Gratuitous Safety Razor Photos

The 1924 Olympic Special, made in the US for the French market.

 

Jake, I was hoping you would put this up. This is an absolutely beautiful razor and total package!

 

Wow! that is a beauty, and only $2.50. Oh, I guess that was a weeks wages back then.

 

Then there's this incredible opulent post Depression 1930 Big Boy! Must have been a fine tool for the gangsters of that era. Hard to imagine the razor was purchased frequently by the commoners. $7.50 for a razor in 1930?! Wish I could buy one of those beauties today for that price.

 

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Well here is my new acquisition. This is strictly for the collection not for my shaving routine.

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The details on this model from Waits Compendium are as follows:
Frame: rear hinge; marked NEW MODEL.
Guard: fixed, pierced STAR.
Blade adjustment screws: rear.
Handle: metal, two-piece tubular, STAR design.

Robert Waits has a good write-up on the development of safety razors and quite a bit of information covers the Kampfe Brothers (inventors of the STAR razor) at the following website.

http://www.shaveworld.org/home/images/PerrettKampfe-rev2.html

 

Very nice! Not even gonna use it once?

 

These are sweet.

 

My current daily driver (this week).

R41 (2013) w/Weber classic handle

 

Have to get the fixed blade and the stropping kit because they don't use standard SE blades. So that will be another search.

 

That sure is a great piece of history there...I'm sure finding the wedge blades and stropper will be worth the search...then you are ready for the shavacalypse...

 

As luck would have it I just picked up a stropper on eBay this week for $3 !!that would work with it. Too bad I missed the razor(;-(

 

Even though they were designed to use a wedge blade some of the old lather catchers can use modern blades but I'm not sure about that particular model.

 

These blades fit the Valet Auto Strop.

http://www.razorbladesandmore.com/content/feather-single-edge-blades-5pcs

 

The blades on this model have adjustment screws that grip and seat the blade so it would need to be the correct thickness across the body (not SE thickness). This model came before Gillette came along and changed the game with disposable blades. This one is closer to the Wilkinson Empire set than current SE models.

I have some of those Feather blades as well but never got around to using it in my Valet. One of these days ...

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Here is what Wait's Compendium has to say about this razor that is very hard to come by. It took me three years since I first saw one until I was fortunate enough to get this almost mint example.



Razor: Cooper MonoBilt or Cooper Swingtop

Manufacturer: Cooper Safety Razor Corp., 35 York St., Brooklyn, N.Y.

Type: Double edge, one-piece, cap hinged at end of comb guard.

U.S. Patent No. 1879900, 27 Sep 1932, filed 6 Feb 1932, and No. 1980202, 13 Nov 1934, filed 16 Sep 1932, George Hofmann, Boston, Mass.

 

amazing pics all!

 

Thanks! This thread is growing.

There is always room for more! Show your razors!

 

Beautiful images of quality products used by people who want to do it properly!

 

Just got my 1961 slim and blades on Saturday

 

Stahly collection: Chrome, Black and Gold, Gold. One more to go.

 

Great collection. Thanks for posting these photos.