Thread: Wostenholm

My early GW has that profile as well, starts at 9/8 goes to 8/8

I have been reading the wiki and think that this razor is a microtome? Have never heard of them before and what i can gather is that they are 'rubbish' and not good for shaving and are difficult to hone? Please can anyone advise if this is the case and why would a manufacture produce these?

Microtome - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Originally Posted by markhur

I have been reading the wiki and think that this razor is a microtome? Have never heard of them before and what i can gather is that they are 'rubbish' and not good for shaving and are difficult to hone? Please can anyone advise if this is the case and why would a manufacture produce these?

I thought of a microtome based on the description of the thing; however, I've never heard of a Wostenholm microtome. I'd guess it's more likely that the razor has microtome-esque geometry because of unbalanced honing over the years. But without a good shot to show the geometry it's really impossible to say with any certainty.

Peace,
Jim

this is potentially a possibility, I'll try and get a shot to show what i mean and hopefully, you or someone can identify what it is...sadly this razor cost me more than i wanted to pay on ebay and if its going to prove to be no good then i guess that would be a lesson learned...

here are some photos of the cross section, does anyone think it looks like a microtome or is it just enevenly ground?

Originally Posted by markhur

here are some photos of the cross section, does anyone think it looks like a microtome or is it just enevenly ground?

Yep, it's a microtome and, as I'm sure you already know, they were used to take very thin sections of material for examination under microscopes.
More info in the WIKI as Manah suggested.

[QUOTE=Havachat45;864344]Yep, it's a microtome and, as I'm sure you already know, they were used to take very thin sections of material for examination under microscopes.

thanks for confiming that... does this mean it is not suitable for shaving if honed up? this cost me with import tax £80.00 i.e $138 what a waste!!
really can't find straight razors in antique shops in this country and if you do someone has beaten you to it and bought them all...hence I end up looking on ebay and going by photos... i will now be much more carefull

Re grinding the Microtome will turn it into a fine razor. Just have to find the right person to fix it up for you.

I'm baffled at a pipe-microtome...but that's the shape of the matter.

Regrinding would be an option, but it may be possible to hone it as a wedge and shave with it as is. Microtome or not, it is certainly of a steel capable of holding a good edge, and therefore could be used for shaving.

I'd check the community links/member map and classifieds and see if there's someone near by that would evaluate it and if possible hone it up for you.

Peace,
Jim