Thread: Imperial razor, Germany

Originally Posted by kasperitis

Where the heck do you guys find NOS razors like this!? Everything I find is as rust as....well, rust. I found one or two in decent shape, but nothing even close to NOS.

Antique shops? Barber shops? Back of a truck? Am I looking in the right places!?

Also....really nice blades there.

Want eye candy? Here is a page full of NOS blades. I just bought a GOTTA from Thomas last week. 5/8 Full hollow. Raritten Vorschau "Rare Previews"
links at the top of the page you go to give you a lot of reading and other examples. If you want 6/8 or 8/8 look at the main Revisor razors.

Where the heck do you guys find NOS razors like this!?

It's not NOS razor. That Traskrom razor was restored.

I'm not sure about this one I got the other day it it "might" be a new (old) razor. Came from the estate of a private collector. His son is dispersing of all the razors. This one I got from him came in it's original box, with the looks of one that has never been used for shaving. It was mirrior bright on the finish, even on the tang. No rust or pitting anywhere. Cleanest razor I've seen save the new DOVO and Revisor I bought. Just a few pics....





Blade is a 5/8 width. I love this razor for shaving. I have had 2 GREAT shaves with it and they are close, smooth, and comfortable shaves.



Any ideas who in Germany made the razor?

Rather than start a new thread, I'll repeat what I was asking. This Imperial was made in Germany by someone who know a great deal on how to make an excellent razor. Who made the Imperial razor in Germany?

This from here, suggests that they were doing it themselves:

A. KASTOR & BROS
New York City
Trademarks used: "Imperial Razor Company", four-leaf clover, "XLNT", "K & Co GERMANY", and othershttp://straightrazorpalace.com/images/editor/italic.png
About 1901, Kastor & Bros purchased the Camillus Knife Company of Camillus, New York. They changed the name in 1902 to the Camillus Cutlery Co. In 1947, the name Kastor was dropped completely, although they are still in business as Camillus.
ca. 1876 - 1947

Who made the Imperial razor in Germany?

Adolf Castor(Kastor).
In business 1886 - 1945.
Impossible to know, who concretely made the razors in Germany or US. Adolf Castor(Kastor) was German, and the owner of several cutlery companies.

Originally Posted by kasperitis

Where the heck do you guys find NOS razors like this!? Everything I find is as rust as....well, rust. I found one or two in decent shape, but nothing even close to NOS.

Antique shops? Barber shops? Back of a truck? Am I looking in the right places!?

Also....really nice blades there.

I was poking about fendrihan (sp?) The other day and they have some NOS wapi's right now.

Originally Posted by manah

Adolf Castor(Kastor).
In business 1886 - 1945.
Impossible to know, who concretely made the razors in Germany or US. Adolf Castor(Kastor) was German, and the owner of several cutlery companies.

Thanks Alex,
Could it be that Imperial Razors were made by Kastor & Company, Solingen? Ref: Razor makers
or Richard Schmidt, that also had a brand name of "Imperial"?

Don't mix "Imperial" and "Imperial Razor Co."
Trademark "Imperial" was used by Richard Schmidt.
Imperial Razor Co. is A.Kastor trademark.
Vern, you asked who made razors for A.Kastor in Germany.
I forgot about his brother, Nathan Kastor!
In 1880's he return to Germany. In 1896, he opened the Germania Cutlery Works. The factory was in Ohligs-Solingen. They made cutlery for export to the US. In 1938, the Nazis seized the factory.
Kastor is Jewish family.

Thank you so very much, Alex!! Then it could be that a Germania Cutelry Works razor I have and the "Imperial" shave some kindred! I remember reading that the company was sezied by the Nazi.