Thread: Real Dovo or Fake?

Originally Posted by Lynn

Very interesting. At first based on the blade etching, I thought it might be a hold over Fritz Bract blade that dovo stamped....... First mis-spell I have seen.

Lynn

I concur with Lynn, I had a Fritz Bracht Dovo with the same blade and etching, I cant answer for the mis stamp, I would imagine its like an odd coin, the imperfection may increase the value. BTW it will be an awesome shaver! Dont let the SO be sad, nothing to be upset about!

Hey Guys,
Lots of good info. I really want to shave with this thing, but I don't want to put it on my cheap stones that I bought here. I am trying to have a friend bring back some new hones for me, so I can get 'er shave ready. Once I do, I will let you know. Thanks again to all that replied.

Originally Posted by John Crowley

Since the box says made in West Germany we know it is from 1946 or later. It was actually several years after the April 30, 1945 surrender before they were geared up to produce much of anything. Right after WWII Solingen's razor industry had been bombed out of existence like the rest of Germany. They were trying to recover some sort of blade related industry and grinders had to be trained. Tool and die makers had to make new die sets, stamps, etc.

The one gentleman has worked at DOVO for 40 yrs. and is not familiar with this razor and believes the grind to be strange. So, we know it was made somewhere in a 23 year window from 1946-1969. The strange grind and misforged letters probably indicate it was made in the late 1940s when people had yet to become very proficient in their new endeavors.

Facharbeit means skilled.

It is probably a great shaver.

If all of this is true, and I see no reason to doubt it, you really need to go back and get the other one!

Originally Posted by radaddict

If all of this is true, and I see no reason to doubt it, you really need to go back and get the other one!

Yeah, I had the same thought. I am not in a rush though. Like I said, the lady at the shop said they had been there for years. Next time I am in the area, I will go by and pick up whatever else she may have in stock.

I did however notice that my "Facharbeit" looks more like "Facharleit"... compared to a "Facharbeit Tennis" razor that I saw online. Wonder if this is another mistake. Though not likely, as the ones making it should have been able to spell in their native tongue. On the other hand, I have not seen any other clear photos, so their could be others similar to this one.
I guess it could even be that someone around that time frame (mid to late 40s) living in Germany and working in the factory could have been a foreigner displaced because of The War. It's all speculation of course.

Originally Posted by Shangers

Yeah, I had the same thought. I am not in a rush though. Like I said, the lady at the shop said they had been there for years. Next time I am in the area, I will go by and pick up whatever else she may have in stock.

I did however notice that my "Facharbeit" looks more like "Facharleit"... compared to a "Facharbeit Tennis" razor that I saw online. Wonder if this is another mistake. Though not likely, as the ones making it should have been able to spell in their native tongue. On the other hand, I have not seen any other clear photos, so their could be others similar to this one.
I guess it could even be that someone around that time frame (mid to late 40s) living in Germany and working in the factory could have been a foreigner displaced because of The War. It's all speculation of course.

I think it's a "b." It's very subtle, but if you look at how the "b" connects to the "e", there is an ever so slight line going left to right to connect to the "e." I would think that if it was an "l," it would go right into the part of the "e" that forms the middle loop. Hard to explain.

Originally Posted by radaddict

I think it's a "b." It's very subtle, but if you look at how the "b" connects to the "e", there is an ever so slight line going left to right to connect to the "e." I would think that if it was an "l," it would go right into the part of the "e" that forms the middle loop. Hard to explain.

You may be right. I was just comparing it to the only good photo I found online. This "b" is much more pronounced. Taylors1000 Straight Razor ebay sales However, that could have always changed with the times.

Originally Posted by Shangers

You may be right. I was just comparing it to the only good photo I found online. This "b" is much more pronounced. *Taylors1000 Straight Razor ebay sales However, that could have always changed with the times.

Yeah, the fonts used on the two razors are different. If someone can identify the font, then you could compare the lower case "b" on your razor to the font listing. Probably more trouble than it's worth. Enjoy the razor. (I wouldn't mind having that Fritz Bracht Tennis razor).

I'm a Dovo dealer so I hope this helps a bit.

1. ALL Dovos have the words 'Dovo Solingen', 'Dovo stainless', 'Bismarck' or 'Meister Merton's' (model 1885685 Renaissance) on the front side of the tang, except the 3580 model Bergischer Lowe, which has that phrase, complete with the lion rampant shield, on the blade. NONE have the word 'Solingen' on the scales in the typeface of the razor above, though some have the word 'Dovo' with the word 'Solingen' impressed in the underlining of the word. The Renaissance has the word 'Solingen' (with the authentic curling 'g') complete with the anchor and crossed swords with coronet above, which are the arms of Solingen (the 'man in apron with hammer' is Dovo's logo).

Also, Dovo razors are supplied either in a blue metal box with the Dovo seal on it (gold seal for carbon blades, silver seal for stainless) or branded plastic boxes or heavy card boxes for the 'Bismarck' models.

If a razor doesn't have one of the above it is not a Dovo - certainy not one in production today.

Originally Posted by blueprinciple

I'm a Dovo dealer so I hope this helps a bit.

1. ALL Dovos have the words 'Dovo Solingen', 'Dovo stainless', 'Bismarck' or 'Meister Merton's' (model 1885685 Renaissance) on the front side of the tang, except the 3580 model Bergischer Lowe, which has that phrase, complete with the lion rampant shield, on the blade. NONE have the word 'Solingen' on the scales in the typeface of the razor above, though some have the word 'Dovo' with the word 'Solingen' impressed in the underlining of the word. The Renaissance has the word 'Solingen' (with the authentic curling 'g') complete with the anchor and crossed swords with coronet above, which are the arms of Solingen (the 'man in apron with hammer' is Dovo's logo).

Also, Dovo razors are supplied either in a blue metal box with the Dovo seal on it (gold seal for carbon blades, silver seal for stainless) or branded plastic boxes or heavy card boxes for the 'Bismarck' models.

If a razor doesn't have one of the above it is not a Dovo - certainy not one in production today.

I saw one of the metal boixes for the first time just the other day. They are VERY new and you can't expect an older razor to be in one. the box shown is definately a Dovo box.

Originally Posted by John Crowley

I saw one of the metal boixes for the first time just the other day. They are VERY new and you can't expect an older razor to be in one. the box shown is definately a Dovo box.

Yeah I am with you John C., no doubt about the box. It is the black plastic and had the gold sticker placed across for the seal. It was unbroken, and when opened it had the Dovo wax paper. It looked just like the box at the end Lynn's Dovo factory video on YouTube.

I agree with Radaddict, the font is totally different than the Tennis, and could in fact be a "b." Also, I wouldn't mind having that Tennis blade either.

I think with the information I got from the people at Dovo, it may just be a mis-stamp. They definitely didn't say it was not a Dovo, and seemed to hint that they have seen mis-stamps in some form before as they alluded to the lack of English knowledge among factory workers in early prodcution.

All that said, I think with the quality of the grind and the scales and such, I don't think it is a copy. If the guys doing fakes can do this good of a job, I am not sure why they wouldn't just brand their own razors and sell a bit more than DAs, Gold Dollars, etc and a bit lower than Dovos and capture a bit of the market that is lacking. Just my 2cents.