I enjoy seeing these old marketing materials, especially how they provide hints or tips. I didn’t see a thread capturing these bits of history, so thought it would be fun. Feel free to add as you see fit, but hoping to keep it to the straight razor side of the house (razors, strops, pastes, hones, etc). Also, I would love you to highlight the interesting parts to you... as this stuff probably created the basis for some of our theories. I’ll kick it off with this Clauss pamphlet... always hoped there was a tie to Santa Claus. Started with a couple pages on how much you could save by shaving yourself : 15 cents a day, and could pay for your son’s college. Ah yes, the breakdown of the 3 types of men- busy, society, and working man. This page tells you the benefits over a safety razor, and instead of YouTube videos & 100 shaves to get proficient, all you need is a Claus razor, this book and 30 minutes. Of course the best hint: get a Claus Razor and a Claus strop. Talks to benefit of a flat angle, short strokes, with the grain, 1 vs 2 hands, and other tips. Interesting tip on stropping... they are a fan of after, not before the shave, as it is a “peculiar fact” that the edge will be better the next day after stropping. A page on stropping - pretty boring, but proponent of only 15-20 strokes. And then this page to get you to buy a 2nd razor, in fact some men have, “a different razor for every day of the week.” Who would be crazy enough to do that??? Finally, the back cover... what is up with the scary little girl?!?!?? Hope you enjoyed and please post what you have. Tom
Probably my current favorite bit of marketing... Robeson Cutlery “The Razor That Fits Your Face” Here is the link: http://robesonsrme.com/razors.php Just some pics that I enjoy... They definitely feel you need to match the razor to your face, even recommending a round point for “the nervous man.” Here is the model I have been lucky to have purchased (twice ) Medium beard, skin exposed to weather... sounds good to me. This page has verbiage very similar to the Clauss on shaving, almost exact wording: Bay rum and witch hazel comes up for tender skin and post shave. I like the prep to run the razor under hot water to “ expand the teeth.” Finally, you need that Robeson hone to match your razor!!! Just one of my favorite pamphlets. Tom
I have several of the Clauss razors and several of the Robeson razors as well. They are, indeed, all fine shavers.
Just thought I Would Stick this Up as a Historical Perspective on German Thuringian Stones,,This is Primary about Escher Stones..They Came Under Different Sister Brand Names as @Karl G will Know as he has One..Some the Otherwise Branded Thuringians Range from 8000 K..Some Un Branded Thuringians are as Good as Eschers But are Bit of a Lucky Bag in My Experince.. The 1st Article Grit Rates the Escher Stones..All My Eschers have a Finishing Capacity 0f 17 K Plus in My Hands..Above the Estimated Grit Rating Stated Here..Thought it was an Interesting Article..I have a Fetish for these Stones..I Use them Purely as Finishers after a High Grit Synthetic Finisher.. https://shop.tsprof.com/blog/info/SHARPENING_HISTORY_THURINGIAN_SLATE/ And.. http://strazors.com/uploads/images/articles/escher.pdf Billy..
Thank you Billy for posting... I really enjoyed the color comparisons on the last page of that 2nd article.
Glad Ya Liked it..They are Cheap Over Here..I Got a Couple for Scott..He Loves Em.. The Yellow/Green Type Ones are the Dogs Bollocks..Most Razors are Optimal around the 16 + to 17 K Mark in My Experience..Few Can Handle My Higher Grit Surgical Arkansas which Can Knock Out Way Over a 20 K + Edge & then Some when Maxed Out..I Mostly use it for Vintage Stainless Blades or Just Dont Max it Out for Some Other Blades..My Carbon Steel Dorko Solingen Also Handles a Maxed Out Surgical Black Arkansas Edge Very Well..One of My Best Shaver..Scotch & Ice.. Billy..
I definitely enjoy seeing that stuff. how do you post pictures on here? I was going to post one of an issue I had but never could get it on here
If the file for the picture is too large, decrease it first. That seems to be the biggest obstacle to posting pics.
there's nothing about that picture it's just the first one I came to so I resized it. but if anybody can look at it and see what's right or wrong about it it's one of the first ones I've done I haven't hung it yet I just sanded it from 800 to 1500 5 minutes on each grit about 700 strokes. I don't think this is a picture after I was done though I think it's the picture before I started? because it does not have any of those spots looking at it in my hand? that's weird and that spot down at the toe I worked on that for a long time and it does not show in my hand but on the picture it doesn't look right. oh well I finally got a picture to post now I just need something worthwhile to post
700x700 works. these are some of the first scales I made with a coping saw. leopard wood I think was this one