Thread: Belfast linen

So there's a ditty that ends in
"For the razor blade was German made
But the sheet was Belfast linen."
Anyways. I ordered up some belfast linen and am venturing to make a strop from it. Any tips or considerations, or is it literally just cut a strip out, hem it, and hang it?

Well you've piqued my curiosity so I googled 'Belfast linen' and found it here . They say,"—All Belfast Linen is 32 count. Zweigart does make other counts of linen, but they are referred to by other names (Cashel is 28 count, Edinburgh is 36 count, Newcastle is 40 count, and there are others as well)." BTW, they say that they are the sole manufacturer of the stuff.

So not knowing anything about the comparative weight of the various thread counts and which might be ideal for a hanging strop I would lean toward the greater thread count of the Newcastle. That woven linen that Tony Miller supplies with his strops is awfully good. I have no idea what it is though.

I know I have seen some strops that will say Genuine Horsehide Shell on the leather and Genuine Belfast Linen on the strop. Oh well. It was cheap and we'll see how it goes. I think I got a piece that was like 20" by 16" so lots of room to experiment.

I look forward to hearing/seeing what you come up with. As nice as Tony's linen is it is not as dense as the old linens on the vintage strops.

Yeah we'll see. I just don't like paddles that much (you'll recall I was looking around a bit for a broken strop to make a paddle from- but I decided that was a waste.) I currently have balsa w/ paste but I like the hanging strop a lot more, but I can't bring myself to paste my strop (soon to be strops) so I'm looking for a DIY hanging strop style paste vector. I figure if I make like 6 hanging linen strops I'll figure my own way out eventually. If something works well I might send it around for testing. We'll see.

Now because I am engineer, I need to explore present and past options and possible improvements, so please help me out:
That said, any advice on making a linen strop?
What do people see as key things in your current linen-component-style part of your strop?
What could be improved?
I know this is a feel thing, but what length/width is preferable?
Also a feel thing, but handles, d-rings, or square cut end?

Thanks!

I am clueless as to making a linen hanger beyond cutting it to 23 to 24" and although I used to dislike handles/D-rings I have changed my mind about that and I like them now. Square cut is alright for me too. If it was good enough for the pro barbers for decades it works for me. So that is just a matter of personal preference IMO.

Slightly off the main topic perhaps but you've reawakened an old memory. I've heard the lines you quoted before, but I can't remember where. What's the rest of the limerick?

Not too sure but I think it has somethign to do with sweeney todd. It's some dark poem. Its a series of limmericks and I only know the last one by heart:

For he went to hell but his wife got well
and is still alive and sinnin'
for the razor blade was german made
but the sheet was belfast linen!

Originally Posted by leadduck

Slightly off the main topic perhaps but you've reawakened an old memory. I've heard the lines you quoted before, but I can't remember where. What's the rest of the limerick?

I got curious.....

The Ballad Of William Bloat

In a mean abode on the Skankill Road
Lived a man named William Bloat;
He had a wife, the curse of his life,
Who continually got his goat.
So one day at dawn, with her nightdress on
He cut her bloody throat.

With a razor gash he settled her hash
Oh never was crime so quick
But the drip drip drip on the pillowslip
Of her life blood made him sick.
And the pool of gore on the bedroom floor
Grew clotted and cold and thick.

And yet he was glad he had done what he had
When she lay there stiff and still
But a sudden awe of the angry law
Struck his heart with an icy chill.
So to finish the fun so well begun
He resolved himself to kill.

He took the sheet from the wife's coul' feet
And twisted it into a rope
And he hanged himself from the pantry shelf,
'Twas an easy end, let's hope.
In the face of death with his latest breath
He solemnly cursed the Pope.

But the strangest turn to the whole concern
Is only just beginning.
He went to Hell but his wife got well
And she's still alive and sinning.
For the razor blade was German made
But the sheet was Belfast linen.


Triskelle - Song Lyrics: The Ballad Of William Bloat

Sweet. So not sure if the strop is specifically belfast linen but I know it was used. I'll try and find my evidence I'm sure I've seen it places.