Does anyone know anything about my C.V. Heljestrand 7 day straight razor boxed set?

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10-14-2012, 10:46 PM
davidnichols

Does anyone know anything about my C.V. Heljestrand 7 day straight razor boxed set?

Hi everyone I am new to this forum. My father always used straight razors to shave with. When he passed away I inherited a few of his razors. I was looking some today and searching looking online to see if I could find any info about some of them.

This is a boxed set of 7 razors. One for each day of the week. The box is weathered but is in good condition. Unfortunately I do not have the key to the lock. Does anyone know the age of the razors? Is the box original and belong with these razors? Are the handles ivory? Thanks in advance.

The razors are all the same. The markings are:
C.V. HELJESTRAND
ESKILSTUNA
PRISBELONT
STOCKHOLM 1866
LONDON 1851
PARIS 1851

Across the top of the blade reads:
On one side: DANNEMORA-GJUTSTAL
On the other side: SWEDEN

I also have a Haigh Ltd straight razor called " The Celebrated SENATOR RAZOR" with the box. I will post pictures of it in a separate thread.

http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/IMAG2609.jpg

http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/IMAG2606.jpg

http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/IMAG2607.jpg

http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/IMAG2608.jpg

http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/IMAG2606.jpg

http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/IMAG2605.jpg
10-14-2012, 10:53 PM
manah

Welcome to SRP.
Very nice set.
I hope, this link would be helpful:
Carl Victor Heljestrand, Eskilstuna, Sweden.
10-14-2012, 10:58 PM
lz6

As manah pointed out you have a very nice set of razors. We have a new member thread where you would be welcome to introduce yourself to the members here but in the meantime welcome to SRP.
10-15-2012, 11:38 AM
Pithor

Great looking set, probably late 19th century, and pobably ivory scales. You see them surprisingly often on Swedish razors.

After use, carefully remove the blade from the holder and try to get the inside as dry as possible (as these are removable baldes, but I'm sure you noticed).
10-15-2012, 01:10 PM
unit

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pithor

Great looking set, probably late 19th century, and pobably ivory scales. You see them surprisingly often on Swedish razors.

After use, carefully remove the blade from the holder and try to get the inside as dry as possible (as these are removable baldes, but I'm sure you noticed).

How interesting! I love learning stuff here.
10-15-2012, 03:13 PM
brooksie967

I know something about it. You won't like it so you should send it to me. Let me know what shipping to Canada costs and I'll send you a payment through paypal, thanks :)

PM me for shipping details please!
10-15-2012, 04:09 PM
pesa

That's a really nice set to begin with..it's quite hard to tell but does the 3rd razor from the top has a nick on the edge? Get it hone and it'll be a super nice set of razor. I really envy you for an heirloom as cool as that. Best of luck and welcome to SRP!
10-18-2012, 11:26 PM
davidnichols

Thanks for everyone's replies and all of the helpful information. I don't plan on ever parting with this set.

Does anyone know what the approximate value is so I can add these to my homeowners insurance?

Should I use these razors?

Thanks again,

David
10-19-2012, 09:48 AM
Pithor

As per SRP forum rules, razor valuations are (IMO sadly) not allowed under any circumstance, so I will bide by that and say that they are 'quite valuable', as they are a complete seven-day set with ivory scales which seem to be intact, in what could be the original case.

And you should definately use them, or at least one or two, because these things take amazing edges and are stellar shavers.
10-19-2012, 01:14 PM
ryanjewell

Does anyone know anything about my C.V. Heljestrand 7 day straight razor boxed set?

Did they ever put collars on ivory? For some reason I thought they didn't ever do that...
10-19-2012, 01:17 PM
JimmyHAD

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidnichols

Thanks for everyone's replies and all of the helpful information. I don't plan on ever parting with this set.

Does anyone know what the approximate value is so I can add these to my homeowners insurance?

Should I use these razors?

Thanks again,

David

Welcome to SRP David. Of course you should use them ! Go to the toolbar at the top of the page and click on 'library' and check out the beginner's guide. Whatever you use should be expertly honed to 'shave ready'. Whether it is one or more of those, or something else you have. OTOH, one or more may already be shave ready.

FWIW, I've shaved with many different brands of razors, both new and vintage, and Heljestrands are among the finest shavers known to man. I have a 2 razor set with the same blades but horn scales and they are wonderful shavers. The one close up of the scales you posted showed a pin with a collar.

Generally Helje didn't use collars on pins with genuine ivory. Are all of the scales pinned with collars ?
10-19-2012, 01:19 PM
Zephyr

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryanjewell

Did they ever put collars on ivory? For some reason I thought they didn't ever do that...

I've seen several ivory scaled Swedes with collars, might be a Swedish "thing"
10-19-2012, 02:01 PM
ruday555

Wow, I have the almost exact same identical set but mine do not have collars and are numbered on the handles 1-7! They are awesome shavers, one suggestion, put them in a Alembi case for safe storeage.
10-19-2012, 02:13 PM
ruday555

1 Attachment(s)

Here are some pics of my set, I haven't seen too many of these sets, as a matter of fact yours is the only other set I have seen. Attachment 109813
10-19-2012, 02:22 PM
brooksie967

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

FWIW, I've shaved with many different brands of razors, both new and vintage, and Heljestrands are among the finest shavers known to man.

Prices just went up 10 X, thanks Jimmy!
10-19-2012, 02:29 PM
ruday555

1 Attachment(s)

Attachment 109814 They are great shavers!
10-19-2012, 02:53 PM
Zephyr

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pithor

After use, carefully remove the blade from the holder and try to get the inside as dry as possible (as these are removable baldes, but I'm sure you noticed).

It's correct that the blades are removable, but I don't belive they were ment to be removed, only as a possibility to replace a worn out blade if anything.

The blades are held in place by because of the tight slot in the frame on these, but there are others with a small screw in the end of the frame that came with several spare/day set blades that could be swithed easily.

By repeatedly removing the blades on these you will eventually expand the slot in the frame to a point were it no longer is able to hold the blade and it will fall out as the metal in the frame/spine is quite soft.
10-19-2012, 04:43 PM
Lemur

I was once sharpening one like these and after a while I thought I was gonna loose my mind!
What ever I did it wouldn't get sharp or it did almost get there and then, poff gone!
I finally went to the microscope to really find out what was going on, then when I held the razor in my hand, touching the blade, I felt a slight "click".
I touched it again and "click", the blade was moving....
10-19-2012, 04:54 PM
ruday555

You are now entering "The Twilight Zone"
10-22-2012, 08:17 AM
Pithor

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zephyr

It's correct that the blades are removable, but I don't belive they were ment to be removed, only as a possibility to replace a worn out blade if anything.

The blades are held in place by because of the tight slot in the frame on these, but there are others with a small screw in the end of the frame that came with several spare/day set blades that could be swithed easily.

By repeatedly removing the blades on these you will eventually expand the slot in the frame to a point were it no longer is able to hold the blade and it will fall out as the metal in the frame/spine is quite soft.

Then there's a bit of a dilemma, as there will inevitably get some gunk/lather/water in the frame, inducing rust. I don't use my F.W. Söderén (it came with four blades) at the moment because I busted the bakelite scales, but I have shaved with it ten to twenty times and haven't noticed any sort of expansion of the slot whatsoever. Dead tight.

But what you're saying does seem to make sense. There's a small dent on both sides on top of the blades that click in to a narrowing within the slot [EDIT] I checked again and there is no such thing. This is present on my E.A. Berg of the same type, I confused the two[EDIT], as well as some notches, so it's not a flat metal surface merely being held by a tightened slot, but still something that might be moveable.

How did you determine that the frames are softer than the blades? There was no worrying about screwing up the blade's temper when making the frame, so they could have hardened it to the same level as the blades, right?
10-22-2012, 10:00 AM
Zephyr

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pithor

Then there's a bit of a dilemma, as there will inevitably get some gunk/lather/water in the frame, inducing rust. I don't use my F.W. Söderén (it came with four blades) at the moment because I busted the bakelite scales, but I have shaved with it ten to twenty times and haven't noticed any sort of expansion of the slot whatsoever. Dead tight.

But what you're saying does seem to make sense. There's a small dent on both sides on top of the blades that click in to a narrowing within the slot [EDIT] I checked again and there is no such thing. This is present on my E.A. Berg of the same type, I confused the two[EDIT], as well as some notches, so it's not a flat metal surface merely being held by a tightened slot, but still something that might be moveable.

How did you determine that the frames are softer than the blades? There was no worrying about screwing up the blade's temper when making the frame, so they could have hardened it to the same level as the blades, right?

I've had quite a few Heljestrands passing by and can't recall seeing the "dent" you metion on those, but I do have had a couple where the blade have been so loose it have fallen out of the frame :) There might of course be different solutions to thes, I can only speak of the ones I've handled.

For the softness of the frame from what I have read/heard the frames were not hardened, only the blades, you can also see in some that the frame/spine are pretty beat up with dings and scratches that wouldn't occure if it was hardened like the blade. I've also bendt a frame with my hands (no blade in) and I'm neither Uri Geller or The Incredible Hulk :)