Thread: Top-heavy fractions on old razor scales

This is just like the barber's notch... All the barbers were in the saloon having an ale and laughing it up about how "in 150 years, they'll be going nuts trying to figure this out!"

Originally Posted by HNSB

This is just like the barber's notch... All the barbers were in the saloon having an ale and laughing it up about how "in 150 years, they'll be going nuts trying to figure this out!"

Funny you should mention that - I have it on the utmost good authority that this was originally an old honers sign, telling him that the razor had been honed. It started off as just a little groove, so you can tell how many times a razor has been honed by the size of the notch. Of course, only very short-sighted honers used this method - others punched little braille dots in the scales.

Don't go claiming this as your own....!

Regards,
Neil

Originally Posted by Neil Miller

Funny you should mention that - I have it on the utmost good authority that this was originally an old honers sign, telling him that the razor had been honed. It started off as just a little groove, so you can tell how many times a razor has been honed by the size of the notch. Of course, only very short-sighted honers used this method - others punched little braille dots in the scales.

Don't go claiming this as your own....!

Regards,
Neil

The barber's notch began when an absent minded razor grinder, on a Friday just before quitting time, made a mistake and gouged the tip of the razor. His foreman came over and not wanting to scrap an otherwise perfect blade, formed a deeper notch. The mystery is solved.

The razor in OP with 90/45 or whatever it was .... was used for 90 shaves before it needed honing. The barber kept track on a separate piece of paper. Had it honed by one of those traveling honers common in those days, and only got 45 shaves out of it that next time. Lynn must have honed the one that got 222 shaves .......

222? is that ALL?

Originally Posted by sharptonn

222? is that ALL?

You got that upside down Tom - its b-b-b-b-b-Barry's razor.

LOOK! I have found another! Looks as if this chap was improving as he went along!

WOW Tom! What are the odds on that! I think that must have belonged to one of my forebears, 'blind' Neil Miller, the three-fingered honer. He was well-known for his hand gestures, two of them being remarkably offensive back in the day...

Ah yes! Blind old "3 finger" Miller! Old stories say he was "eaten up" with himself!