Black Beauty (Junior)?

Hi All,

This is perhaps a question for the Aussies out there, but has anyone ever run across a hanging "Black Beauty" (Junior) strop (I believe it's Australian made)? It's the first one I ever bought, and I've never been able to work out the back.

The front is your bog standard smooth leather. The back is leather too. However, the back consists of ribbed (for your razors pleasure...?:confused: ) leather with a raised domino-type pattern up the center. I can send a photo if needed.

Is this purely decorative? I've never been game to use the back.

James.

Post the pics anyways. You definitely got ME curious lol.

Here's a couple of photos of the back. Sorry about the quality of the pictures, I've got a dodgy old camcorder that takes (very poor) photos.

This one's an overall picture of the strop:

Attachment 683


Here's the pattern I was talking about in my previous post. The dots in the domino pattern are indented, as if it's been stamped into the leather:

Attachment 684

This last one is just a gratuitous plug for Australian leather (but also shows the pattern again):

Attachment 685

Any ideas?

Nope, but had I been a strop collector, I'd definitely like to get my hands on one of these babies.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jimbo

Hi All,

This is perhaps a question for the Aussies out there, but has anyone ever run across a hanging "Black Beauty" (Junior) strop (I believe it's Australian made)? It's the first one I ever bought, and I've never been able to work out the back.

The front is your bog standard smooth leather. The back is leather too. However, the back consists of ribbed (for your razors pleasure...?:confused: ) leather with a raised domino-type pattern up the center. I can send a photo if needed.

Is this purely decorative? I've never been game to use the back.

James.

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Yeh I have one the back I have rubed in green oxide and because of the dimples it seems to hold the paste better,I give it about 15 licks then use the normal side
kind regards Peter
PS What state are you in

Well, if anyone's interested I can give you the name of the supplier over here - I'm sure they'd ship to wherever.

OK, so you use it with paste? I just figured using the back would be like stropping with a (very symmetrically) cut up strop. I've got some of the Dovo red that I might try out on it.

I'm in Brisbane, QLD. Go up to Maleny fairly regularly actually. One of the most beautiful parts of the world I've ever seen.

James.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jimbo

Well, if anyone's interested I can give you the name of the supplier over here - I'm sure they'd ship to wherever.

OK, so you use it with paste? I just figured using the back would be like stropping with a (very symmetrically) cut up strop. I've got some of the Dovo red that I might try out on it.

I'm in Brisbane, QLD. Go up to Maleny fairly regularly actually. One of the most beautiful parts of the world I've ever seen.

James.

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I don`t care what people say about where they live ,this IS god`s country
Kind regards Peter

Peter

I have one of these strops, picked it up on eBay along with a new 5/8 Dovo both unused for A$70.00 apparently it was an unwanted gift, sorry but I digress
I tend to take the view that the pattern on the back of the strop as being the leather equivalent of using canvas to strop on. I have used the reverse side of the strop with no ill effects. I haven’t thought of pasting the patterned side as James has but it obviously works. These strops seem to be easily available in Brisbane and I believe that there is also a longer version available. Best of all, this strop is Aussie made so it has to be good…..LOL
John

John,

Yes, the strops are pretty easily obtained in Brisbane - the distributor is somewhere in Breakfast Creek and Shaver Shops stock them (this thread is getting pretty parochial :) ). I've seen another version (perhaps the longer one you speak of) called "Black Beauty" but as far as I'm aware it doesn't have the patterning on the back.

Yes, that makes sense to view it as a canvas equivalent.

(BTW, I forgot to thank you for your PM offer on the "Dovo vs Bengall" thread a few weeks ago (that was you, wasn't it?). I'm not usually that rude, but about that time my wife and I went away for a week or so to Maleny, and things just slipped my mind - sorry).

James.

The pattern seems to be a type of Russian tanned leather or the market equiv. Kieth from Hand American has information on his site about Russian leather.

Some firms put a diamond embossing on their leather if it required more drag for razor strops. I have strops with machine made texture.

Jemico's leather Russian strops also have a bubble texture on the other side. As I remember they refer to it as "compressed leather".

I've thought the same that textured leather serves a purpose prior to smooth leather stropping.

MikeB

I have a black beauty stop, but it's leather both sides. No ribbed, to my razors extreme displeasure :rofl2:

Jigme

I had the longer one, 1970s version I reckon, maybe earlier. It didn't have the patterning - the front side marked "finish" was plain leather, the rear had a gritty feel - I think it must have had carborundum powder or something similar worked into the leather. It was a beautiful strop. Made by A. H. Christian & Son, 1916 - 1975, New South Wales, Genuine Horsehide.

I think the patterned side on yours is a substitute for canvas.

Regards,
Neil

nice looking strop wouldnt mind havind one myself just to have another strop hanging with the others