My new beauties (Herder & Heljestrand), want info

I got these two razor by mail today. They were away to get honed after I sanded and polished them. I picked them up on an ebay like site for about 6 or 7 euro's each. They are back now and the Herder shaves awesome!

C.V. Heljestrand No. 23 K&B Extra
1/4 Hollow, 5/8, 1 shoulder stabiliser, French point, white celluloid scales.

Friedrich Herder Abrahams Sohn No. 20
Full hollow, 6/8, shoulderless, muted square point, black bakelite scales.

Pictures:
The Razors:
Attachment 56307

The grinds:
Attachment 56308

Stamp on the Herder:
Attachment 56306

Stamp on the Heljestrand:
(Front)
Attachment 56305
(Back)
Attachment 56304

Hopefully some of you know what the K&B Extra means and when the razors were made. Enjoy the razor porn.

Sweet Helje ! Should be a top notch shaver, Both are very nice razors !
here is a link on site, hope it helps
http://straightrazorpalace.com/srpwi...2No_23%22_9/16
http://straightrazorpalace.com/srpwi...d_%2223%22_5/8

IME you can't beat a Heljestrand. I've only got one Herder and it is first rate. Ya done good. :)

Mooie score!

Two of the best shavers, in my experience. They also both hold an edge very well-good tempering on the steel, I guess.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by blugill

Sweet Helje ! Should be a top notch shaver, Both are very nice razors !
here is a link on site, hope it helps
Heljestrand, C. V. "No 23" 9/16 - Straight Razor Place Wiki
Heljestrand "23" 5/8 - Straight Razor Place Wiki

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Hi blugill, looking at the tail and the width of the shoulder the helje resembles the MK-23. The strange part is the location of the "No 23"(on the tail) and the K&B Extra logo on the back of the tang. But mine has jimps on the bottom of the tang and the size of the No 23, wierd weird.

It appears that K&B was a pharmacy in the US between 1905 and 1997(K&B - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia), so a razor with a shop logo isn't a stretch. However, how did a Swedish razor for the US market end up in The Netherlands........:D

Very nice! Congrats and enjoy!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BrickBag

It appears that K&B was a pharmacy in the US between 1905 and 1997(K&B - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia), so a razor with a shop logo isn't a stretch. However, how did a Swedish razor for the US market end up in The Netherlands........:D

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Brick, I think the wikipedia.org reference may be the wrong K&B for this razor.

Goins' Encyclopedia of Cutlery Markings gives K & B as a trademark of Kruse & Bahlmann, who had the K&B Hardware Co., of Cincinnati, Ohio (1894-1962).

HTH,

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mbaglio100

Brick, I think the wikipedia.org reference may be the wrong K&B for this razor.

Goins' Encyclopedia of Cutlery Markings gives K & B as a trademark of Kruse & Bahlmann, who had the K&B Hardware Co., of Cincinnati, Ohio (1894-1962).

HTH,

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ALSO: The OP's tang shows K&B Extra... Goins cites a KB Extra ("K B" without ampersand) as "K B Extra, a Trademark used by Krusius Brothers, New York 1889-1927. However, Goins doesn't show a logo for this, so I don't know whether the "Extra" on the OP's tang confirms the Krusius lineage, or the absence of the "&" negates it...

But in either case, I'm still tending away from the New Orleans drug store. :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BrickBag

Hi blugill, looking at the tail and the width of the shoulder the helje resembles the MK-23. The strange part is the location of the "No 23"(on the tail) and the K&B Extra logo on the back of the tang. But mine has jimps on the bottom of the tang and the size of the No 23, wierd weird.

It appears that K&B was a pharmacy in the US between 1905 and 1997(K&B - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia), so a razor with a shop logo isn't a stretch. However, how did a Swedish razor for the US market end up in The Netherlands........:D

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Man I wouldn't have a clue how, you got a fine Helje and now its got me interested in finding out more about that particular one, I myself have never seen one quite like yours ! Get her ready and put her on display in SOTD !

Michael, thank you for all this information!

The KB EXTRA's appear to have other stamps: http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...xtra-67-a.html

I'm thinking that Kruse & Bahlmann is a more likely origin. K&B Hardware Co. sounds like they could have made a deal with Heljestrand for branded razors. But still, it has jimps(signifying a No. 23) but the tail looks like the MK23.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by blugill

Man I wouldn't have a clue how, you got a fine Helje and now its got me interested in finding out more about that particular one, I myself have never seen one quite like yours ! Get her ready and put her on display in SOTD !

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She is ready and I'll use her tomorrow for her first shave!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BrickBag

Michael, thank you for all this information!

The KB EXTRA's appear to have other stamps: http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...xtra-67-a.html

I'm thinking that Kruse & Bahlmann is a more likely origin. K&B Hardware Co. sounds like they could have made a deal with Heljestrand for branded razors. But still, it has jimps(signifying a No. 23) but the tail looks like the MK23.



She is ready and I'll use her tomorrow for her first shave!

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Interesting find, and Sweet ! I'll be lookin for that Helje tomorrow on SOTD !

Here are some pics of a Krusius bros KB Extra I restored a while back. The logo is very different which leads me to think it is not theirs at all.

Krusius Brothers was a rather big german cutler. I can't imagine that logo on the back of the Heljestrand having anything to do with them.
It's most likely a vendor stamp - it's not the first one we've seen on Heljestrands either.
One of the forum members got in touch, a year or so ago, with a heir to the US importer of Heljestrands, but unfortunately I didn't hear back if he got any info.

The K&B Pharmacy was based out of New Orleans. The letters "K&B" stood for "Katz and Besthoff." They had some "store brands," but to my knowledge had no straight razors.

They were bought out by "Rite Aid."