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WetShaving
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This is a community of enthusiasts, hobbyists and artisans who enjoy a traditional wet shave: brush, soap, and safety or straight razor. We are a part of the WetShaving community found on Reddit, Discord, and IRC.
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We’ve all been there. You are peacefully puttering around on the internet, and suddenly you’ve accidentally bought a razor. Or two, as I happened to do a couple of weeks ago. So let’s have a look at one of my latest accidental buys; a Valet Autostrop VC1. At least it was listed as a VC1 – right now I’m less certain, as the blade holder is a much closer match to the description of a Valet VC2.
From what both the internet and Waits’ Compendium tells me, the VC1 was introduced in 1922. It likely stayed in production until 1928, when the VC2 came out. The VC2 was manufactured until 1935. The VC3 replaced it, and was in turn replaced by the VC4 in 1940. Production seems to have ended in 1946.
The main difference between the VC2 and the VB2 – which was manufactured at the same time – was that the VB2 was supposed to be adjustable (according to Waits at least).
My Autostrop – whatever model it is – came in the original box. And with the original strap. But without any original blades, which I would never have used anyway.
Box has definitely seen better days, but it is a cardboard box that’s almost one hundred years old.
The strop has dried out, which is unsurprising, but looks to be in remarkable good shape otherwise. I am assuming some leather grease will soften it up if desired.
For being old, it is in quite good shape. A bit of grime, but not much in the way of plating loss.
The Autostrop has a blade holder that differs from pretty much any other razor I’ve owned. You have to swing the holder up and over – as you would if you were to strop the blade – before opening a flap. The top cap has a pair of studs, that aligns with cut-outs in the blade and flap. The blade holder is held in place by pressing the guard against it, controlled by the lever on the back of the head.
You can still buy blades that fit the Autostrop. The Feather FHS-10, to be precise. So I naturally bought some. If the razor could be shaved with, it should be shaved with – I’m a shaver, not a collector.
But that also means that a century of dust and grime had to be cleaned of…
The patent number referred to at the underside of the razor head is British Patent 184,808 by the way. The 1922 patent is the same as the US patent 1,492,246, filed in 1921 but not granted until 1924. It makes sense that the razor refers to the British patent, as they text on the underside of the blade holder flap refers to Autostrop Safety Razor Co Ltd, London, England.
Overall I’m very happy with the condition of the razor, and even happier by the fact that I can get blades for it.
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Have a Double Edged razor you enjoy? Want to use your favourite GEM or other Single Edged blade? Fear not, Walter Althof^1^ patented the solution in 1923; An adapter that let you use a single edged blade in a double edged razor.
Well, more on than in. But even so, you could use your favourite single edged blade ~~in~~ ~~on~~ with your favourite double edged razor.
As to why you should is a completely different question. And one the patent text fails to address. What it does talk about though, is the position of your hand while shaving. To quote:
The object of the invention is to produce a device capable of being assembled with the ordinary safety razor of the double edge blade type to adapt said razor for use with a single edge blade. Further, safety razors of the double edge blade type support the blade in a position practically at right angles to the longitudinal axis or extension of the handle so that the handle must be held at substantially right angles to the surface to be shaved. Such a position is unnatural, and somewhat difficult for the hand of the operator to assume, and another object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device, capable of assemblage with a razor of the double-edge blade type that will support a blade in a normally inclined position disposed at a substantial angle to the plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the handle. Thus, a razor substantially of the character known as “hoe type” is produced.
The actual device patented is fairly straight forward. The adapter is little more than a bent piece of sheet metal.
Patent drawing for US patent 1,453,487
The adapter has a fairly complex shape, but should be easy to manufacture in a suitable press. Or it could – conceivably – be an extruded metal profile. The bottom part is concave to fit between the bottom plate and top cap of the razor. The upper part is shaped to hold the blade. A small flange (marked 16 on the drawing) presses the blade against the top cap and bottom plate.
The patent also suggests a special blade, with a groove about half way down the blade that will engage the top cap. But I can easily see using a GEM blade in the adapter, if the design is adjusted so that the flange would grip under the spine of the blade.
As designed, the adapter is suitable for razors using three posts for blade alignment. It should be possible to redesign it for other razors too, by replacing the three cut-outs with the same slot as a normal double edged razor blade has.
To use it, you would place the adapter on the razor, place the blade in the adapter, and tighten the handle. And that is about it. Just shave as normal, just remember to check the angle of attack.
I see no reason why the adapter shouldn’t work as intended. I just don’t see a compelling reason why you should use it. But even so.. if someone offered this for sale, I would probably buy one. Or two…
You can read the full patent text for the adapter to use SE Blades with DE Razors on Google Patents, as well as over on razors.click.
- Of the city of Geneva, in the county of Ontario, in the State of New York
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…in addition to being self-stropping. According to the advertisement, that is. Just how instantly adjustable it truly was is a different matter. I do suspect less so than the copywriter claimed.
Valet 1918 advertisement
By a touch on the adjusting lug you can vary the distance between the blade and the guard with supreme precision and accuracy, according to the toughness of your beard or the tenderness of your skin.
From what I can tell, the “adjusting lug” they are talking about is the lever you use to release the blade for stropping. Which means that if you use it to lift the blade away from the guard, the blade is less well supported for the actual shaving.
And I might be less tough and more tender… but I do not want to shave with an unsupported blade.
As for what an instantly adjustable Valet would cost you.. .21 shilling is 1.05 pounds, also known as one Guinea (British pre-decimal currency was weird). and if we adjust for inflation, that would be 49.39£ (57.70€ / 61.89$ / 670.05 NOK) today. Not a cheap razor, but not terrible expensive either.