Can you help me ID a Rolls

[Marcall]

I just learned recently of The Rolls Razor company and I immediately wanted one even if the shave turns out to be less than desired or i find out it's too much hassle, It still seems like a cool and worthy piece to get. So today I found and purchased This Rolls (http://cgi.ebay.com/Rolls-Razor-Vintage-1927-Razor-set-Complete-Case-/120695431338?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c1a0220aa#ht_500wt_951) it says it's a 1927 Imperial. I checked the Safety Razor Compendium by Robert Waits and the patents shown on the blade are from '25 and '24 but the case seems to be post 1936 and according to the waits book it says the Blue and green boxes are from the '40's. The other thing is that (once again I'm totally new to the Rolls) none of the other Rolls I viewed on eBay seemed to show a patent on the blade which is a bit confusing to me.

There's not much left of the box but overall at least to a Newb such as myself it looks to be in relatively good condition and the blade in particular looks good to my eyes at least.

Could you help me ID this thing?

[galopede]

Looks like one of the aluminium cased Viscounts to me. As far as I know they first appeared just after WWII. Britain was very short of steel about then and started using aluminium for all sorts of things, including the Land Rover!

I have one of the Viscounts and two of the Imperials.

Great razors when you get them honed up well. They give me the closest shave ever.

Gareth

[alex2363]

Looks like one of the aluminium cased Viscounts to me. As far as I know they first appeared just after WWII. Britain was very short of steel about then and started using aluminium for all sorts of things, including the Land Rover!

I have one of the Viscounts and two of the Imperials.

Great razors when you get them honed up well. They give me the closest shave ever.

Gareth

wat he said^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

[Possum]

Marcall, Its the Viscount but a early one. I have the Viscount and your box doesn't look like mine nor the body cover plates. Well one does the other doesn't. In 1941 all the cases went to aluminum which could be yours, 2) the Viscount cover plates came w/ a single row Greek key design, which one of your covers has but the other has the 3 row. Not normally found on that model. The 3 row was for the Imperial no. 2. Mine has the patent numbers like yours. But look on the rear of the blade where it attaches to the handle, often the mfg. date is stamped there. Mine is 53. I'm sure yours is earlier than that but not 1927. I've been shaving w/ mine for 2yrs. and think its the Rolls Royce of razors. Just love it. If the box was in good shape and it had all the paperwork I'd pay double what you did. You'll have to work w/ it to bring it to 'shave ready' but it will give a great shave. Hope you enjoy it as family heirlooms are not easy to come by. Mine was purchased by my Grandfather who was a Merchant Seaman and traveled to England and handed down to my father much later then me. I think of them when I use it. Possum

[W_B_K]

Viscounts were made only after WW2. The cover plate with the 3 key rows is indeed from a No.2, not a Viscount. In fact the No.2 plate that is on it looks to be the nickle plated version rather than aluminum.

The trick is getting the blade shave ready. If you already use straights and have a hone, this is much easier to accomplish. Fantastic shaver once it is right, and a really cool piece!

Check out the Rolls group here:

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/group.php?groupid=111 (http://badgerandblade.com/vb/group.php?groupid=111)

And the wiki on how to refurbish it here:

http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/index...le=Rolls_Razor (http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/index.php?title=Rolls_Razor)

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/macskin/misc/progress.gif

[Marcall]

Thanks for the info guys. I'll post some better pics when I receive it. It'll be interesting to see what the date on the blade says.

[W_B_K]

It'll be interesting to see what the date on the blade says.

Keep in mind that helps date the blade, not the set. :001_smile As you already have a plate from a No. 2, you wouldn't really be able to tell if it is original. Rolls also sold extra/replacement blades. If the set was heavily used it is likely to have a newer blade as the originals broke from heavy stropping (pin breaks through the middle or the blade breaks at the pin lock).
If you get a Rolls that looks like it was never used (very light or no stropping marks on the leather, kit looks new), the blade stamp is a pretty good indicator of age.

Now if we could just decode the serial # on the case.....

[Possum]

Yes, agreed WBK, if we could 'decode the serial number stamped on the body'
it may render a clue to its age of mfg.. Perhaps Mr. Francis Donefrio who purchased the inventory and still services these razors with all the early notes could offer us some insight toward this. Not to get off this subject but how does one post in the Rolls Razor social group? Thanks, Possum.

[Marcall]

Yes, agreed WBK, if we could 'decode the serial number stamped on the body'
it may render a clue to its age of mfg.. Perhaps Mr. Francis Donefrio who purchased the inventory and still services these razors with all the early notes could offer us some insight toward this. Not to get off this subject but how does one post in the Rolls Razor social group? Thanks, Possum.

I got it today. The Blade must be a replacement because it has L5 stamped on it with no date. There is a number on the side of the case which reads AS1637CC (The s might be a 5 but looks more like an s)

[O. Glenn]

It appears you have a Viscount Rolls Razor, but the hone side is from an Imperial model - likely a quick fix for a cracked hone. If you compare the dimensions of the hone side to the strop side, you'll notice a bit of a difference, perhaps even in material as one might be aluminum with the other being steel. As long as it fits, the function is the same. Determining the age is often difficult, especially because parts are interchangeable.

[Marcall]

It appears you have a Viscount Rolls Razor, but the hone side is from an Imperial model - likely a quick fix for a cracked hone. If you compare the dimensions of the hone side to the strop side, you'll notice a bit of a difference, perhaps even in material as one might be aluminum with the other being steel. As long as it fits, the function is the same. Determining the age is often difficult, especially because parts are interchangeable.

You're right about the material being different. The hone side is quite a bit heavier than the strop side( I took the stone out as well as the strop to clean everything). I put a magnet to the hone side but it didn't magnetize so I'm not sure if it's steel but the pin which locates the cover to the case has a bit of rust whereas the aluminum side does not, also it's a bit shinier than the aluminum. Very neat piece though and the blade is in excellent condition and has a nice edge and everything else works flawlessly.

I've actually ordered another one(my GAS is getting the best of me:laugh:) which has a complete box and looks to be more intact as an original set.

Can't wait to shave with it!

[O. Glenn]

I've purchased over a dozen of them and still look for additions because I love the engineering and unlike straights, you can still purchase good units very cheaply, often under $10 on the bay. They are great shavers as well once you hone the blades. Here is a link to photos of some of the various models/cases: http://www.stropper.com/home/stropper_index.php?page=26&category=&querytype=back&select1link=&select2link=&select3link=&select4link=&select5link=&select6link=

Hope you enjoy yours!

[Marcall]

I've purchased over a dozen of them and still look for additions because I love the engineering and unlike straights, you can still purchase good units very cheaply, often under $10 on the bay. They are great shavers as well once you hone the blades. Here is a link to photos of some of the various models/cases: http://www.stropper.com/home/stropper_index.php?page=26&category=&querytype=back&select1link=&select2link=&select3link=&select4link=&select5link=&select6link=

Hope you enjoy yours!

Thanks for the link. The engineering is spectacular and the same thing which draws me to them. Did any of yours require professional honing or were you able to get a good edge yourself?

[Possum]

OGlenn, Thanks for the link as well. I enjoy learning about all the models. Even found mine and was able to date it. Possum

[O. Glenn]

Thanks for the link. The engineering is spectacular and the same thing which draws me to them. Did any of yours require professional honing or were you able to get a good edge yourself?

I honed them myself, but then again, I've been honing my own straights for quite awhile. While a tad slower than honing a straight because you have to flip the blade with your fingertips, they aren't difficult to get shave ready on a norton 4/8 or a coti.
Using the hone that comes with the rolls is another story. Personally, I use that hone sparingly as it doesn't leave the greatest edge - it's much like a barber hone, fine for a quick touch-up, but not for establishing an edge. Again, half the fun is discovering what works best for you.