Featured WILKINSON SWORD SEVEN-DAY Single-Edge RAZOR SET. Ca. 1920.

This arrived in the mail today!



It's in virtually MINT condition! It even came with a period strop (not shown).

 

No wonder beards were in fashion - I couldn't figure out how to put that together without instructions!
Nice find!

 

What's that piece on the left side?

 

I imagine you're right, but that would make a straight razor with a relatively short edge.

 

@Shangas has shown a similar set previously:
https://www.antiquers.com/threads/restoring-a-vintage-razor-set.64538/

I thought it was cool, went looking online and found a set at a price I was willing to pay. Came with the strop and all the original paperwork - I don't think it was ever used. The blades were still oiled!




The blades do disassemble.

 

What happens to your face if you use the blades out of order?
OTOH, it DOES look like a nice set!!

 

That looks like a risky thing to use.

 

I barely remember when razors had blades like this. I still have dads around here somewhere. Not as nice as these !

 

Look at that beautiful packaging-the tonsorial arts of bygone days.An elegant time-as long as Sweeny Todd weren't yer Barber !

 

I will attempt to answer all your questions...

It didn't come with instructions, so it took a bit of experimentation, but I figured it out in the end.

Actually it's for sharpening the razor. I daresay you could shave with it too, but it's actually for holding the blade so that you can sharpen it more effectively.

Yes, I've seen some others. The one I bought is one of the fancier sets, but there are others out there which are even more elaborate!!

 

They take some getting used to, that's for certain.

The previous set I had (see @moreotherstuff's post) was REALLY fiddly to use. To remove the blades from their frames (for sharpening, or cleaning, etc) was a REAL pain in the ass. I didn't fancy slicing off my fingers just to clean a razor-blade, so I put the set up for sale, and bought this, instead. These blades are heavier, larger, easier to hold, and easier to sharpen and use.

A reason a lot of these sets were abandoned and are so nice, as you say, is because they were so damn fiddly to use. When you're sleepy and you can't be stuffed doing it properly, that's a safety hazard...

 

AND how about the houses with the older bathrooms that the "medicine cabinet" has the slot inside to dispose of the used razor blades.......wonder how many tons of blades are in peoples WALLS!!!

 

Aquitaine-Prob enough to forge a Broadsword !

 

Ah, nostalgia moment: I believe my Dad used Wilkinson blades in his razor. You twisted the handle and the top opened up for you to place the blade. No disposables back then.

 

Those are the instructions for the later, 1930s-40s variant. Mine is from the 20s. But yes, it works in a similar fashion.

 

Shaving was an art in those days.