Thread: id help

just got these in from france. Im french in heritage but dont speak a lick. I see both of these say something similar to the filarmonica "Para Barbas Duras" what is the purpose of this what does it mean? For haard beards?? Also any info on the manufacturers too if you can.

Your translation seems close enough... Those words in (at least in portuguese) generally mean "for tough beards."

Can you show any pics of the other side of the tangs? that might help with an ID... actually, close ups of the tang on both sides would help a bit.

both the reverse sides are blank. I know everybody talks about T.I. from France. But these say nothing of the sort

There were other French razors besides TI.

It may not be the same company (or at least the modern version of the company may no longer deal in razors), but Fontenille-Pautaud is a french cutlery maker in Thiers France.

Here is a link to their company website, you may be able to send them an email and get more info

Fontenille-Pautaud

From what I can find based on my crappy understanding of the French language and some help from the internet.

The literal translation of "Special pour Barbe Dure" word for word is
special = special
pour = for
barbe = beard
dure = to last (like duration), it's from the verb durer meaning, to last, like a duration of time.

So maybe it means,
"This is a wonderful razor that will last you a lifetime of shaves"

And I hope it will.
Marc

Hi,

I have a wedgy Fontenille razor, and it shaves very well

Have fun !

Best regards

Russ

Thiers and its surrounding districts has been home to blade making for centuries. There are quite a few makers from both Thiers and Fontenille - this may be of use to some people with stamp marks on tangs.

I think Fontenille Pataud only goes back to the 1920s (probably wrong!) but other french razors I have (aka 'cabbage-cutters' - coupe chou) with the Fontenille mark on them are turn of century, probably even 1800s.

Delirium is right - the inscription means for tough (hard) beards.

The 'radium' name looks a bit daunting until you realise that in the early 1900s it was a bit of a buzz-word and extremely valuable, and many brands used it in their names. There's probably as much radium in it as there are ducks in a Dubl Duck!

Regards,
Neil

Great link Neil, thanks.

Your Fontenille is marked Medaille d'Or which means gold medal. That manufacturer won a gold medal for its product at one time from somewhere.

Myself, I would like to know the award history of the various razors and how long they were allowed to put it on the razor. Was it the World Exposition competition or something else entirely.