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    Senior Member jimk's Avatar
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    Default Popular immigrant razors?

    Looking for little bit of history info. What brands and types of straight razors were popular and affordable with eastern european immigrants to the US around the 1910 time period?

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    Senior Member AlanII's Avatar
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    What a curious question. I'll be very interested in the answers. I'd guess Solingen blades of that date. Brought in with the boat or bought cheaper than the alternatives (certainly than Sheffields, can't be sure about homegrown US blades). Do you mind me asking why you're asking?

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    Master of insanity Scipio's Avatar
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    I reckon Solingen blades, German and possibly Swedish. I'm not sure what else would have been available and certainly popular within eastern Europe during that time

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    Senior Member blabbermouth JimmyHAD's Avatar
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    There were quite a few American razor mfgs back in those days and what with tariffs and such I wouldn't be surprised if the immigrants of the time bought those because they were the cheapest they could get. People valued a dollar more back in those days IMO.
    Be careful how you treat people on your way up, you may meet them again on your way back down.

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    I used Nakayamas for my house mainaman's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Scipio View Post
    I reckon Solingen blades, German and possibly Swedish. I'm not sure what else would have been available and certainly popular within eastern Europe during that time
    Wpenica was made in Poland if I am not wrong. You can find Russian made razors on the eBay, I have seen 3 different kinds so far.
    Stefan

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    Master of insanity Scipio's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by mainaman View Post
    Wpenica was made in Poland if I am not wrong. You can find Russian made razors on the eBay, I have seen 3 different kinds so far.

    Wapis are from the 70s I believe, according to the Invisible Edge.

    I forgot about Russian razors though, Ive also seen a few.

    Is the question by the OP asking what immigrants would have bought within the US, or what they brought with them from Europe?

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    Connoisseur of steel Hawkeye5's Avatar
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    I would think that, if they shaved, that what ever was used back in the old country would have made the trip.

    Other than that, most every hardware store sold razors, so whatever the local store carried.

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    I used Nakayamas for my house mainaman's Avatar
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    I did not consider the fact that immigration is a bit of a wide concept. Immigrants before the formation of the USSR and especially the so called Eastern block probably had Sheffield/ Solingen razors in their hands. Post WWII eastern European countries for sure would have a huge USSR influence when it comes to merchandise. The idea behind the creation of the eastern block was not only ideological but also economical. Trade was almost exclusively within the borders of the block, and goods coming from the so called Western countries could only be obtained from very few specialized stores against hard currency namely dollars.
    Stefan

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    Senior Member jimk's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Scipio View Post
    Wapis are from the 70s I believe, according to the Invisible Edge.

    I forgot about Russian razors though, Ive also seen a few.

    Is the question by the OP asking what immigrants would have bought within the US, or what they brought with them from Europe?
    I was originally asking about what they may have brought with them. But after thinking it through in my grandfather's case I suppose it might be what he may have purchased here in the US. Hell he was only 16 at the time so he may not have even been shaving yet.

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    Senior Member jimk's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by AlanII View Post
    What a curious question. I'll be very interested in the answers. I'd guess Solingen blades of that date. Brought in with the boat or bought cheaper than the alternatives (certainly than Sheffields, can't be sure about homegrown US blades). Do you mind me asking why you're asking?
    One of my grandfathers (on my mothers side) came to this country around that time. Come to think of it he may not have been shaving yet. He was only 16 years old with a new bride, my grandmother, and a backpack between them. He's long since gone and I was just wondering what may have been available to him. We can only hope to live up to the toughness of those that came before us.

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