Thread: Gathering Info on a vintage C-Mon Cadillac, Robert Klass and Wacker

Hi there, gents,

Can you help me gather more information on these vintage razors? These were sent to me by a professional barber who asked for my sharpening service. He inherited these from his father, a barber as well. He's given me some insights on these but I think most of you here would help us know more.

The razors are a C-Mon Cadillac 6/8. On the backside of the tang it has an engraving which reads "Peter J. Michels. Inc Brooklyn, New York, Made in Germany". This razor seems to be very flexible. I'm not sure if you can call it as thin/flexible as a Filarmonica because I've never got a Filarmonica in my hands. But this C-Mon Cadillac seems to be very very flexible. Also, the brand seems to be American-based (Brooklyn, N.Y.) but made in Germany.
Do you have any idea about its manufacture date? How much popular was C-Mon back in the old days?

The next one if a Robert Klaas that seems to be quite flexible too. This one with a round point 6/8. Apparently this was imported into Mexico via Germany (the case has some Spanish written on it "Fund. 1834" = "Established 1834" and "Marca Registrada" = "Registered trademark"). On the backside of the tang there's the number 4086. Do you have any idea about when it might have been manufactured? Was Robert Klaas a popular brand back in the old days?

The last one is a Karl Wacker maybe 5/8, round point. It has a 13 on the frontside of the tang and "Special" written on the back. What do you know about this one? The barber told me this razor is PITA to sharpen (at least in his sharpening experience, which he admits to be "not great").

Thanks for your time reading this and for any info you can give us.
Regards,
Mike

Peter J Michaels was an importer of shaving items. They carried very, very good quality items. I'll bet its a fine razor!
Cadillac was a line of razors, scissors and such. I have some Cadillac Barber scissors that are very nice.
The Klauss I have never used but the name is familiar, should be a fine razor also.
The Wacker was possibly made for Focus. Having found another post on this forum that states Karl Wacker was Herr Wacker's (currently still making Wacker razors today)father.
I have a similar razor that was given to me by my Barber (retired) It was the hardest razor to hone I ever had. It was a very hard steel and was sensative to a couple different mediums. Turns out it prefers Coticles and takes superb edges from them.

Originally Posted by stoneandstrop

Peter J Michaels was an importer of shaving items. They carried very, very good quality items. I'll bet its a fine razor!
Cadillac was a line of razors, scissors and such. I have some Cadillac Barber scissors that are very nice.
The Klauss I have never used but the name is familiar, should be a fine razor also.
The Wacker was possibly made for Focus. Having found another post on this forum that states Karl Wacker was Herr Wacker's (currently still making Wacker razors today)father.
I have a similar razor that was given to me by my Barber (retired) It was the hardest razor to hone I ever had. It was a very hard steel and was sensative to a couple different mediums. Turns out it prefers Coticles and takes superb edges from them.

Thanks a lot for sharing your knowledge with me. I will take into account your piece of advice while honing that Wacker.

Kind regards,
Mike

That C-MON Cadillac was made by Carl Monkhouse. He put a very nice grind on his razors, and generally put together good looking razors. Peter J. Michaels eventually ended up buying the C-MON name from him and used it as their own brand, sticking it on scissors and other razors too. I've seen a C-MON Filarmonica before.

I inherited a Peter J. Michaels C-MON Special and matching shell strop from my grandfather, who was himself a barber, so yes, it was a popular line of razors, at least among barbers in the U.S. during the 40's and 50's. While I don't own very many razors, my C-MON has the thinnest, most flexible grind of all of them.

"These were sent to me by a professional barber who asked for my sharpening service. "

What is this world coming to?

That a profesional barber askes you for help.............

Their not trained to hone anymore. Just slide in another disposable blade.

I really believe, most didn't know how either. For there used to be a guy who came around offering that service, in the day.

Originally Posted by outback

Their not trained to hone anymore. Just slide in another disposable blade.

I really believe, most didn't know how either. For there used to be a guy who came around offering that service, in the day.

Nonsense.

I'm old enough that back in the 1950s I got my haircuts at Andy's barber shop and he used a straight to trim sideburns and gave guys full straight shaves. There was a strop hanging by every chair which he used before each use and he sharpened his own razors and I saw him do it.

Honing was part of barber school back in the day. It's true there were guys who traveled honing cutlery and many barbers used those services but not all did and either way they had the knowledge.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Nonsense.

I'm old enough that back in the 1950s I got my haircuts at Andy's barber shop and he used a straight to trim sideburns and gave guys full straight shaves. There was a strop hanging by every chair which he used before each use and he sharpened his own razors and I saw him do it.

Honing was part of barber school back in the day. It's true there were guys who traveled honing cutlery and many barbers used those services but not all did and either way they had the knowledge.

True!
My own Barber who honed his own razors told me that back in the day certain places in my city were known for a good shave, not all places though.
Same as now, some are better at honing - even Barbers

Originally Posted by PLANofMAN

That C-MON Cadillac was made by Carl Monkhouse. He put a very nice grind on his razors, and generally put together good looking razors. Peter J. Michaels eventually ended up buying the C-MON name from him and used it as their own brand, sticking it on scissors and other razors too. I've seen a C-MON Filarmonica before.

I inherited a Peter J. Michaels C-MON Special and matching shell strop from my grandfather, who was himself a barber, so yes, it was a popular line of razors, at least among barbers in the U.S. during the 40's and 50's. While I don't own very many razors, my C-MON has the thinnest, most flexible grind of all of them.

Carl Monkhouse was a salesman/entrepreneur who had some very experienced makers in his employ in the U.S., notably in Ellicottville, New York. His quality products' reputation was such that, as he was winding down, he was able to sell his NAME to Peter J Michaels, a big barber supply. ALL PJM C-Mon razors were made and stamped in Germany by Dovo and sold in the U.S.

Carl Monkhouse was not involved with PJM C-Mon razors.

Originally Posted by sharptonn

Carl Monkhouse was a salesman/entrepreneur who had some very experienced makers in his employ in the U.S., notably in Ellicottville, New York. His quality products' reputation was such that, as he was winding down, he was able to sell his NAME to Peter J Michaels, a big barber supply. ALL PJM C-Mon razors were made and stamped in Germany by Dovo and sold in the U.S.

Carl Monkhouse was not involved with PJM C-Mon razors.

That's new info to me. Interesting. I would have never guessed it was made by Dovo.