Rolls Razors....which is the preferred model?

MikekiM · Feb 27, 2011

I don't have alum.. never thought I needed it

What does rubbing your fingers on it do? Give it some friction?

stingraysrock · Feb 27, 2011

MikekiM said: ↑

I don't have alum.. never thought I needed it

What does rubbing your fingers on it do? Give it some friction?
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Yes, exactly. While not required, it does help.

Denabeth · Apr 17, 2011

Thanks for the information on Rolls

I joined just to thank you but am thrilled to be reading and learning so much. My father recently gave me a Rolls and a web search really didn't provide me with any kind of accurate information on what I had. Thanks to this thread I now know I am the proud owner of an aluminum (not nickel) approx. 1952-1955 (blue lidded) Viscount Model Rolls Razor.

supertool · Mar 8, 2016

Can any one tell me what the grit size of the Hone is on a rolls razor? Cant fine replacement stones maybe half of all of them are broke and need replacement, but I have a replacement in mind.

Stoffies69 · Mar 27, 2016

Hi there. I don't quite know if this is the right place for me to ask this, but I need someone to give me a valuation on my Rolls Razor. It's an Imperial #1. Everything is in good condition with a razor and extra blade in a silver plated box. It also has its booklet (warranty) which is in good condition and 2 original pamphlets that came out with it. It is still in a case which is black on the outside and royal blue on the inside. If someone can please help me with this I will appreciate it a lot. Kind regards Veronica

JACKNASTYFACE · Jul 20, 2017

gregindallas said: ↑

Very true. I tend to fall back to Twillard's stuff as he has the units and documentation. You really have to own a lot of these things going back to the 20's thru the 50's to see what was going on.

As for getting one.

There's like 5-6 critical parts to a Rolls that need to be in good shape if you're going to use it.

Strop. No cuts. that's the big thing. It can look like hell and be restored to just about new. They were good english leather.

Hone. No breaks. If it's broken, it can't be fixed, only replaced. I'd also add not oiled (stupid habit).

Allignment tabs. not broken

Handle Not rusted shut

Blade. not rusted. "Devils spit" on the cutting edge is the end for the blade.

Other than that, good hunting in shops & the bay. Wouldn't pay more than $15 and plan on getting a couple. Concentrate on Viscount as it's the youngest model. I think the nickeled brass version is best but I know guys that have been shaving for 50 yrs with an aluminum Rolls with no problems.

Pics are a late model NOS Viscount. (Jeff has it now). The last is mine. I just think it looks cool.
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""Go for the steel cased Viscount/Nickel plated..usually Ser#CSXXXXX""

paul M · Jul 7, 2018

gregindallas said: ↑

It’s probably easiest to understand Rolls Razor models and development if you consider that the Rolls factory must have been set up in an old hat factory in England(1).

There were 3 basic models of Rolls Razors, The original Popular, the ubiquitous and various Imperials and the final Viscount.Case materials were nickel plated brass (most common for all models), stainless steel (Imperial and vary rare), aluminum (WW2 material and somewhat rare) and gold plated brass (Imperial and extremely rare).

Blades were all Sheffield high carbon steel.

There were at least 3 handle versions. The original Popular handle was an odd thing that required a wrench. Then there were the collapsible handles which came with the original Imperials. This was a nasty little handle which required you to cram the blade into the blade grip (kinda like a snap-on tool) and tended to score the blades with a permanent scratch. And the final handle which works well, doesn’t mark the blade and requires no tools to operate. Bear in mind that all 3 handles worked well enough but that last iteration really worked well.

Here’s the thing about the various Rolls models to remember, they weren’t a serial progression. They rightfully killed the Popular because it was a dog, which is why they are now extremely rare. The early Imperials carried over a lot of the Popular’s weak mechanicals. Rolls upgraded the mechanicals over time within the Imperial model but only as their parts stocks allowed. There doesn’t seem to be any configuration control at all. By the 1940’s, you had the final Rolls configuration which is a pretty good example of what “built like a tank” really means. That’s why there are so many of these 50+ year old units still around and giving good shaves. True to their traditions, when they introduced the Viscount (an Imperial in a different case), they continued to produce the Imperial right alongside it right up to their demise in the early 1950’s.

The Rolls Razor was, originally, a viable product thanks to King Gillette. I won’t go into Gillette’s original expensive razors and blades and his production, quality and availability issues. It’s true to say that the Rolls was a very cost effective razor up thru WW2 for rural America (especially during the shortages and rationing of WW2). After WW2 Rolls was pretty much doomed as Gillette had their stuff together. The Viscount was their last attempt at the market but it was really to late.

If you are looking for a good shaving Rolls, I’d say ’49 – ’53 Imperial or Viscount. If you’re looking for a collector (why? What the heck’s the matter with you?!) those are usually back in the ‘20s to ‘30s and tend to get expensive.

(1)Mercury used to be used in the making of hats. This was known to have affected the nervous systems of hatters, causing them to tremble and appear insane. Thus the phrase “Mad as a hatter”.
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Good info, Found out (don't know where) the name of the inventor/ first manufacturer was a Mr Vincent. I cannot believe in this day and age its so hard to find out anything about Rolls.

Jabez 58 · Feb 14, 2019

supertool said: ↑

Can any one tell me what the grit size of the Hone is on a rolls razor? Cant fine replacement stones maybe half of all of them are broke and need replacement, but I have a replacement in mind.
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Hi it's 12k
Gra

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Rolls Razors....which is the preferred model?

MikekiM Well-Known Member

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