Thread: Proof vs Myth

There are many Stories and Myths that persist in our hobby
They are repeated so often people tend to forget there is actually no proof of any of these stories

Some that still get me

The words "Barber's Notch" this has never been found anywhere other than online, the old advertising call it a "Hollow Point" or a "Notch Point"

Or as I say "Prove It"

From that, we get the stories that come from the name

The various reasons for the Notch

One-Armed Civil War vets - Really ???
So that a Barber can open them with one hand ??
To shave around a Mole ??
To shave Nose Hair, Wow ???

And you read this Where ???

Another is the #14 story that says all #14 blanks were made by one single company in Solingen Germany,

Great story but there is no proof as of today, not one shred of literature from that era

What do I mean by that ???

This is what I mean,

Many people have said that the old Sta-Sharp and Craftsman blades were actually made by Koeller

This is what I mean by "Prove It"





Let the discussion flow

Well, as for the barbers notch... Who knows.

But I did read a small piece, from a barbers handbook, owned by a barber himself. ( I can still get pics of it, should it be necessary.)

It said the notch is used to direct mustache hair out of the way, while trimming the edge of the upper lip.

Now you have to go back to how men wore certain mustaches. I've tried it with a dull razor, and it does what was said it will do.

But that's the only time I've ever seen it mentioned, in writing

This could open a can of worms!

Another of my own is that Dubl Ducks are made by Dovo. No proof, just a hunch

I can do all the things that a barber notch is "designed" for with a razor without a barber's notch.

I think it's just cosmetic. And afterwards some people found it easier to open with one hand (or other things), ergo there came an association between the two.

I don't read too much into it, but I think it's just for looks.


That said, it might have a certain functional purpose with the mustache, but aside from that I doubt it's anything functional.

As long as you are still fortunate to have both hands and arms, I see no added worth of a barber's notch aside the aesthetic, even for the mustache area.





Somehow many of the debate of razors reminds me of modern times. A lot of products get made in the same factory, but get a different brand name and you pay different prices for it. At least where I live that's the case. Same thing, different brand, different price. Same as with most things really.

Would be very interesting to know more about the history of the factories of razor brands.

On strazors.com under construction it is identified as a Barber notch or hollow point. But of course it was the discretion of the creator of the drawing.
In an old G. Wostenholm catalog it is referred to as a 'hollow point'.

The Dovo / Dubl Duck
and the Dovo / Puma connections

Has been well documented with the double stamped razors,, I have pics someplace on the old Hard drive, also I believe there are some on here

The later years we found that who made what,, in the early years is a little harder to nail down

ie: To say "Some DD's and some Puma's were made in the Dovo Factory is pretty well proved, but to say ALL DD's and all Puma's were made by Dovo is a stretch

Originally Posted by gssixgun

...
They are repeated so often people tend to forget there is actually no proof of any of these stories
...
And you read this Where ???
...

Ah, the absence of evidence....

(I should probably mention I don't really care much about this kind of history)

Originally Posted by gssixgun

The Dovo / Dubl Duck
and the Dovo / Puma connections

Has been well documented with the double stamped razors,, I have pics someplace on the old Hard drive, also I believe there are some on here

The later years we found that who made what,, in the early years is a little harder to nail down

ie: To say "Some DD's and some Puma's were made in the Dovo Factory is pretty well proved, but to say ALL DD's and all Puma's were made by Dovo is a stretch

I had a photo of a dovo and DD stamped razor. Unfortunately I can't find it but it was a #25 model with Dovo and the 2 duck motive.

Ive also seen some Japanese razors with the Henkles Twins logo too. Who knows!

I lean toward the decorative purpose myself. Another myth is that a razor needs to rest between shaves so the edge "fin" can straighten. Though i've heard that there's no proof it still is mentioned the paper that comes with some new razors. I should say though that some times i wonder if it is true when i pick up a razor that i haven't used for a while and it seem sharper than i remember.

In the early days DDs (some of them) were made in the U.S. Who made them? Old catalogs gave you the choice between made in the U.S or made in Germany. The German ones were a buck or two more.

It's common knowledge a variety of outfits made various DD models. As to who made the majority of them well....