Thread: What is a Bismarck?

I was checking out the Bismarck razors at classicshaving.com and it seems I cannot find a pattern in them. Is it something in particular that gives a razor the Bismarck name or is it some marketing gimmick?

All I know is they were a seperate manufactoror which was taken over by Dovo some time back, so Dovo uses the name now.

As you say though, they come in many different styles.

I'm not sure where the name comes from, does 'Bismarck' mean something in German? I know it was a famous WW2 battleship, but that could be coincidence.

Otto Eduard Leopold, Prince of Bismarck, Duke of Lauenburg, Count of Bismarck-Schönhausen, born Otto Eduard Leopold of Bismarck-Schönhausen (1 April 1815 – 30 July 1898), was a Prussian and German statesman of the 19th century, born to a wealthy family. As Minister-President of Prussia from 1862 to 1890, he engineered the Unification of Germany. From 1867 on, he was Chancellor of the North German Confederation. When the German Empire was declared in 1871, he served as its first Chancellor, gaining the nickname "Iron Chancellor".

coincidence

That is where the battleship got its name from.
My question is what classifies a straight razor as a Bismarck or do they just use the name as a marketing tool?

Originally Posted by tazman

... they just use the name as a marketing tool?

I think you're right with this assumption.

most things with company as big as dovo are marketing.
however i believe the bismarck's have some special treatment of the steel - like ice-tempering or something to harden it.
i thought in a resent question about dovos bismarck was recomended over the rest in the same price range. i may be wrong though - don't own this razor.

Could we fire off a question to the DOVO company itself and find out?

I think most of it is in styling, but I wouldn't mind hearing from the company itself.

Originally Posted by gugi

i thought in a resent question about dovos bismarck was recomended over the rest in the same price range. i may be wrong though - don't own this razor.

The problem is there are several Bismarck models in several price ranges. Not sure if Clasic sells them all but there is a $60ish model and a few $100-130 models, all different. I would guess the Dovo buying the Bismarck name from somewhere in the pasts makes the most sense. Maybe they dicided to still produce several of the models the original company sold, hence the wide range.

If you notice Dovo has several, near identical entry type models. Grinds, scales, etc.... are all similar including the prices. Maybe holdovers from the past as well. In the old days most people were very brand loyal. When one company would aquire the other it was to remove their competition but they would continue to produce the new aquisitions same models as their own to capture the brand loyal people. I think even today many would be surprised to know how many competiong brands are really owned by the same people.

Anyway, back on track. I have owned several of these and liked them all.

Tony

Actually, the Bismarck was the first and currently is the only jelly filled razor.

you're welcome, Bruce