Thread: Just bought a stropping device. Any opinions?

So the hardware bug already bit me and I came across this gem online. It's a 1908 Fleming Razor Stropper and Honer. I have tried google and the only info I can find is oooold ads. Here's a pic of the actual item and an ad I found.


Basically you place your straight razor in the machine and run it up and down a strop or hone as usual but it flips the blade back and forth for you.

Seller made it clear it needed some work but should be able to be cleaned and used as intended.

If nothing else it'll have a nice spot on the shelf next to my other "medieval torture tools" as my wife calls them. Any thoughts on such a device?

I love these kind of machines, I go nuts for buying them, the ingenuity and inventions from the mid 1800 through to early part of 1900's amazes me. I don't think there was an aspect of life someone didn't try to invent something for, often resulting in a far more complex procedure than the one it intended to replace.

I'd not let any of my straights near it, but I'd get some de blades and dull them just to try it out.

Enjoy, and let us know how you get on

*** edit***

In fact looking at the ad properly I think this is only for de type blades and not for a straight. I could be wrong though.

Looks like an single edge razor blade stropper to me, cf Razor Sharpeners and Stroppers

Originally Posted by RobinK

Looks like an single edge razor blade stropper to me, cf Razor Sharpeners and Stroppers

Sorry, you're quite right single edge not de.

I did find some other ads for the device that refer to using it for straights. Tbh for the 16 bucks I spent on it, if it never touches a blade again it's still pretty darn cool. Might try it on a blade if I'm looking to restore it anyway. Who kn9ws it may even work pretty good. Not too many auto stroppers around. For 100ish years old it's in decent shape.

Now if the post office could just grow wings. . . .

It's cool to put up and look at but you could be done stropping by the time you set it up and get to it, not much simpler than a hanging or bench strop. Tc

I have several types of razor blade stropping devices for DE or SE. If you want to try it out make sure you have a vintage razor blade as the modern blades are coated (Teflon, I believe.)

My favorite is the TwinPlex. It is a brilliant piece of technology.