The "what is" and " how to" thread for the Rolls Razor

I've just started picking up as many spares as I can - it's not as easy as buying razors, but so far I have a NOS replacement hone an a NOS replacement "friction clip and pin". I also picked up a brass blade case somewhere along the way.

 

I've picked up an unusual telescopic handle, of a type I've not seen before, it's two piece with a hexagonal shank which telescopes into the handle, unlike the usual one piece telescopic handle which has a slightly tapered shank. When collapsed, the two look very similar (top handle is the two piece telescopic, bottom one is the usual one piece telescopic):


When extended, the difference in the two handles become more obvious, the top handle is the odd one, note the hexagonal shank which telescopes into the knurled handle:



Even more unusual, the odd handle dismantles into three sections:



The friction pin is internally spring loaded by the telescopic shank, so it can be slid onto the blade, as you would do with the usual one piece telescopic, or, you can slacken the top section of the handle to allow the blade hook to pass easily onto the blade, then tightened to clamp the blade, as you would do with the usual two piece handle.
Has anyone come across one of these 'hybrid' telescopic two piece handle? The handle is definitely a Rolls product as it has the usual engraved end cap and it came in the usual tubular buff coloured shipping tube

 

I have never come across either of these types in antique shops or on my extensive online searches. You say they came in a tube. Are they NOS?

 

The usual one piece telescopic is one of the standard types Rolls supplied, if you read the instruction booklets / spare parts lists you will see mention of the two types (telescopic and two-piece) the telescopic was supplied with the Imperial No 3 razor, amongst other models, if you look at the 1954 dated invoice attached you'll see that both the standard and telescopic handles are listed, also, the pre-war leaflet indicates that the 'No. 1' model was supplied with the telescopic handle. There is also a single piece handle, similar in appearance to the usual two piece, but as the name suggests it is a single piece unit with a spring loaded ball in the blade hook to apply pressure to the blade to hold it in position in the handle.
There is a well known issue with the telescopic handles in that they corrode when stored in a damp condition, this causes them to seize so they are no longer capable of extending as intended.
Neither are NOS, both exhibit signs of wear on the knurling

Steve

 

Hi Steve,
it's a new one on me as well,
I've not got one ive never seen one or even read anything about this type of handle!!
It's a Total mystery!
Looking at the invoice I don't see any clues either, so Rolls obviously were aware of this type!
It's just strange this is the first one to come to light even with a 1954 service date.
Well done you, what a great find I bet you were suprised. And so now the hunt is on ha ha who can find the second?? Good old Rolls Razors after all this time they still manage to surprise us all with something new
The addiction lives on
Gra

 

Here's a bit of an odd set, it's a 1950 dated seven day set, all the blades are dated 1950 and I assume they're all original and part of the 7 day set, as it's generally accepted that dated blades where only supplied with new razors / sets, replacement blades purchased separately are undated.
The only reference I can find to a 7 day nickel plated set is in Robert K Waits book 'A Safety Razor Compendium' but the 7 day set pictured in the book has uncased blades, the set I have has all metal, plated cases, but the real curio is that inside the lid is written 'gold plated' which it obviously isn't!
So, in 1950, did someone put together a 7 day nickel plated set at the factory for someone, perhaps a customer, but the only presentation cases available where the ones for the gold plated sets, as I've never seen any advertising for 7 day nickel sets.

 

Hi steve,
well I’ve got to say that you manage to keep finding them!!
Yes I totally agree with you about the dating system, so with all blades dated the same then to my mind that’s the date of the entire set.
I have seen advert sheets with the gold plated week set and some for nickel plate blades in 3 or 6 boxed sets but not anything relating to a nickel plate blade week set.
is it an error, is it bespoke set? Well I guess we will never know for sure, I do know that when it comes to Rolls Razors after all these years they still seem to be forever coming to light with something totally out of the blue to keep the intrigue alive, if they needed it. They are just so addictive and still give a good shave.
Gra.

 

Yes Gra, it's a real oddity and as you say, we'll never know its history, where did the seven 1950 dated blades come from if not the factory and I can't imagine someone buying seven individual razors just to obtain blades to make a seven day set up in an existing box, you'd just go and buy 7 replacement blades. I do have a boxed 7 day set of blades, in the usual blue fake sharkskin box, all the blades are in the usual dark coloured Bakelite cases and I've also got a 4 day blade set, again in the blue fake sharkskin box and dark Bakelite cases, but this 7 day blade set, complete with razor is a bit of an oddity

Steve