Thread: flea market finds

I picked these up at a huge flea market today the first one is a b&l and its a monster.got it for 5 bucks. Does any one know about the grind it has. one side is 1/4 hollow the other is wedge. Never seen it before. the second is a ward safety razor. paid 10 bucks then i looked it up and found it at another antique dealer for 124dollars.the third is a rolls razor paid 17 dollars. what do you think and or know about them. any info would be much appreciated thanks.

The first, the B&L, is actually a microtome knife. This is used in science to cut tissue samples into very thin slices. It seems just like a straight razor, but you'd have a hard time getting it to shave well, or so I hear as I've never tried to shave with a microtome. Any time you see a straight razor that is a wedge on one side and a hollow grind on the other, you've got yourself a microtome.

I think the safety razors are just cool for historical value and are neat additions to the collection, but they're not for my face. The rolls razor seems pretty cool to me, but I've never seen one other than on the internet, so no real opinion there.

Thanks for the info on the b&l. I decided to try and hone it up anyway. the shave isnt too bad some more honing needed. It was interesting trying to get that big boy manuvered around but it did all right.

I got a Rolls Razor from my Grandpa and a while later found a
Q&A in a magazine about them.

EXTRACT...
"It's known as a Rolls razor, patented in Great Britain in 1925.
Unlike the so called cutthroat razor which needed continual
sharpening and honing on a thich leather strap, the blade of
a Rolls razor, neatly contained in a nickel-plated case, could be
sharpened by a quick to and fro action while still in the case,
befor fitting into the special handle and being set to work....
model which features a Greek key pattern embossed on the
case and a trademark known as 'The Whetter' (a classical figure
kneeling to sharpen a blade on a whetstone), dates from about
the late 1940s. But, should you wish to know more, there are
several websites where you can check the model number.
Try www.geocities.com/safetyrazors/rolls_page.htm."
...END OF EXTRACT

Web address referenced is www.geocities.com/safetyrazors/rolls_page.htm
which i have tried and it does not exist. But www.geocities.com/safetyrazors
does exist, but as of yet I have been unable to find much info if any of that site.

You could possibly try asking your local antique dealers for info.

OR

If you can find a site that allows you to check patent numbers,
on the Rolls Razor they are usually located around 'The Whetter'.
A patent site will allow you to find more info on the given model of
razor.

Well Hello!
Thats a nice early Rolls Razor(1920's-1930's) there with extra Blue leather/shagreen case.
You can tell its early because the shaving handle is telescopic. "pull it and see"
I have two and use them. It is basicaly a straight razor on a stick! and auto honing/stroping mechanism too!
If the blade is reasonably good if you do 20-30 laps on the grey hone then about 100 on the leather side you should get a pretty good shave off it.
Try some fine Dovo paste on the leather strop to bring it back to life.
The Roll company went bust in the early to mid 60'sin the UK. They picked a fight with the UK's big washing machine companies and lost. A guy in the US bought the stock and rights but has passed away now.
M

the dogs dangly bit's

Rolls Razor - ShaveWiki