|
|
Post by specialk on Dec 17, 2009 16:20:04 GMT -5
I plucked this piece of shave history off ebay on the other side of the pond. Unfortunately, the strop is missing from the set but everything else is here. These pics are before any clean up by me. Wilkinson Sword 7 Day ‘Empire’ Razor SetManufacturer: Wilkinson Sword Co., Ltd. Patent: Eng - 321115 (10/31/1929) Circa: 1936-1952   Wedge Blades Instructions For more pics including all pages of the instructions, Click HERE |
|
|
|
Post by wchnu on Dec 17, 2009 16:29:34 GMT -5
Beautiful Kevin ,... That is a really nice looking piece of history.
|
|
|
|
Post by Possum on Dec 17, 2009 17:17:52 GMT -5
Kevin,
BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTFul piece of equipment. I wonder if a strop from a Valet Auto Strop might work for ya.
|
|
|
|
Post by spinyeel on Dec 18, 2009 0:50:57 GMT -5
Very nice indeed. ;D The Valet strop is a perfect match for your razor and a lot easier to find than an original Wilkinson version.  |
|
|
|
Post by mbwhoosh on Dec 18, 2009 2:59:56 GMT -5
 Stunning man, just stunning! Please let us know how it shaves (or we'll find you  ) Are any of the blades decently sharp where a good stropping will be enough or will they need to be honed? |
|
|
|
Post by wchnu on Dec 18, 2009 3:05:09 GMT -5
Very nice indeed. ;D The Valet strop is a perfect match for your razor and a lot easier to find than an original Wilkinson version. I was going to ask if the strops for the valet look close to what the Wilkinson would look like? Fuzzy |
|
|
|
Post by rocketman on Dec 18, 2009 14:15:30 GMT -5
The two strops are similar (pic below). However the Wilkinson strop is narrower (width = 1 3/8") than the Valet (width = 1 1/2"). I find that the Valet fits in the Wilkinson razor, but it is a pretty snug fit and it seems to add a fair bit of friction on the sides. This slows down the process somewhat and makes it fairly hard on the strop. It feels a bit of a struggle using the Valet. I suspect also that it may cause just a little cupping of the strop as the blade passes over it. This may affect the quality of the stropping process. The Wilkinson strop on the other hand leaves enough space for the unit to flow and track nicely. It is entirely possible though, that if you have a dedicated Valet strop for the Wilky that you will end up 'breaking it in' enough so that if fits sufficiently. Alternately, you could trim an eight of an inch off one side of the Valet and it will then fit much better. While the Wilkinson looks and is, shorter, the working length is the same since the Valet gets its additional length from the longer 'handle' cutout. The leather appears to be pretty much the same pigskin as used in the Valet model C strops. Top image - Valet Model C Strop * Bottom Image - 1932 Wilkinson Empire Strop  . |
|
|
|
Post by specialk on Dec 18, 2009 15:45:20 GMT -5
Are any of the blades decently sharp where a good stropping will be enough or will they need to be honed? All but one of them, i think..... Thanks for the info on the strops, Rocketman! |
|
|
|
Post by wchnu on Dec 18, 2009 20:02:19 GMT -5
Outstanding pictures there.. gotta love that.
Fuzzy
|
|
|
|
Post by specialk on Dec 22, 2009 10:42:08 GMT -5
So according to Ivan's post on the Allegro, I need a Allegro , model E, with the K11 attachment to get/keep the blades shave ready?
Are their other hones to get the wedge blades sharp that I can be hunting for too?
|
|
napoleon
The Bee's Knee's
The only Croatian SE user!
Posts: 142
|
Post by napoleon on Dec 22, 2009 12:58:57 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by specialk on Dec 22, 2009 14:34:45 GMT -5
Cool, thanks, Ivan.
|
|
|
|
Post by mbwhoosh on Jan 22, 2010 21:36:43 GMT -5
Finally got one of these beauties! ;D Kevin's pictures more than showed off how great this razor set looks so I'm not even going to bother trying to match those. My set did however come with blades that were in amazing condition and might very well have been unused  I say this because of the oil that was put on them to protect from rust has become gummy. This happens to most natural oils after a great deal of time has passed. We will see after I get it all cleaned up and try shaving with one If I ever find my lightbox and am not too lazy I may take some better pictures too     Here you will see both sides of the blade and the now sticky/tacky oil   |
|
|
|
Post by rocketman on Jan 23, 2010 1:35:43 GMT -5
Is that a hair there in the third pic?? Just kidding!!!!!! ;D Nice catch MB!! Great razor set. THat is GREAT that the blades are still coated like that. Unused blades - wow!! I am jealous. You will have to plug those into one or other of yer Stags and start carving!! Enjoy! |
|
|
|
Post by mbwhoosh on Jan 23, 2010 2:15:31 GMT -5
Is that a hair there in the third pic?? Again your compassion astounds me  I cleaned a blade and sterilized it and have it set and ready for the morning shave I don't have high hopes but we will see. I plan to try it as is if that fails I will strop the blade (gonna have to modify my VAS strop or something) and try again. Still no dice will take the blade to a barber hone strop then try again. If that fails well I will have to wait to get some more hones before I move on. Kevin was planning on sending some of his blades to SRD to get honed can't wait to hear how that went |
|
)
I say this because of the oil that was put on them to protect from rust has become gummy. This happens to most natural oils after a great deal of time has passed. 
