Filarmonica History Question

Just picked up two early 14 Sub Cero Filarmonicas with unusual markings. Both show side have standard 14 Filarmonica Sub Cero Jose Monserrat Pou stamps but with different size fonts. The reverse sides state “Hermanos Marti, Frente al Mercado, TORTOSA. Does anyone know the relationship between Jose Monserrat Pou and the Marti Brothers, who apparently operated a cutlery near the market in TORTOSA, Spain? Any information would be appreciated. Thanks, Austin
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i think celtriccrusader is your man to put you straight on this

Most probably they are the retailers of that razor.

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Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Most probably they are the retailers of that razor.

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Thinks so too.
I do not think that José Monserrat Pou made his own razors. On the box of one of mine it reads "Utilice.....Fabricadas por José Monserrat Pou".

I know very little about filarmonicas (I'm starting a new topic about that) but I speak spanish and I'm almost sure it's like thebigspendur said. "cuchillerias" are the places where knife are sold and "taller de afilado" means "honing workshop" or something like that, my english is very bad. But it's just saying "we also hone your razor..". It also says where it's located: In front of the market ;)

Also, I'm seeing similar labels written in spanish on vintage german razors sold in Argentina, even with the words "Buenos Aires" which is our capital city, clearly not the origin of the razor.

Thank you for your comments and input. Probably just a retailer for JMP whir also do honing for razors. I have never seen verbiage on the reverse side of Filarmonicas before, other than “made in Spain”on later models. Interesting and unusual based on my past research.

Well, even now here it's a common tradition for the sellers to attach stickers on the products they sell. I'd like to tell you for sure but I always try to avoid doing that. But I can tell you, it's quite clear it's a sticker from the seller, just remembering the owner of the razor where he has to go to sharpen his razor or to buy a new one.

edit: Sorry my english can't be so bad. Corrected at least one gross error.

I would agree, that's the retailer stamped on the opposite side of the tang, I have seen several Filarmonica razors with the same stamp.

Hello. I was searching Filarmonicas on google and found this:

https://www.badgerandblade.com/forum....469779/page-2

The user "torero80" seems to know about Filarmonicas. In page two and three (#28 and #44) he says retailers (he refers to spanish retailers only I think) used to further grind blades and/or put their names on the tang. But still I have to keep reading, mabe there is more. In any case it seems to be a good source of information about Filarmonicas.

Maybe yours is one of those extra hollow ones?

That makes a lot more sense to me now. The Marti Brothers were certainly retailers but apparently ground Filarmonica blades as well. If they were just retailers I would expect to see just the paper stamps on the box but the engraved business logo on the tang indicates something more than just a retailer. It took additional time and money to apply that etched/stamped? On the tang. The business Logo on the tang indicates they did grinding & sharpening as well as retail selling to the public. Doubt a retailer would go to that trouble and expense to do that. Interesting point is that on both razors pictured above, the fonts on the back are different from the JMP font on the show side. Suggesting to me that they were added at the Marti Brother grinding factory in Tortosa. Torero80 seems to imply that in previous B&B forum threads. I have this posted in B&B but no substantive response yet. Thanks for this input usa and all others.

Now I'm thinking and I'm not really sure if hardened steel could be easily cold stamped after treatment. I'm thinking mostly of tool wear but the steel could be also too brittle so maybe the marks on the tang where stamped when the metal was hot and soft in the factory. Anybody with more knowledge on razor manufactuing or metalurgy surely could clarify this.


If that's the case and we consider what torero80 (#70) wrote, the markings could be from the factory for that specific seller:

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It may have been sold in Spain, and maybe even made by filarmonica. They made blades for many (really many) cuttlery stores with their own branding.

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This Marti Brothers logo could be an “honor stamp” JMP bestowed on this particular retailer/grinder. That was the gist of a B&B comment today.

History of Filarmonice seems to be shrouded in mystery.

Here's some more: https://foro.sincortenohaygloria.com...monica/43869/3

This book, in what looks to me like Catalan, will be out in a month's time. It will have something on the production of Filarmonica as well according to the description: http://www.bucdellibres.cat/es/libro...taro-01_410739