Thread: Display razor J.A. Henckels, carved ivory, World's Columbian Exposition

I hope they do have some.

Originally Posted by Thaeris

I hope they do have some.

Me too, but I would not be overly optimistic as it might not be a simple matter of going to a records room for the info.

Bob

Originally Posted by BobH

Me too, but I would not be overly optimistic as it might not be a simple matter of going to a records room for the info.

Bob

As it turns out, I was able to find the information myself.

The official directory of the Chicago World's Fair lists J.A. Hemkels (they couldn't be bothered with copy editing the thousands of business listings, and if you know much about the Columbian Expo, it's not going to be surprising that the official directory was a tad slipshod on the details) as one of the German manufacturers on display in the Manufacturers And Liberal Arts Building, in the Germany pavilion near the center of the enormous building.

The pride-of-place for that exhibit means it would definitely have been seen by most people who visited that building, and that means that a huge percentage of the important people of 1893 would have looked at that display razor.

People like Harry Houdini, Scott Joplin, Susan B. Anthony, Buffalo Bill Cody. I think Gustave Eiffel visited. Many heads of state including most of the top people in American government at the time.

Originally Posted by Voidmonster

As it turns out, I was able to find the information myself.

The official directory of the Chicago World's Fair lists J.A. Hemkels (they couldn't be bothered with copy editing the thousands of business listings, and if you know much about the Columbian Expo, it's not going to be surprising that the official directory was a tad slipshod on the details) as one of the German manufacturers on display in the Manufacturers And Liberal Arts Building, in the Germany pavilion near the center of the enormous building.

The pride-of-place for that exhibit means it would definitely have been seen by most people who visited that building, and that means that a huge percentage of the important people of 1893 would have looked at that display razor.

People like Harry Houdini, Scott Joplin, Susan B. Anthony, Buffalo Bill Cody. I think Gustave Eiffel visited. Many heads of state including most of the top people in American government at the time.

I did mean from Henckels themselves from factory records as possibly being difficult to find. Other sources are there as you have found. It would be interesting if there exists a photograph showing the razor in place at the Exhibition.

Bob

Very elegant razor.

That is AWESOME.

Now the real question, what do you plan on doing with it? Hanging it on the wall? Maybe tucking in it for bed every night with you as the first photos suggest?

Wait for Zombipocalypse

Not exactly on topic, but not exactly off topic either ......... for those whom this thread has stimulated interest in the Chicago World's Fair, a pretty good read ;

The Devil In The White City : Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America

The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America: Erik Larson: 9780375725609: Amazon.com: Books

Originally Posted by Thaeris

It doesn't, but it's so heavy that I wouldn't give a try even if it was. ^^

Maybe you could have the razor stationary and move your face around it to shave with it.

This is fantastic. Has anyone asked already how HEAVY that thing is?