Thread: New mystery French razor!!!

Originally Posted by animalwithin

Haha I was actually thinking of ivory boni. I'm looking at a 7" piece of fossilized walrus ivory but its pricey and I don't think its thick enough (1/2").

I would have thought 1/2 inch would have been ample for a set of ivory scales.
Vintage ivory scales are probably 1/16 thick when finished.
I would also PM gssixgun and pixelfixed to see what they can offer you in this line

Surely a Thiers razors from the 1930's, Dellac is just a reseller (the habit of stamping the razors for others in France date from the XIX century, evry small village had a reseller whit razors that he did not manfactured, nevertheless he had his name stamps on it directly in the manufactuer's work)

Opinel (a famous knife maker in France) didn't make any razor, it was Pradat Brun the manufactuer who did.

Originally Posted by charlie48horlogerie

Surely a Thiers razors from the 1930's, Dellac is just a reseller (the habit of stamping the razors for others in France date from the XIX century, evry small village had a reseller whit razors that he did not manfactured, nevertheless he had his name stamps on it directly in the manufactuer's work)

Opinel (a famous knife maker in France) didn't make any razor, it was Pradat Brun the manufactuer who did.

That is, of course, a distinct possibility.

Note that I say 'possibility' rather than 'surely' as you have, as Vierzon has quite an industrial lineage. There was a forge with a smelting works and iron works built there in 1779 on the banks of the river Yevre. The area is situated amongst forests - ideal for making charcoal for converting iron, and further down the Cher river are coalpits. Even if steel bar had to be imported (as a lot of steel made in Sheffield was - and still is - to France) then Vierzon is the confluence of major rail networks that propelled it into the Industrial Era, as well as the confluence of five rivers (the area is known as Le Pays des Cinq Rivieres). As well as foundries and iron works there were potteries and agricultural tool and implement manufacturers there. An 1834 treatise mentions the presence of tanning pits and paper mills, too. In fact, everything a practicing cutler could want!

In 1839 the first ironworks was re-equipped by Eugene Flachat, one of whose specialities was the recovery of heat generated by puddling to drive steam engines. Puddling, as we know, produces good quality carbon steel for use in knife, sword and razor making. Flachat installed a 60 horsepower wheel at Vierzon to drive the press and the rolling mills in the ironworks.

In conclusion, either scenario could be correct, but I feel there is more evidence of Dellac being the maker than there is of someone else being the maker. No doubt we will find out one way or another - some time!

Regards,
Neil

I lived about 20 miles away from Vierzon, en Sologne. There's still weapon's factories there (Matra...), but this razor is from the first part of the XX century, and at this time all other french razors producters remaining were based in Thiers, the others (Langres, Nogent, Sens, Chatellerault) did not managed to reach the new industrial level, that solingen stated. There products were too expensive, and not "up to date" (wedges and not hollow ground à la solingen)

A famous firm like HOSPITALET (grelot) marks a lot of razors for small cutelry shops, with the name of the shop or the owner.

But you could also possibly be right !

regards

Originally Posted by charlie48horlogerie

I lived about 20 miles away from Vierzon, en Sologne. There's still weapon's factories there (Matra...), but this razor is from the first part of the XX century, and at this time all other french razors producters remaining were based in Thiers, the others (Langres, Nogent, Sens, Chatellerault) did not managed to reach the new industrial level, that solingen stated. There products were too expensive, and not "up to date" (wedges and not hollow ground à la solingen)

A famous firm like HOSPITALET (grelot) marks a lot of razors for small cutelry shops, with the name of the shop or the owner.

But you could also possibly be right !

regards

Yes, as I said before, you might be right. However, I don't think that reaching an 'industrial' level is the criterion by which to judge this. Not much is recorded about Rene Dellac, but there are quite a few examples bearing his work - including earlier examples that were more like the 'coupe chou' choppers associated with earlier makers so possibly associated with the elder Dellac. Also, there are numerous examples by others such as Aucoc aine (the Elder, patronised by the King for his jewellery and cutlery skills) that would be included as more of a 'bijou' marque than a mass-producer.

As far as large firms making razors stamped with the names of retailers, that is a given. All the major companies did it - a lot of german companies did it for french retailers, Sheffield companies did it for London and Birmingham outlets all the time, and Dovo still do it.

The thing is, neither of us know for sure and until more documentary evidence turns up, we never will - all we can do is surmise!

Whatever, it is an interesting debate, as I'm sure you will agree!

Regards,
Neil

Interesting debate indeed! I can now see why many people say vintage razors are so much better than modern, the history is incredible. Makes me want to leave the U.S. and head to Europe

Originally Posted by animalwithin

Interesting debate indeed! I can now see why many people say vintage razors are so much better than modern, the history is incredible. Makes me want to leave the U.S. and head to Europe

We interrupt this important program for some flash news...................

Hey animalwithin don´t disparage US razor history so quickly.
I appreciate your point about European cutlery history having the "long tooth" in the world of razors etc, and only a fool would argue that point.
However for some greater perspective please consider (just for example) a country like Australia that doesn´t have one cutlery firm to my knowledge.
I would really really love to have one razor, any razor made from my home country, where as you have so many to choose from.
Just my 0.001c (adjusted for Spanish bank bailout)

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