Thread: What is this thing?

Originally Posted by 32t

They would set some pretty strange angles between scales and blade for stropping.

Its hard to say without seeing it in position, but it looks to me like the first slot would have the blade locked just slightly back from parallel with the scales, which is the position I normally strop from and is what gave me the idea. While stropping last night the blade kept wanting to close back into the scales as it always does. Maybe they thought it was a big enough problem to warrant the addition. Why it has the three positions I'm not sure. Maybe some shavers prefer it at 45 or 90 degrees.

Originally Posted by puketui41

Its hard to say without seeing it in position, but it looks to me like the first slot would have the blade locked just slightly back from parallel with the scales, which is the position I normally strop from and is what gave me the idea. While stropping last night the blade kept wanting to close back into the scales as it always does. Maybe they thought it was a big enough problem to warrant the addition. Why it has the three positions I'm not sure. Maybe some shavers prefer it at 45 or 90 degrees.

When I strop my thumb and forefinger do most of the work. The scales are along for the ride and move slightly at each flip. Holding them rigid at any angle would be uncomfortable. At least with my older stiffer hands.

Spoke with Irini early this morning at the patent archives at the Library. She emailed me back the full description of the razor.

And the exact patent description is: "A latching razor"
That's it, that's all.

So that isn't much help.

Time to make a copy of the razor to see how it works. It will take me a few days.

Now that's dedication. You're not my cousin Andy by any chance?

Originally Posted by criswilson10

Spoke with Irini early this morning at the patent archives at the Library. She emailed me back the full description of the razor.

And the exact patent description is: "A latching razor"
That's it, that's all.

So that isn't much help.

Time to make a copy of the razor to see how it works. It will take me a few days.

A good use for one that has cell rot beyond repair. Experiment and if it doesn't work OH Well.

I knew it was not modified & was all original! Like I previously mentioned, I have a few Greaves razors but not one of them has a patent on it!
Thanks Cris.

Originally Posted by criswilson10

Spoke with Irini early this morning at the patent archives at the Library. She emailed me back the full description of the razor.

And the exact patent description is: "A latching razor"
That's it, that's all.

So that isn't much help.

Time to make a copy of the razor to see how it works. It will take me a few days.

A few days? You've got two.

Thanks for the info man. Granted it didn't turn up much but the fact that you did it is incredible.

You guys are all right, SRP and any who work through the mire of the ages to land patent descriptions on Antique Razors. You are like the Gentlemen at the FALFILES, Gentlemen.

It is an High Compliment to call you the FAL FILES of the Razor world.

Maybe dedicated...
Maybe OCD...
Maybe neurotic...
Or as SWMBO politely calls me, tedious.

I finally got some spare time this afternoon and slapped together this greaves proxy with spring steel for the latch:


Here is a close up of the latch and teeth:


Latched in the 90 degree position:


Latched in the midway position (roughly 45 degrees):


Latched in the 180 degree position (straight out):



Now what does the latch do?
It holds the blade locked into position for shaving and stropping. I was surprised that it held in place when pushing against the bevel like your shaving, but the latch springs into the rear of the teeth and holds tight. When pushing against the spine like your stropping, the latch pushes against the front of the teeth and holds tight as well.

You can rotate the latch back toward the wedge, parallel to the scales (0 degrees) and it is out of the way for stropping or keep it in the 180 degree position without any thumb roll problems.

In the shaving positions, you have to hold your fingers a bit differently, but the latch can act as a finger rest and is quite comfortable.

In my opinion, the latch turns the straight razor into a fixed blade razor like a kamisori or a biological handled microtome.

I'll pin it up and try to shoot a video of in use sometime soon.