Thread: My Grandfathers razor...a mystery to me.

Hi
I hope someone can help me. I have two of my grandfathers old razors which I intend to get shave ready. They are both very old and still have the original boxes. My problem is although I know some of the personal history I know nothing about the manufacturers, both, I believe were made by different makers. Razor 1] has on the blade 'Solingen Germany' written on one side and on the tang there is an eagle inscribed and the number 264. The handle is of black bone or ivory, there are no markings either on the razor or the box to indicate who in Solingen made it. Razor 2] On the box is embossed 'Riteha Solingen No.10'. These still exist but from the website it appears they make cutlery and cooks knives now. emails that I have sent have not been answered yet but I live in hope. The blade has written on it 'The Westminster' and nothing else and the handle is of white bone or ivory.
As a noob I have no idea about them other than they were grandfathers and I know he used them until he got too old to do it himself and then my father did it for him. I have looked everywhere that Google throws up in searches to no avail. Can anyone out there shed some light for me?
Thank you in advance

Pictures! Pictures! Pictures! Good quality closeup pictures would really help.

1. You can not always assume that the razor and the box are original to each other unless the stamping on the razor and the text on the box match.

2. If the scales (handles) are black it's very doubtful that they are either bone or ivory. More likely they are made of celluloid or possibly horn.

3. There were hundreds of razor manufactures in Solingen over the years, so a blade with no makers name would be almost impossible to attribute to any particular maker.

4. Again, the scales of the second razor may or may not be bone or ivory. That is where a photo would be helpful to see the color, texture, etc., which would allow for an educated guess by an experienced member.

Sorry this is not very helpful information, but with the scant details on the razors themselves, it is difficult to tell you anything definite.

Regards - Walt

Originally Posted by Walt

Pictures! Pictures! Pictures! Good quality closeup pictures would really help.

+1. Post some pictures of the razors and we can more accurately determine what the handle material is and possibly who the manufacturers were.

FWIW --

In my time trolling this site, I haven't heard anyone badmouth _any_ "Solingen" razors. It might not make any difference who the maker is.

Whoever made your grandpa's, they're probably forged of good steel, properly tempered. So, barring serious rust problems, they're probably worth honing, and putting back into service.

Photos would be nice . . .

Charles

Originally Posted by cpcohen1945

FWIW --

In my time trolling this site, I haven't heard anyone badmouth _any_ "Solingen" razors. It might not make any difference who the maker is.

Whoever made your grandpa's, they're probably forged of good steel, properly tempered. So, barring serious rust problems, they're probably worth honing, and putting back into service.

Photos would be nice . . .

Charles

Ditto...Some photos of your grandfather's razors would help.

As he others have said, if you want to go further with this question, pictures are needed.

Originally Posted by cpcohen1945

In my time trolling this site, I haven't heard anyone badmouth _any_ "Solingen" razors. It might not make any difference who the maker is.

+1 on that. Solingen razors are almost always very good and worth putting back into service.
It all depends on the amount of hone wear: the more they are worn, the more difficult it will be to get them shave-ready.

Sorry
I knew the photos would be more of a help but I forgot to write in the original post that photos would follow when I get my camera back this morning. Here is the photo of the one with 'The Westminster' written on the blade, the other is obviously from Solingen as written on the blade, the same age and quality and I have been told this morning by an older relative that the handle is probably polished horn. Attached are photos of both razor and box, although the two may not belong together; I am told by another member.
The blade is not pitted but has slight grey/ black spots on it but only 2 or 3 and I feel these can be removed when I get it sent away.
Again, thanks in advance

The scales are most definitely bone.

Hello again spadino! The Westminster razor looks to have a fair bit of hone wear, but I'd be very surprised indeed if it posed any significant problems, and it looks ideal to start out with. My experience with Solingen razors echoes what's already been said: they range between very good and superlative. I'd advise you to send that one off for buffing and honing in the confident expectation that it will be a nice shaver.