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I was looking around an antique store and stumbled upon this, I then promptly aquired it. I was wondering what brand this is? I have never seen this before, I am quite a newb. It appears to be an ivory handle... It is in quite fair condition, there is no rust or cracks on the blade and it is still quite sharp. Would this be worthy of a restoration or did I just waste my money?
Pictures follow...
I think the razor looks great.
I have heard of the brand but I am not sure how popular it is.
The scale look like bone or Ivory.
IMHO definitely worthy or restore, but from the pics it looks like it could be used as is with just a little clean up/polishing on the blade.
Theo Koch was not a razor maker. Like Pearlduck they were a supplier to the trade. I clearly remember going to the barbershop as a kid and as I sat in the booster seat staring down at the footrest on the chair it said Theo Koch.
So is Bessemer Sheffield the razor maker than, does this have any collectible value. Or is it just a good shaver?
Nice bone scales! I had a similar Bessemer, and it was a good shaver. It is a Sheffield, of course, and of good quality. May have some uneven hone wear, not sure from one of your photos, but that is correctable. I like the Bessemer trademark, too.
What would be the proper way of restoring the polish to the blade?
You can either go to the classifieds and look under the member services and send it to someone to clean it up and hone for you.
If you would like to clean it up yourself you can look here http://straightrazorpalace.com/works...wers-here.html for the information as well.
I would definitely send it out to get it honed by a pro though after cleaning it up if this is your first razor.
I am going to go out on a limb here and make a guess...
That is Bessemer Steel from Sheffield England made by either ERN or Kohler(sp*) in Germany and distributed by Koch...
That is my Wag of the day :)
Also I would guess Bone rather than Ivory only from the pic, because of the "holes" at the wedge end, I could tell you in an instant if they were in my hand, but by the pics there are less clues available...Ivory under a glass looks to have "veins" Bone looks to have "holes"
Oh yeah also Ivory is very very very thin in comparison to just about every other scale material...
The scales do seem very thin to me, but this is my first straight.
the fact that the scales did not shatter in your hands tells me its bone....
/I keed I keed
Well. This razor was made by Henry Bessemer Co. for Theo A.Koch.
Theo A.Koch was in business 1913 - 1917 and located in Chicago.
H. Bessemer was the owner of a Bessemer process patent since 1855. In the U.S., commercial steel production using this method stopped in 1968.
Below, photo of Bessemer converter, Sheffield made by me.:)
That razor looks almost identical in style to my Damascene, it really is exceedingly close:
http://i741.photobucket.com/albums/x...scenefront.jpg
There's another example in the database:
Klauberg, C. & Bros. "Damascene" 5/8 - Straight Razor Place Wiki
which will suggest an approximate date.
For what it's worth, here's what I think you have: it's an elderly razor of good quality made in Germany for the American import trade from steel made in Sheffield by the Besssemer process:
Bessemer process - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Theo Kochs is a brand name, not the maker.
If it's anything like the Klauberg, it'll be an excellent shaver. Watch out for the point though, it could be vicious wee beastie if you don't keep your wits about you. I'm confident you didn't waste your money, far from it.
[edit] I've been pre-empted! I defer to the Antiquary, of course!
Sounds good. I am unsure of whether or not it needs to be honed. And for cleaning up the blade? What should I use some rubbing compound that I'd use on my car? Anything less gentle than that? Or some scrubbing bubbles and a magic eraser? I really just want it clean and sterile and "Good" looking. I'd really like to get that blade to shine.
Edit:Thats great information! Does anyone have any pictures of these razor restored? Are they good shavers?
Well, if you REALLY want it to be amazing looking (which I thinnk it could be) don't do your first restore on this razor, send it to one of the experts from the classifieds. I could see Glen (gssixgun) or Max making this razor look lke new (or better).Quote:
Originally Posted by Cole19
It most certainly does, the pictures show that. Only after you'll know if it's good or not and how good. That's part of taking the risk. If you want known quality you would get one that's already honed so that the seller can tell you how good it is.Quote:
Originally Posted by Cole19
I think I'm going to be worried about how sharp this things going to be after it gets honed. I sterilized it and took it to the inside of my arm and it smoothly took the hairs off.