Thread: Picked up a pair of Rollers (gotta control this RAD lol)

Had a day off work, decided to go into town for a haircut and then on to my local antique shop (which I've had a few straights off of before)
They had a couple of straights, nothing special. A seven day set of some Thos. Turners with 3 missing in a nice box with a plaque sauing it was presented to a Sgt somoneorother around the time of the boar war. Thought about it but they were worn and with some missing not my cuppa (plus not struck on round points) so left them.
Then I saw 3 Rollers, two boxed one not. The unboxed one was a bit rough but the other two were quite nice and in better shape than the ones I already have so out came the wallet... A tenner for both (and the price I was thinking of as well) Result.

One came in the standard box with a flip lid, the other in a normal box and seams to be older - both are Imperial No. 2 (the most common). The older one has a spring loaded handle instead of an unscrew one. Both are complete (except for paperwork) and unbroken. The older one has a lovely clean blade (and literally jumped onto my coti but that's for a later sotd lol)

Anyway, pics.......


The pair.


The old box with original scribbled instructions for the new owner..


Detail of the older blade


More detail..


Detail of the newer one..


With the family lol.

Shame about my Viscount, it has all the paperwork inc. the slip to say it's been tested but the razor is in poor shape.

Anyways, I hope you like

There is also a date written on the front of the box of the older one..



Just noticed the stamp on the lid of the strop side, on the normal boxed one it has a date - but on the others it hasn't. Also there is a number '2' stamped on the lid. whereas the others haven't (inc. the Viscount)

Standard boxed Imp #2 version
Flip lid box version Imp #2
Viscount model

So whether the normal boxed one is older or not I don't know. Also as I think I've mentioned the handle has a sprung ball bearing method of holding the blade whereas all my others have a screw handle type to clamp the blade so it may be a newer version? I don't know.. Anyone??

I have three Imperial No. 2s with the sprung ball in the handle. Two of the blades are stamped 1936 and 1935, but the third doesn't have a year marking. Looks like your spring/ball one is a '38 so I think the ball-bearing ones are the older ones.

Originally Posted by Goggles

I have three Imperial No. 2s with the sprung ball in the handle. Two of the blades are stamped 1936 and 1935, but the third doesn't have a year marking. Looks like your spring/ball one is a '38 so I think the ball-bearing ones are the older ones.

Did you get that from the blade? I see the sprung one has 38 on it, is that for 1938?
The screw handled one has 46 on it, so is that 1946?
My other #2 has 52 on the blade and the Viscount hasn't got a number in that place.

I have one with the case made of aluminum which I read is out of the 20's?

I actually bought 5 of them recently to give away to my groomsmen when I get married next month lol

Might keep the Aluminum one and give up my Imperial lol

Originally Posted by Yorkie

Did you get that from the blade? I see the sprung one has 38 on it, is that for 1938?
The screw handled one has 46 on it, so is that 1946?
My other #2 has 52 on the blade and the Viscount hasn't got a number in that place.

There's a big thread about Rolls history, design and restoration on another forum, I'll see if I can find it. According to that, the two digit number stamped on the blade is the year of manufacture, so yeah, the screw-handle one would be 1946.

Edit: Found it in my bookmarks. It's from The Shave Den. Link: The "what is" and " how to" thread for the Rolls Razor

You're lucky all your hones seem to be intact. Out of three, one of mine has a cracked hone and another is missing. All the strops have been gouged by someone working the mechanism without the blade in place, but the strop's a lot easier to replace.

Cheers Goggles, that link is just what I need
Shame about my Viscount, hone cracked and guard missing off the blade (plus other bits). The best bit about it is all the paperwork is there. Might have to search the bay of e for a few.. RAD... Argh!!!!! Stop me please... lol