Rolls Razor..
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Whist this isn't a Traditional Straight Razor I thought it perhaps would Fit into the Straight Razor Section quite well because its just a Shortened Straight Edge Hollow Ground Blade on the End of a Handle..
What is a Rolls Razor ?
It is a safety razor that is based on a segment of a wedge straight razor, that's fitted with a safety bar and is held by a handle... There were several of these adaptations of straight razors to safeties that came into the market in response to Gillette's invention of the safety razor. They all had reusable blades that were honed & stropped just like straights..
Brief History of the Rolls Razor
The eponymous product was a sophisticated safety-razor which promoted with the slogan "The razor that is stropped and honed in its case"..It has been Reported that King Gillette Hated the Rolls because it took away a lot his sales away into the 1950s in a lot of the Poorer States in the USA because it was so cheap to maintain..
The Rolls trademark, "The Whetter," was registered in the US in 1950; the claimed first use was 1922. The US patent for the method of attaching the blade to the handle was filed in 1925 and issued in 1930. The name "Rolls Razor (1927) Ltd." was used in advertising. The razor was still manufactured and sold until 1958 when the company was purchased by entrepreneur/corporate raider John Bloom who decided to focus on washing machines rather than the razor..
These are very cheap at the moment on EBay..The Rolls may perhaps offer someone the experience required to shave with a Traditional Straight because the shaving angle is exactly the same..Its really important that the Non of the Pads are Broken and or have any serious ware & tear..One that's been bought in good condition can easily be made fully functional with a Minimum amount of effort..
The blade may need to be honed outwith the Rolls Systemto get it started due to neglect or just because its lost its edge..Once its up & running it you have a complete system here to hone & strop your blade almost indefinitely..Is an Ingenious System for Sure..
I brought some life back into the Hone & Strop by cleaning them with Baking Soda & a Soft Tooth Brush..The Hone & Strop Pads need to be absolutely immaculate & flat or you are up a Gum Tree..Any Dirt Particles will just damage the blade..The Pads can be a bit brittle after laying around for years especially the Stropping Pad..
I Softened it up by applying Hemp Oil a layer at a time & allowing it to soak it up..I got hold of some Red Oxide Stropping Paste & Bobs your Uncle..The Runners in the Stropping Mechanism need Cleaned & Greased as well..There is a lot of heat gets generated when using this System..
My Blade is Awesomely Sharp & that Dolphin Smooth Shine on my Face is the End Result..The Rolls Wedge Blades is just so Comfortable Indeed..I am Loving the Feel of Natural Steel & the Post Shave Sorta Velvety Straight Edge Razor Feeling You will all be familiar with a Traditional Straight Razor..
Billy