Thread: Razor identification

Can anyone help with identification and history of a razor which bears the name AMA

Photos would help. But, as a senior member, with only nine posts, maybe you haven't learned of our need for razor porn.

Regards - Walt

Originally Posted by Walt

Photos would help. But, as a senior member, with only nine posts, maybe you haven't learned of our need for razor porn.

Regards - Walt

Sorry Walt but it is currently out for slight refurb. To Neil Millar, I enjoy the porn as well but maybe will follow up with piccys.

Scotsman

Actually, Neil is one of the likely candidates to furnish you with the information you would like.

Thanks for that, Alan, but I can't really help on this occasion!

I have tried to track AMA down before without any success - not in the cutlers marks books, the old Solingen Makers Archives, or the old German Telephone Records for Industry - at least for the years from 1920 - 1939.

Despite that, they seem to have been quite a prolific maker - I have had a few myself.

One thing that I did find is that there are a dozen or more firms with the name AMA in Germany, with occupations as diverse as estate agencies, CNC parts fabrication, motors, human resources and others. Another thing is a fairly recent registration (say in the last decade or two) of the name AMA by an outfit in China who supply barbers scissors, etc. You often see these brand new scissors for sale (Bettertons, Amazon, Ebay, etc) saying that they are made from german steel in Solingen, yet when you view the product 'Solingen' is nowhere to be found on it.

This worrying trend is extending into the world of straight razors - the same Chinese company has produced a brand new AMA straight razor, strop paste and strop. The strop is very, very similar to products from Jemico, Dovo and others - it looks identical in construction and material. The modern offerings are not a patch, of course, on the vintage ones, which were very good.

I have also owned a couple of AMA 100 French Paddle strops. The box and the strop both marked as made in France. Probably a co-incidence, though.

Regards,
Neil

Thanks Neil, that has been very helpful, I'll just have to keep on searchin.

Regards Scotsman

Couple things about AMA, found a few claims that AMA razors were made by Dovo :http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...otta-dovo.html On another razor forum claims the same.

Also there was a cutler from Thiers France that used the AMA trademark, but i never seen one so i dont know if its the same trademark?

Thanks Martin
I obtained the razor with a French ? made paddle strop type AMA 100, so perhaps it is French will investigate further

This is the mark on the AMA 100 french paddle I mentioned earlier:



It is not my pic - it is someone else's paddle, but the few I have owned have been marked in exactly the same way.

I'm not sure that there is a link, though - all the AMA razors I have seen have english writing on them, and on their boxes. France is not mentioned anywhere, only 'Solingen' and 'Germany' and 'Finest Silver Steel Forged and Ground in Solingen Germany.'

Regards,
Neil

AMA razors were not made by Dovo - this misconception was given rise to by a company called Giltsharp showing a picture of a Dovo razor with an AMA name above it.

The erroneously captioned pic still exists in Bettertons catalogue:



One has to wonder why it is there - is it an honest mistake?

Regards,
Neil