Safety Razors and related ephemera..........

[knife7knut]

Was going to post this in the straight razor forum but thought this would be a more appropriate forum.Over the years I have acquired a few safety razors by various manufacturers;some of which are somewhat unique.I'm sure everyone has seen or owns a Rolls Razor(pic included for those who have not);I have 3 that have come into my collection over time.I even tried using one once(not recommended).

Gillette seems to have been a major player in the market from the inception(and still is)but there were other makers.Christie and Valet both had a variety of safety razors as did Edward Weck;although theirs were mostly straight razors fitted with a guard.I also have a couple of lesser known makers(Stag and Shake Sharp are two).

Also there were a large number of makers that made just replacement blades;mostly for Gillette but there were others.

Another facet was the number of gadgets designed to re-sharpen or hone used blades.The Rolls Razor had a built-in device that mounted the blade(that looked like a small piece of a straight razor blade with a hole in the back)and slid it back and forth across first a stone(on one side of the case)and then a strop on the other;flipping the blade each time.

Another maker had a device called the Kriss Kross that consisted of a clamp to hold the blade against a circular hone that was rotated by a hand crank and a gear mechanism that flipped the blade over 180 degrees after each revolution.Expensive piece for it's day(probably the 1920's or 1930's):$6.00.Others used rollers mounted on a frame that held the blade at the proper angle as it was dragged across the stone.

What started me on this post was a very unique piece of shaving equipment I bought at my favorite antique shop the other day.It was so unusual I had to buy it and it was only $12.50.It looks like a regular electric razor but is powered by a windup clock spring motor and was made in Monaco! I have a hard time picturing Monaco as a manufacturing country;more for it's Grand Prix race and casinos.Surprisingly it works rather well and when fully wound will run for approximately 2 1/2 minutes.It is encased in a clear plastic unit.

Anyway here for your viewing pleasure are a few of my collection.

First up is a picture of the Rolls Razor with the top(which holds the hone). removed to show the mechanism.The handle for the razor snaps out of the handle for the sharpening mechanism and attaches to the blade.When sharpening,the blade is pushed along the stone(or hone)and when pulled back flips over to sharpen the opposite edge.
Next up is a razor called the Shake Sharp by Shavety First Corporation.It contains a small stone inside the head and is activated by shaking the razor back and forth causing the stone to rub against the edge.Strange!
Next comes a device for sharpening blades using a clamp to hold the blades while the rollers on either side maintain the proper angle as it is run across a stone.Made by Stag with a patent date of Dec 11 1916.
Next are a couple of Valet Auto Strop razors.
Next are a couple of early Gillette travel kits.
Last is the windup shaver.

[knife7knut]

Some more pictures:

Several Christie razors;a Klub Kit;and the Kriss Kross sharpener.

[Miller Bro's]

Nice stuff

[Sauconian]

I once found, and gave to a friend for Christmas, a GAS powered razor.

Nicely packaged in a 3 color flip top box, he was so impressed as he unwrapped it, I thought he was going to cry. It looked like a standard electric razor of the 1960's.

Attached to the bottom was a length of surgical rubber tubing.............






and a butt plug.

He laughed so hard he did cry !



Seriously K7K, you have some really cool stuff in your collection.
Fran