Thread: Peter J. Michels "Spear" razor?

I've seen the name, I've searched the name and I've googled the name. All I see is with reference to CMON razors.

Found a Peter J Michels "Spear No. 12" at an antique shop and would like to know more about it. Its got a red arrowhead on the "front" tang with the word SPEAR inscribed in the arrowhead and "Peter J Michels Inc" on the first line and "Brooklyn,N.Y." as the second line on the opposite side.

I've seen No. 11 all over the place, but never a 12.

I did a look through also but I did found some manufacturing dates on the web for peter J


PETER J. MICHELS
New York City and Brooklyn, New York
ca. 1914 - 1955

there is a spear on ebay "Champion" not P.J.M, maybe the seller has some info. Hope this helps.

spear straight razor, Collectibles items on eBay.com

C Mons seem to be sought after. Haven't used one myself, but I think they have a rep for being good shavers. So if PJM made CMons, and he made Spears, it seems reasonable to assume Spears are good shavers too. My .02. I'll let a more knowledgable member affirm this though...

Spears are awesome shavers too. In general they are smaller and light weight but take an amazing sharp edge. At least all the Spear razors I shaved with.

Hmm, guess she's a keeper.

Any more info on the Spear razors? I have a number 10 by PJM.

Are PJM Spears manufactured by Carl Monkhouse (like CMons)?

Heres pics of the PJM Spear No 10
http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...r-no-10-a.html

IF anyone is still pondering about the PJM Spears Here’s what we’ve been able to dig up for history on this razor. Peter J. Michels Inc. barber supply of Brooklyn, NY distributed the German C-Mon brand in the 1920’s and 1930’s. These early pre-war Solingen ice-hardened Inox (stainless steel from Avesta in Sweden) blades have a premium reputation in the straight razor industry, and the razors are one of the most coveted among collectors. Monkhouse moved to the US himself in 1937 and started the C-Mon company initially near Pittsburgh, PA. The Peter J. Michels distribution company went out of business in 1955. Carl Monkhouse razors have a reputation for taking and holding a superior edge due to the extremely hard forged blades. The ice-hardened pre-war Inox models are very rare, and represent the very best of the Carl Monkhouse brand.
Still there is not much out there. If anyone has any additional info I would be interested in hearing it!

AFAIK, Carl Monkhouse and Co of Germany made razors for PJM to sell in the USA pre-war. German imports were done as they began shifting all industries toward the war effort.
Carl came to the USA and began in San Francisco. He then moved his whole operation to New York and partnered with Burrell Cutlery to make knives, razors, and surgical instruments for the US war effort. He was quite a dude, it seems.
He also partnered with Allegheny instrument and ran his Cutlery Associates there as well. This business still exists sharpening shears and the like. I have spoken to his grandson on the phone and with his great-grandson in person.
Great grandson told me he ran a deal picking up soldiers and sailors and had a running bar/brothel for them!

A businessman, he had long-running employees making the razors.
Consequently any San Fransisco and Ellicotteville Cmons, prewar PJM German razors, Allegheny instrument razors, Ellicotteville Burrell Top-Flights can be attributed to Carl Monkhouse's operation. He allowed his workers to produce some in Germany for a while. These are the ones with the name written out in the inlays which featured a star on them. Kindof rare.

So THEN,he sold his NAME to PJM in 1955 upon retiring and the razors were once again produced in Germany with his name on them, yet not BY him.
These are the ones with the fancy bolsters and the CMON name on them.

Sharptonn,
Wow THANK YOU so much for this history!! I love the back story and finding out this kind of information.
I appreciate you taking the time to respond.

Sure! I dig the history.
A lot was lost in the Monkhouse history as time has gone by.
I have a phone number for John Burrell who the Monkhouses admit would know more.
He is descended from the Burrell who partnered with Carl Monkhouse in Ellicotteville.

This Burrell was a knifemaker and was married to one of WR Case's daughters.

It was all intertwined in New York back then.

I have drug my own feet and not contacted him yet. Someday soon, I hope to.