Are you reading the same wikipedia as I am? It says "The first safety razor was invented in the late 18th century by a Frenchman, Jean-Jacques Perret" And then on to say "In 1901, the American inventor King Camp Gillette, with the assistance of William Nickerson, invented a safety razor with disposable blades. Gillette realized that a profit could be made by selling an inexpensive razor and generating a market for disposable blades. This has been called the Razor and blades business model, or a "loss leader", and has become a very common practice for a wide variety of products." Also when I said existing safety razors at the time had to resharpened until they had to be replaced, meant the blade. IE it was an annoyance that your had to get someone to sharpen the blade for you often until you were told you have to buy a new expensive blade. edit: While KC gillettes plan of selling DE blades was a masterstroke as far as his profits, you can understand how it was a great thing that someone started selling you 20c blades that you could shave with and then throw away after you are done with it, and pull another one out of the packet without ever being stuck with a dull blade that you need to get sharpened. late edit: KC gillette also encouraged people to send him the old dull blades so he could recycle them, he was a socialist too :sad027
There is an interesting article on the subject at Razor and brush that has had a few things to say on the matter. Will transition to the straight as soon as I can figgure out how to use this thing.
I'm sure someone with much more knowledge on this subject will come along with more info... ie Dave. But to the best of my knowledge, the early Kampfe and Star razors used a wedge type blade. It could be removed and stropped. They came with an extra stropping handle that attached to razors handle for that purpose. Later model Star razors let you use either the wedge or single edge blade. I think I remember some pics somewhere of Dave honing one on an old Rolls Razor hone lid.
One snag in your argument about the 1850s. Look at pictures from that era into the 1900s. Most of the men have beards. Yes, the straight razor was present, but the prevalence of beards back then should give an idea about the public's attitude towards them. It simply wasn't worth the bother. It wasn't until the safety razor and *disposable* blades, that the morning shave took off as a daily ritual.
safety razors had been around since roughly 1870. and gillette worked for kampfe? i thought he worked for a bottle and cork company? ive read in old gem catalouges that many men did indeed THROW AWAY wedge blades after they became dull for whatever reason. with the first safety razors however, sets ranged from 1 blade to an astounding 14 blades and always a stropping handle and a strop. obviously youd strop your blade after each shave and put in a fresh one and repeat. a lot of men took their blades out to be honed.
You're right, he did work for a bottle and cork job. I have heard something about him being involved with a razor or blade company (edit: but that's unverified anyway). My mistake in saying kampfe though, it wasn't them and I don't know what I was thinking, it was late at night and I was tired.
never heard that before (i dont think), but it would be interesting to pursue just for the hell of it. i want to say something about an "internation safety razor" but i cant be sure of that.
There were the same patent issues when Gillette originally came out with the double edge blade and razor. The New Improved (1920) and NEW (1930) razors were introduced because the patents on the previous version were expiring. All those weird shapes along the slot of the DE blade - and the slot itself - are mainly because of patent and other proprietary issues. It's only because all the patents have expired that it's safe to make a razor that can fit any double edge blade, and vice versa.
I still have some. I don't consider them true Techs, since the head was cheapened, but they're the same kind of razor - 3-piece, all metal. The handle is aluminum. I also have one new Gillette 7 O'Clock Sterling DE razor from India. It has the same head as above, but with a plastic handle. It comes with one or two black label 7 O'Clock blades.
