Thread: Prima Razor/Moline B.S Co., Moline Ill

Just picked one up this weekend for $20. If it's ever been honed, I can't see the evidence! Blade looks near mint, although it once had a gold wash on the tang which has faded. Needs new scales but has a killer 5/8" blade. Before I dive in, was wondering if anyone had shaving experience with this brand. If it's a dog, it might not be worth the effort...

Knipper

Well a couple of things come to mind. The first is PICS? There is also the part that it is pretty tough to find a dog vintage razor. They are out there but very very rare.

Originally Posted by RezDog

Well a couple of things come to mind. The first is PICS? There is also the part that it is pretty tough to find a dog vintage razor. They are out there but very very rare.

Well, I didn't post a pic as there is really nothing special about it. I assume the "B.S." on the tang means Barber Supply. Plain black celluloid scales with a small piece missing right above the pivot. But as stated, the blade looks pretty nice. I'm more interested if anyone here has shaved with one...

Well there are a few things. I do not think that Prima was used exclusively by one company, and when you start looking for manufactures, things like font become relevant. There were many many razor that were marked for many different companies in the US and made by other companies sometimes in other countries. There are a tone of examples of this. Shapleigh Hardware, Hess Hair Milk, S R Droescher, Duble Duck, are a few better known companies, but truly the list could go on and on. Trying to track who they bought which model from on which years is often impossible. All of the example I gave were all known for their very high end razors. Vintage items that were second rate often did not get saved over the years and did not survive long as brands.

Originally Posted by RezDog

Well there are a few things. I do not think that Prima was used exclusively by one company, and when you start looking for manufactures, things like font become relevant. There were many many razor that were marked for many different companies in the US and made by other companies sometimes in other countries. There are a tone of examples of this. Shapleigh Hardware, Hess Hair Milk, S R Droescher, Duble Duck, are a few better known companies, but truly the list could go on and on. Trying to track who they bought which model from on which years is often impossible. All of the example I gave were all known for their very high end razors. Vintage items that were second rate often did not get saved over the years and did not survive long as brands.

One more interesting thing about the tang stamp. Under the Company name and City/ State stamp, are stamped the words "German Make"....not German "MADE". I thought that was unusual, or maybe it's just bad grammar!

Here are some pics:

That is very unusual. I have never noticed that phrase on a razor before. I like peculiar things like that. It certainly looks like a keeper. You will have to work through the list of everyone that used PRIMA and see if you can get a font match. This is a very good thread for a resource on looking for stuff.
http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...long-post.html

really nice find have fun with it

Nice looking razor in very good condition, Made in Germany for Moline Barber's Supply Co probably from about 1920's give or take a few. Definitely a high quality razor.