Queen City Razor Strap

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10-28-2021, 02:34 AM
outback

8 Attachment(s)

Queen City Razor Strap

Picked this up for $5 ,awhile back.

Attachment 336813

Looking closer, I could make out a name and address, stamped on the box.

N. Moershfelder. 501 & 503 Main St. Buffalo NY

Attachment 336814
Attachment 336815
Attachment 336816

I looked thru the Buffalo, City Directory. I found him in the year 1885. Listed as Nicholas Moershfelder, a Cutler and Grinder, at these two locations. All so is listed his two sons, Charles and Edward, at 501

Attachment 336819

It is called a strap, not a strop, and was used for honing. It looks to be coated with emory, on one side, and iron oxide on the other. Its also padded, which makes it convexed. And not up for discussion, its just an observation.

Attachment 336817
Attachment 336818
Attachment 336820

Nicholas Moershfelder.
Born in Alsace - Lorraine, France. February 19, 1834
Died, June 21, 1887. Buffalo - Erie, NY. USA

Sons:

Charles. 1869 - 1923
Edward. 1866 - 1925

A interesting, strap of history..... Would like to learn more about him, while he was in France. Who did he apprentice, under, did he make razors... ect.
10-28-2021, 04:32 AM
RezDog

Nice score and write up.
10-28-2021, 10:26 AM
tintin

I know it's not up for discussion, but why did they make them convex? I've seen it before on other straps.
10-28-2021, 10:34 AM
outback

Vern, I guess they padded them so you weren't honing on a stick, scenario. Make it like a piece of thick, leather, kind of thing. :shrug:
10-28-2021, 01:13 PM
Gasman

Very cool find and history. Searching history can be fun when you do find info.
10-28-2021, 06:24 PM
Brontosaurus

Quote:

Originally Posted by outback

Picked this up for $5 ,awhile back.

Attachment 336813

Looking closer, I could make out a name and address, stamped on the box.

N. Moershfelder. 501 & 503 Main St. Buffalo NY

Attachment 336814
Attachment 336815
Attachment 336816

I looked thru the Buffalo, City Directory. I found him in the year 1885. Listed as Nicholas Moershfelder, a Cutler and Grinder, at these two locations. All so is listed his two sons, Charles and Edward, at 501

Attachment 336819

It is called a strap, not a strop, and was used for honing. It looks to be coated with emory, on one side, and iron oxide on the other. Its also padded, which makes it convexed. And not up for discussion, its just an observation.

Attachment 336817
Attachment 336818
Attachment 336820

Nicholas Moershfelder.
Born in Alsace - Lorraine, France. February 19, 1834
Died, June 21, 1887. Buffalo - Erie, NY. USA

Sons:

Charles. 1869 - 1923
Edward. 1866 - 1925

A interesting, strap of history..... Would like to learn more about him, while he was in France. Who did he apprentice, under, did he make razors... ect.

Where did you obtain the "Alsace-Lorraine" birth location? The page you attached with the names is pretty blurry and I could not make it out there. "Alsace-Lorraine," as often compounded in American discussion, actually pertains to a period when the regions in question were considered German, or between 1871 and 1919 or between the conclusion of the Franco-Prussian and First World wars. As such, German-held "Lorraine" only pertained to the Moselle region, not the rest of Lorraine, which remained in France. As he was born in 1839, Nicholas Moershfelder would either have been born in Lorraine or in Alsace, not both.

Sorry to split hairs here, but I felt obliged as I am currently located in the Lorraine region of modern-day France, the current frontiers being pretty much what they in 1839.
10-28-2021, 07:49 PM
outback

1 Attachment(s)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brontosaurus

Where did you obtain the "Alsace-Lorraine" birth location? The page you attached with the names is pretty blurry and I could not make it out there. "Alsace-Lorraine," as often compounded in American discussion, actually pertains to a period when the regions in question were considered German, or between 1871 and 1919 or between the conclusion of the Franco-Prussian and First World wars. As such, German-held "Lorraine" only pertained to the Moselle region, not the rest of Lorraine, which remained in France. As he was born in 1839, Nicholas Moershfelder would either have been born in Lorraine or in Alsace, not both.

Sorry to split hairs here, but I felt obliged as I am currently located in the Lorraine region of modern-day France, the current frontiers being pretty much what they in 1839.

I will have to look back, for that. But I'm assuming he was from what is now, the Lorraine area. But I'll look again and let ya know.

It was "ancestry. com"

Attachment 336829
A closer pic of the directory listing.
10-28-2021, 08:31 PM
tintin

Quote:

Originally Posted by outback

Vern, I guess they padded them so you weren't honing on a stick, scenario. Make it like a piece of thick, leather, kind of thing. :shrug:

So maybe not done for any specific reason, just the result of padding it like a pillow. Makes sense.
10-29-2021, 02:09 AM
sharptonn

Hay! I have a Moerschfelder Razor?

Found it! https://sharprazorpalace.com/razors/...ml#post1059655
10-29-2021, 10:53 AM
outback

Thanks, Tom. Nice looking blade.!

So....he learned from his father. Nice.!