Richy
Rag-A-Muffin
Posts: 8
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Post by Richy on Dec 15, 2009 18:56:43 GMT -5
Hello Just bought this cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160384904770&ssPageName=STRK:It's my first Auto Strop and I have no idea what it is and indeed how to get Gem type blades to fit ,though having taken the spine of a blade it appears that I only need to either drill 2 small holes to allow for the VALET word and its 3 little lugs to sit flush or bend in the 2 small lugs Any help / advice would be appreciated as I fully intend to use the razor and indeed start a collection of Auto Strops to add to my collection of Straights ,De's Ever ready's and Schicks Thank you Gents in advance Rich |
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Post by wchnu on Dec 15, 2009 21:36:06 GMT -5
WOW that is a great looking razor.. looks like a good price too. Are you in England? I have never modified a blade to go in a razor that needed the cut outs. You can still buy these blades new out of Japan from Feather. They are more expensive then normal SE blades. I have a few here, and there had been a mention of a group buy in the future.
Fuzzy
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Post by mbwhoosh on Dec 15, 2009 22:08:33 GMT -5
Hey Rich, Our own Dave (D.Irving) made some wonderful videos of how to both remove the spine of a blade and how to nip the edges for the cutouts. I have an autostrop as well and it can be a little intimidating at first but is actually quite easy to modify the blade. You will need to practice shaving with it though as the autostrop (for me at least) required and extreme angle (completely flat on face) to make it shave right. Also depending on which model autostrop you bought just removing the spine may be enough to make it fit properly. www.youtube.com/user/GemCutlery#p/a/u/2/Y7Bq0nLygEgwww.youtube.com/user/GemCutlery#p/u/4/T4exDJXACHgGood luck and let us know how it goes ;D |
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Post by spinyeel on Dec 15, 2009 23:18:08 GMT -5
Dave also has a video of how to sharpen a new old stock Valet blade. ;)I have tried it and it works a treat,although it is time consuming. aiat feels good to get those old blades carving through whiskers again. ;D
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Post by wchnu on Dec 16, 2009 1:30:15 GMT -5
Dave also has a video of how to sharpen a new old stock Valet blade. ;)I have tried it and it works a treat,although it is time consuming. aiat feels good to get those old blades carving through whiskers again. ;D The old blades work well in my valet Razor knife. Have not tried to get one back to shave ready. Might be a fun challenge though. Fuzzy |
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Richy
Rag-A-Muffin
Posts: 8
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Post by Richy on Dec 16, 2009 4:22:50 GMT -5
Hey Gents ,thanks for the input.
Looking at the valet blade against a GEM it appears that there is nothing to be gained by snipping anything of the sides .The problem is the VALET word cut through the head which has two small nubs in both the V and L there's also a large nub in the middle but this is accomadated by the large slot in the middle of the GEM blade.
The small nubs could easily be taken on or indeed bent in but I'm a little opposed to this as it alters the razor ,seems wrong to find a razor that been passed from hand to hand over a numer of years only to wind up in my hands and get changed.
me thinks a little drilling of the blade will sort this out ,though it's obviously messy.
Anyone know which model I've got and maybe an approximate date ??
Thank you
Rich
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Post by wchnu on Dec 16, 2009 4:26:18 GMT -5
No need to modify the razor. the blade can be snipped to work. Dave has a video. I can not tell from the pictured but you might have the one that does not require the cutouts.. in that case removing the spine and snipping a little will make the SE blade work fine.
Fuzzy
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Post by mbwhoosh on Dec 16, 2009 4:52:06 GMT -5
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Post by wchnu on Dec 16, 2009 4:54:54 GMT -5
ohhhhhhhh a site I have not seen..VEDDY COOL>>>
Fuzzy
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Post by specialk on Dec 16, 2009 14:51:55 GMT -5
You beat me to posting that link. Yes, fuzzy, that site is great for identifying these old razors.
Richy, You have the kind that was made by AutoStrop that only accepts blades with cutouts. Autostrop had a blade that had "VALET" cut out. I only know of one current production blade that has the cutouts.
Hane "Feather" SE blade will work in it. The word "HANE" is cut out of the blade and fits into these type of Valets. I got mine from a friend but I'll have to check where he got his order from.
PM me and I will send you one to take her for a spin.
That razor you linked is in GREAT condition. Enjoy the shaves. I shaved with a C model today.
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Richy
Rag-A-Muffin
Posts: 8
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Post by Richy on Dec 17, 2009 17:28:07 GMT -5
 In my efforts to get Gem blades to work I've managed to break the 2 little nobles of situated in the V and the other in the T ,this was by accident and although I mentioned it as a possibility it's not .........in fact until I can think of an alternative I think I've killed the razor because now there is nothing to stop the blade moving . This may be remedied by adding nobles to coincide with the half holes either side of the Gem blade ,this MAY help though I'm struggling to think how these can be added as they clearly cant be soldered and glue will no doubt fail. To say I'm gutted is a vast understatement . I love all my vintage razors and I pride myself on the way I look after them and this one really was a corker. I've been lucky to find another Auto strop in { hopefully } excellent condition cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230412711571&ssPageName=STRK: This I will treat with GREAT CARE and not play. If anyone has ever experienced the same thing I would be heartened to hear that I'm not the only one thats killed a vintage razor 
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Post by wchnu on Dec 17, 2009 19:22:20 GMT -5
In my efforts to get Gem blades to work I've managed to break the 2 little nobles of situated in the V and the other in the T ,this was by accident and although I mentioned it as a possibility it's not .........in fact until I can think of an alternative I think I've killed the razor because now there is nothing to stop the blade moving . This may be remedied by adding nobles to coincide with the half holes either side of the Gem blade ,this MAY help though I'm struggling to think how these can be added as they clearly cant be soldered and glue will no doubt fail. To say I'm gutted is a vast understatement . I love all my vintage razors and I pride myself on the way I look after them and this one really was a corker. I've been lucky to find another Auto strop in { hopefully } excellent condition cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230412711571&ssPageName=STRK: This I will treat with GREAT CARE and not play. If anyone has ever experienced the same thing I would be heartened to hear that I'm not the only one thats killed a vintage razor Sorry to hear about that. Fuzzy |
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Post by rocketman on Dec 18, 2009 2:02:24 GMT -5
My first Schick Krona - fabulous condition, older model with chrome knob. Pretty much mint.
Felt like giving it a good clean up. Boiled it in a pot.
Schick Soup!! Handle melted up like crazy, knob fell off, deep rich black color now a sickly eggplant grown in the dark kind of thing.
Total crap. It was prett devastating that day. My first Schick and I boiled it to death. I still got it though!! Be darned if I will give up my first!
Oh well - there ya have it!
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Richy
Rag-A-Muffin
Posts: 8
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Post by Richy on Dec 18, 2009 7:17:09 GMT -5
Thanks guys. The saying necessity is the Mother of invention Having racked my brain I MAY have repaired/modified the razor to allow the use of standard GEM blades. The problem as I explained was that having broken of the 2 small nobles either side of the central longer noble allowed the GEM blade to hinge . Looking at the blade there is an oval hole on either side ,this I have targeted as these if coincided with nobles of my own would prevent the blade hinging. Sat in my Shaving room this morning I picked up a Schick razor cartridge and there on the Key part is a lovely raised oval shape ,which by the luck of the gods is exactly the same width and shape to fit in the blade ovals . With a little effort and fiddling I have cut this area out of the key and cut it in half giving me two .These I have then fashioned with wet and dry sandpaper using tweezers and a wet finger. placing a GEM blade in position I have inserted these nobles in the slots with the aid of super strength araldite glue. 6 hours from now we'll see  If it does dry well this in theory will put the razor back in use and with easily obtainable blades ................well thats the theory and we all know about mice and men right?. I'll keep you posted and if it works try and explain better should anyone fancy giving it a whirl |
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Richy
Rag-A-Muffin
Posts: 8
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Post by Richy on Dec 18, 2009 12:49:59 GMT -5
So far so good . The Araldite's hardening nicely and I've checked fit with a blade and it's spot on . Just wait for the Araldite to fully harden then I'll give it a touch up and hopefully away we go ;D ********************** Quick update. Just tried a blade in it and it fits and indeed works.I've even tried a quick strop ,again no issues. Really chuffed that I can now use this razor AND with modern blades  |
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