Thread: New (to me) Fontana

Gentlemen

Is a pleasure for me show you my new addition to the very little straight razor collection of my own.
It is a Fontana 25 6/8, all the information I could find yet is that Dovo take over Fontana as well as many other Solingen SR manufactures not sure about the date when it happened neither the data of the razor it self.
I got it from the same guy who sold me the Bambola and the Corneta (neither of the three are shave ready yet although I shaved my self with the Bambola 205 since among the three it has the better edge).
The razor was very dirt with some rust and pity, the blade was black as usual in this type of finds but what disturb me most was the rust at the tang area.
I know many of you do not agree with the super shiny blades but as a new comer in my infinite ignorance my heart have a soft spot for shiny things and after a lot or reading I decided to do my first unpinning in order to clean it (pinning will be another history and I will let you know once I re-pin it by now it is an unfinished project ) using the file method I took the pin off conserving the two washers yes only two washers one on each side of the outer side of the scales, then using some light sanding and buffing she came out pretty clean, some pictures for your considerations.
Any comments regards the razor or the cleaning procedure will be highly appreciate

I like shiny blades too. So mine are mirror finished. I would keep on cleaning that blade up, but that is just me. Be warned that as you polish the blade, you are also
sharpening the edge and it will reach out and remind you that it is sharp metal.

Dovo acquired Fontana sometime during the early 1970s. The company started in the 1920s I don't remember the exact years, but someone (probably Neil Miller) on the forum had a post about Fontana with the date and more information. Try using the Advanced Search in the upper right hand corner.

Originally Posted by criswilson10

I like shiny blades too. So mine are mirror finished. I would keep on cleaning that blade up,

O yeah what you see is the razor few hours after I pick it up, I invest more time unpinnig it than cleaning I just want to see how she looks like underneath all that grime.
Next in my list is make the edge on the Corneta since is the one with the dullest edge and try the coticule using all the info I already have at hand and see how much can I achieve.
Still learning is my nick name

You're doing fine so far. Just stay with it, go slowly and be careful. Always look out for those things you can't undo.

Fontana was made by Marx & co
I have a model 14 Fontana, replaced the busted scales by ones made of Kirinite

Like others I like shiny.
The mirror finish is usually hard to get perfect. But, with a high shine finish you have less surface area and less places for moisture to collect and start corrosion.

One word of caution
Preserve the stamping and etching.
I usually don't sand stampings until 1500 grit.

What are you using to refinish/hand sand the blade?

A wine cork and 600 wet and dry sandpaper works best to start, for me. I can drop down to 400 and easily go to 1,000 grit. From 1000 or 2000 you can easily get mirror polish or close to it with a good metal polish.

Sand on 6mm/1/4 inch craft foam to bury the edge and allow sanding up to the edge safely.

There are great post on hand sanding in the library and the Workshop forum, that can save you some time and sore fingers.

Dull the edge on any stone or diamond plate, you will have to hone the razor any way so make it safer to sand and prevent cuts.

Originally Posted by tonybee

I have a model 14 Fontana, replaced the busted scales by ones made of Kirinite

That's a nice looking razor tonybee, I should confess I had a soft spot for the square blades and yours with the new scales looks superb

Originally Posted by tonybee

Fontana was made by Marx & co
I have a model 14 Fontana, replaced the busted scales by ones made of Kirinite

That is one sweet razor.