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I have collected a number of these razors over the years and absolutely love the shave I get from them. Looking at what I have, they're all practically unique, all different.
I'm going to begin with the patents and show you through some of the details.
Duplex - Patented 28th May 1907
Domino - Patented 5th April 1910
Derby - Patented 7th November 1911
Duplex - Patented 26/12/1911 (Second Patent)
As we'll see, for all intents and purposes the Duplex and the Domino are much the same although my Domino has a thinner end to the handle. The second patent for the Duplex is interesting and as we'll see it has a distinctive notch for the head to seat into. I don't have a Derby but I think the Derby also carried this particular notch.
What we regard as pre-1912 and post-1912 were probably around whether the razor carried the "PAT U.S.A. MAY 28 07 AND FOREIGN COUNTRIES" on the shaft, later model omitting this and the "MADE IN SHEFFIELD" models simply stating "PATENTED IN GREAT BRITAIN AND FOREIGN COUNTRIES". It's not that simple, though, since we'll look at a plastic case and single piece handled example from at least 1920 bearing that very 1907 detail.
What it may come down to is that on the 11th of May 1910, the Durham Duplex Blade Company Ltd formed in Sheffield, Great Britain. Sheffield made the blades, which it shipped back to various countries through their sales offices in New York, Toronto and Paris. We know this company also made the actual razors, but how early on?
I'm going to concentrate on the folding razors.
Let's take a look:
Assembled in what I think are actual date order going right to left, over on the far right we have a Demonstrator (US), next a home made Kamisori Duplex (UK), scaled Duplex (US), scaled Domino (UK) follows, plastic single piece handled Duplex (US) and finally an unstamped Duplex? (US?UK?).
Durham Demonstrator - 1907 Patent
What I think is an early example presented in a canvas pouch, scales are smooth, not embossed, and the shaft bears the 1907 patent.
See how the comb simply slides over the shaft?
Three piece scales ...
... and a size comparison to the Duplex, which this Demonstrator could be traded in against:
Identical size, shape and moreover length of shaft.
Durham Duplex - 1907 Patent
Scales can be found in a number of colours: amber, brown, black, red and light blue, others nickel plated, some silver plates and also a mahogany celluloid.
Comb, detailing the Durham Duplex logo and company crest ... unlike the Demonstrator, as you can see from the first picture, the comb slides up the shaft and fits flush:
Durham Duplex - 1911 Patent
During clean-up, I managed to warp the scales on this one, so popped it into a length of bamboo and enjoy it as a Kamisori - think of it as a Durham Artist Club!
Notice something just a little different? The comb fits into a slot on the shaft:
You can read about this detail in the patent notes: http://www.google.com/patents/US1012728 - point 13 in the diagram and text.
Made in Sheffield ...
All pieces have a "23" stamped into them. 1923?
Continued ...
I'm going to begin with the patents and show you through some of the details.
Duplex - Patented 28th May 1907
Domino - Patented 5th April 1910
Derby - Patented 7th November 1911
Duplex - Patented 26/12/1911 (Second Patent)
As we'll see, for all intents and purposes the Duplex and the Domino are much the same although my Domino has a thinner end to the handle. The second patent for the Duplex is interesting and as we'll see it has a distinctive notch for the head to seat into. I don't have a Derby but I think the Derby also carried this particular notch.
What we regard as pre-1912 and post-1912 were probably around whether the razor carried the "PAT U.S.A. MAY 28 07 AND FOREIGN COUNTRIES" on the shaft, later model omitting this and the "MADE IN SHEFFIELD" models simply stating "PATENTED IN GREAT BRITAIN AND FOREIGN COUNTRIES". It's not that simple, though, since we'll look at a plastic case and single piece handled example from at least 1920 bearing that very 1907 detail.
What it may come down to is that on the 11th of May 1910, the Durham Duplex Blade Company Ltd formed in Sheffield, Great Britain. Sheffield made the blades, which it shipped back to various countries through their sales offices in New York, Toronto and Paris. We know this company also made the actual razors, but how early on?
I'm going to concentrate on the folding razors.
Let's take a look:
Assembled in what I think are actual date order going right to left, over on the far right we have a Demonstrator (US), next a home made Kamisori Duplex (UK), scaled Duplex (US), scaled Domino (UK) follows, plastic single piece handled Duplex (US) and finally an unstamped Duplex? (US?UK?).
Durham Demonstrator - 1907 Patent
What I think is an early example presented in a canvas pouch, scales are smooth, not embossed, and the shaft bears the 1907 patent.
See how the comb simply slides over the shaft?
Three piece scales ...
... and a size comparison to the Duplex, which this Demonstrator could be traded in against:
Identical size, shape and moreover length of shaft.
Durham Duplex - 1907 Patent
Scales can be found in a number of colours: amber, brown, black, red and light blue, others nickel plated, some silver plates and also a mahogany celluloid.
Comb, detailing the Durham Duplex logo and company crest ... unlike the Demonstrator, as you can see from the first picture, the comb slides up the shaft and fits flush:
Durham Duplex - 1911 Patent
During clean-up, I managed to warp the scales on this one, so popped it into a length of bamboo and enjoy it as a Kamisori - think of it as a Durham Artist Club!
Notice something just a little different? The comb fits into a slot on the shaft:
You can read about this detail in the patent notes: http://www.google.com/patents/US1012728 - point 13 in the diagram and text.
Made in Sheffield ...
All pieces have a "23" stamped into them. 1923?
Continued ...