Thread: Strange Straight razor

I have a razor I have not seen before. I thought someone could shed some light on it for me. the box reads Melchers and Co and Tintsin. Then Nobel price, Rabindr Tagore. There are characters on the backside of the tang and box which are Japanese? Thats a guess! The character on the box and scales surely needs a shave! Seems to be as an ordinary German razor otherwise, but it alo has Trade Merk on the box? Thats it. Sorry about the cruddy pics...cellphone camera! Thanks in advance for any info.

No pix showing yet. Is the marking on tang and/or scales identical to that on the box ?

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

No pix showing yet. Is the marking on tang and/or scales identical to that on the box ?

Sorry, Just put them on. I can take better pics tomorrow. Yes, the Characters on the reverse tang are same as on the box! Thanks!

Cool looking razor. I'm almost positive I've seen the same razor, or one very similarly marked on box and blade, posted before. Either JimR or manah will probably be able to help ID it if no one else does.

Take and do a bevel set and see if you get through that corrosion to good steel at the edge.

Thanks! Yeah, I just did a lite buff and soaked it with tuffglide. A project for later, I suppose!

That's Chinese not Japanese on the box as to what it says sorry I speak it but don't read it.

Rabindranath Tagore (the guy whose pic and name are on the scales) was a Bengali Indian who won the Nobel (not 'noble' - chinese mis-spelling!) for literature in 1913.

Doesn't help much with the razor ID (or even the year of manufacture) unfortunately.

There is still a Melchers in Hong Kong - been in business for 130 years in HK and China. It is a very diversified company from the one that started (and still operates) in Bremen, Germany in 1806. The HK branch was started in 1866. No doubt then that the razor is of German origin, bought en masse by Melchers for sale in their own packaging.

Regards,
Neil

Originally Posted by Neil Miller

Rabindranath Tagore (the guy whose pic and name are on the scales) was a Bengali Indian who won the Nobel (not 'noble' - chinese mis-spelling!) for literature in 1913.

Doesn't help much with the razor ID (or even the year of manufacture) unfortunately.

There is still a Melchers in Hong Kong - been in business for 130 years in HK and China. It is a very diversified company from the one that started (and still operates) in Bremen, Germany in 1806. The HK branch was started in 1866. No doubt then that the razor is of German origin, bought en masse by Melchers for sale in their own packaging.

Regards,
Neil

One of the things I love about this site are the fascinating answers to some of the questions. Funny how shaving can make me feel like I'm tied more tightly to history.

Originally Posted by Neil Miller

Rabindranath Tagore (the guy whose pic and name are on the scales) was a Bengali Indian who won the Nobel (not 'noble' - chinese mis-spelling!) for literature in 1913.

Doesn't help much with the razor ID (or even the year of manufacture) unfortunately.


Regards,
Neil

WOW! Thanks, Neil! Thats more than I hoped for! I am getting more proud of it now! I kind of wonder if the thing is from very close to 1913? Maybe I will move it closer to the front of the line!

I sold a straight with those scales not too long ago but the markings on the tang of the one I had, matched the scales.