. I paid $65 for the pair....so I don't think I am going to lose any way I shake it!

You done very good, The Engstrom will hone to a fantastic edge !
~Richard

Nice find! Interesting blade on the Engstrom. Sorry, I wish I had some info for you, but they're also new to me.

That Engstrom has almost no wear at all. The blade shape is a winner for short (1"-2") arc shaped motions pivoting around the tang/scales on your face while shaving. Seems like a lot of words but a dry run will make it natural in a hurry.
~Richard

Dang, I need to find out what antique stores your frequenting. Awesome find!

I started some work on the Pluto (tang stamp on the other side says "Buerger Bros. Denver, Col. Made in Germany"). The Denver part of this is what drove me to buy it, and it was inexpensive so I thought why not. considerable amount of grinding and honing later...a 4.5/8 square point with a nearly true edge that is shave ready!

According to John Walters, it seems to be one of these three:

• [Depiction of] Pluto: Hermann Vollmar
• PLUTO (1903, no. 61715): Fermitzer Stahl- & Eisenwerke von Schoeller & Co., Wien. Registry class: 9b. Style: roman.
• Pluto (1904, no. 74739): Johann Froescheis, Lyra-Bleistiftfabrik, Nürnberg. Registry class: 9b. Style: roman.

Your PLUTO is in all capitals, which was a trademark for Fermitzer Stahl- & Eisenwerke von Schoeller & Co., but Vienna being in Austria and your razor being stamped as 'Made in Germany' would suggest that it is either a Hermann Vollmar or a Johan Froescheis.

My bet is Hermann Vollmar, as there is a depiction of Pluto. Also, the Johan Froescheis trademark seems to have been registered through the Lyra pencil factory. I can see a pencil factory produce pencil sharpeners (+ blades), penknives, box cutter blades and whatnot, but cut-throat razors? Still, it's a guess, but the best I can do.

Originally Posted by Pithor

According to John Walters, it seems to be one of these three:

• [Depiction of] Pluto: Hermann Vollmar
• PLUTO (1903, no. 61715): Fermitzer Stahl- & Eisenwerke von Schoeller & Co., Wien. Registry class: 9b. Style: roman.
• Pluto (1904, no. 74739): Johann Froescheis, Lyra-Bleistiftfabrik, Nürnberg. Registry class: 9b. Style: roman.

Your PLUTO is in all capitals, which was a trademark for Fermitzer Stahl- & Eisenwerke von Schoeller & Co., but Vienna being in Austria and your razor being stamped as 'Made in Germany' would suggest that it is either a Hermann Vollmar or a Johan Froescheis.

My bet is Hermann Vollmar, as there is a depiction of Pluto. Also, the Johan Froescheis trademark seems to have been registered through the Lyra pencil factory. I can see a pencil factory produce pencil sharpeners (+ blades), penknives, box cutter blades and whatnot, but cut-throat razors? Still, it's a guess, but the best I can do.

Many thanks for the insight! This one threw me for a bit of a loop as well! Its a cool tang stamp at the very least, one I certainly have not seen before. I haven't shaved with it since I reworked the blade, but I will get around to it this week.

Originally Posted by Pithor

According to John Walters, it seems to be one of these three:

• [Depiction of] Pluto: Hermann Vollmar
• PLUTO (1903, no. 61715): Fermitzer Stahl- & Eisenwerke von Schoeller & Co., Wien. Registry class: 9b. Style: roman.
• Pluto (1904, no. 74739): Johann Froescheis, Lyra-Bleistiftfabrik, Nürnberg. Registry class: 9b. Style: roman.

Your PLUTO is in all capitals, which was a trademark for Fermitzer Stahl- & Eisenwerke von Schoeller & Co., but Vienna being in Austria and your razor being stamped as 'Made in Germany' would suggest that it is either a Hermann Vollmar or a Johan Froescheis.

My bet is Hermann Vollmar, as there is a depiction of Pluto. Also, the Johan Froescheis trademark seems to have been registered through the Lyra pencil factory. I can see a pencil factory produce pencil sharpeners (+ blades), penknives, box cutter blades and whatnot, but cut-throat razors? Still, it's a guess, but the best I can do.

Some confirmation of who did not make the razor:



Above is the trademark of the Lyra company owned by Johan Froescheis, as you can see from the mark.



Above are the trademarks of Eisenwerke von Schoeller & Co. as of 1920 - PLUTO is just characters, not a depiction. The von Schoeller iron works were listed in american trade magazines - as steel and iron suppliers. Their history is quite interesting, from set-up in the 1800s, merging with Arthur Krupp to make munitions in WW1, membership of the NSDAP nazi organization pre WW2, using slave labour to man the factories in WW2, going into agriculture and other professions with nothing to do with steel, elevation to steelmasters by Adolf Hitler, merging with Bohler Steel, etc, etc. There were a lot of family members who had offshoot factories, such as:



Above: SchoellerStahl, also with trade marks from 1920.

I agree with Pithor about Herman Vollmer, but it is hard to find anything about him except in toolmaker and bladesmith manuals from the time, none of which show the Pluto picture.

His name seems to be rendered differently as well: "Vollmer" and "Vollmar" according to which cutler/toolmaker/bladesmith manual you read, which does not help.

Vollmer/Vollmar appears to have had a number of trademarks such as Crystal, Dandelion and Pluto - none of which I have been able to find makers mark images for. His profession is not even recorded clearly - he could be a razor blade manufacturer for all I know!

PS: The Buerger Bros company also imported the 'Attaboy' model of straight razor - one of which Sharptonn is particularly fond of!

Regards,
Neil