Do you guys have any reference points to date these elusive razors? Any help would be greatly appreciated. . . . . . .
The patent http://www.google.com/patents?id=3x...s_selected_pages&cad=0_1#v=onepage&q=&f=false is from 1944 (issued in 45)
Thanks, Justin. I have seen that before. I have also noticed that there are different markings on some of these razors. How do we tell when our particular razor was made? Also, can you guys please post pictures of your Shave Kings? They most likely will either only have a patent number, or will say "Self Lubricating" on the top.
Mine doesn't have any brand info... just the pat no. The second one that I acquired and traded was the same. In regards to dating... I have no information other than the patent number which gives the patent in the link above and the info from the link below Well here is a thread where my first shave king is shown... http://www.theshaveden.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11172 This picture shows the large blade gap and the almost 0 blade exposure I picked up a second one which was traded off for another hard to find razor (OC 1912 Gem). here are some pics from that one...
So, is it actually a "Grand Razor" or a "Shave King"? Seems to me that the later models were marked with the Self Lubricating badge.
Just looked at my 2 Shave Kings, one only has the patent number on the bottom of the head, and the other one has no markings at all. The one without any markings has slightly larger teeth too.
Bill, would you mind taking a picture comparing the two? Especially the differences between the teeth.
Bill, you outta try taking the pictures with no flash. I do not use a flash with any close ups. Use Irfanview's auto-adjust function and they turn out great. Here is a close up of mine. . . . .
and that's exactly why I restrained from making that comment, I knew you (me) would be here to say what I (myself) was thinking all along...weren't we?:rofl
So, overall the Shave King is more like a Shave Princess. Seems like the only way to get a good shave would be to use a very wide blade, like a Sputnik, or to actually grind the teeth down a bit. There is just too little blade exposure to ever get a clean shave. I have come to appreciate a mild razor, and can get a smoother and more comfortable shave with one. But this razor is too mild, making it impossible to get a close shave. Anyone have any suggestion? I am thinking about stripping one of my Shave Kings down, and then filing the teeth back, thus exposing the blase more. Might re-plate it afterward in gold. That would be nice.
While you're at it, if it's like mine, you might see about polishing the gaps between the teeth too. The fit & finish is a bit lacking. And yeah... mine is another of the long toothed models that seem very reluctant to give me a close shave.
Personally, I never grab mine when I want a close shave. I grab it when I had a bad shave the shave before and want a mild, smooth, acceptable shave. As such, it is great. As a BBS shaver, no - it doesn't cut the muster.
Mine has the same pat num *inside* on the base plate, at the bottom edge, centered. It has a 12 toothed guard. It came in a cardboard box branded "Grand Self-Lubricating Razor with 5 Micor - Honed Blades." The bottom of the box has some hand written numbers. Some of the paper is peeled away, so I can't make out all the digits: 6 - 8 85 - 76 - 86 6 ?? ยข I'm not sure if it's 60-something cents, or 6 dollars and something cents. My guess is that the first two rows are some kind of stocking code. On one side of the box lid, it says: "Manufactured by The Grand Steel & Manufacturung Co. Clawson Mich." On the other: "Distributed by Morton B. Farrell Co. Detroit -- New York -- Los Angeles." There is a box of 5 blades labled: Grand Shave King Clawson Michigan Micro - Honed Double - Edge Blades I can tell you what the Compendium saya about Grand/Shave King razors tomorrow.
Interesting discovery. I just found a different version of the Shave King, and it Rocks!! It seems to be an improved design (except with a shorter handle), with a much better blade gap that actually allows the thing to shave your whiskers!! Yay!! Check out the comparison photos of the handle length and the difference in head geometry. The shorter handle Shave King has a shallower head plate, which seems to allow for a dramatic improvement is blade exposure. Any of you Shave King'ers have one of these? By the way, the one with "Self Lubricating" on the head is the short handled one I am raving about.
Update!! Just shaved with the new Shave King (the one with Self Lubricating on the head) Honestly, among the smoothest, most comfortable shaves that I have ever had. Seriously Unbelievable!!!!!!
Nice find! It has 13 teeth too, instead of 12 or 14. The Compendium doesn't have your short handled one, but it has a picture of mine, and a 14 tooth, that APPEARS nearly identical. The patent sketch shows 18 teeth.
