Proud owner of a Star Kampfe Bros. safety razor.

**malocchio** · 06-26-2012, 10:50 PM

Absolutely gorgeous ! A real piece of shaving history...

**Floid_Maniac** · 06-26-2012, 11:15 PM

Originally Posted by malocchio

Absolutely gorgeous ! A real piece of shaving history...

Hi malocchio,

that´s true.

It is a pity that no one produces that kind of razors anymore.

Regards,

Alexander.

**MacDaddy** · 06-27-2012, 12:30 PM

Originally Posted by Floid_Maniac

Do I have this right that the new head was sold with the one and two part handle and every Star razor with the new head is a 1901 model type?

Well, I would probably just call them all "New Model" Stars, rather than 1901 models. Then you could get more specific by calling the earlier version a "Type 1 New Model" and the later one a "Type 2 New Model" or something like that. I did a little more digging into various advertising to see if I could narrow down when the switch between the two types would have happened, and I found this: In the August 1904 issue of Cosmopolitan they ran this ad with an illustration that they'd been using for a number of years already that seems to show a man using the Type 1 style razor:

But in the September 1904 issue they used a completely new illustration of a man (without a moustache now) shaving with what looks like it could be the Type 2 style razor:

It's not exactly definitive proof, but in any case the Type 2 style was absolutely being advertised by 1905. Here's a very clear illustration from the August 10, 1905 issue of Hardware:

What I'm finding a little odd is that I don't seem to be able to find a patent filing that looks like it covers that modification, and these guys filed patents for everything you can imagine. Here are the 1901 and 1902 patents that are referenced in the inscription on the back of your razor, which are the only ones specific to the New Model that I've been able to find so far:

As you can see both filings use the sliding guides of the Type 1 style and there doesn't appear to be any sort of "alternate implementation" discussion that would cover the spring-loaded guides of the Type 2. Not a big deal, really... Just seems odd that they wouldn't have filed something for that unless it was possibly covered by someone else's patent and they were licensing (or "borrowing") the design.

Originally Posted by Floid_Maniac

Is the new head with the slide adjustables near the front and blade stops, the last version of the Kampfe Bros. lather catcher model types?

No, they had other later designs that I would still call lather catchers, but as far as I can tell none of them were anywhere near as popular as the New Model style. I posted a couple of the ones I have over in the SROTM thread a little while back. There's this one that's basically just a copy of the GEM Junior Bar:

And this one that's a much simpler design that I think is from around 1913:

Originally Posted by Floid_Maniac

What I do find interesting are the two different patent awards you can see on the back side of the new head. One is from 1900 in Paris and the other from 1901 for Pan America. Knowing that the Kampfe Bros. razors were also sold in France because here in Europe there are tins with Kampfe Bros. labels and instructions in french language, let me think that this 1901 model type was sold maybe one year earlier in France than in America. In 1900 the world exhibition took place in Paris. So if this 1901 model type won a patent award in Paris in the year 1900 the Kampfe company must have introduced that new head to the public at the world exhibition in this year in France. What do we got here now? A 1901 or a 1900 model type for the new head? Porter, it will be interesting what you are thinking about my trains of thought.

I couldn't say for certain, but I would bet that it was still the older style Star that received the award in Paris (and possibly even the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, NY, although that might also have been where they announced their New Model since the timing is about right -- I don't have anything that would back that up, though). This ad from the August 1901 issue of Everybody's Magazine mentions the award and is still illustrated with the old style razor:

**Floid_Maniac** · 06-28-2012, 01:53 AM

Hi Porter,

thanks a lot for that very good informations. I am wondering that there exists no page on Wikipedia about Kampfe Bros. til yet. The rare informations in the net about that topic are spread over several websites. Sometimes the less informations are just copied from one site to the other.

Regards,
Alexander

**Doodi1** · 06-28-2012, 09:45 AM

Great information in this thread. Floid Maniac you are a lucky guy. What a great find!

**Floid_Maniac** · 06-28-2012, 09:55 AM

Originally Posted by Doodi1

Great information in this thread. Floid Maniac you are a lucky guy. What a great find!

Hi Doodi1,

that´s true Porter got a lot of knowledge and very good informations about the Kampfe Bros. company and their safety razors.

Thank you, the razor is really a great find.

Regards,
Alexander

**ERVARGASNY** · 06-28-2012, 08:42 PM

Very Nice Lather Catcher, Looks Great, when you shave with it let us know how it went :o)

**Floid_Maniac** · 06-28-2012, 10:33 PM

Hi ERVARGASNY,

thank you.

I have used the Star lather catcher for three times now, loaded with a GEM PTFE blade. First time I used it as I am usual with my British Ever-Ready 1912 in a very flat degree of 5° which gives me great shaves in that way. But that didn´t work with the Star. That first shave was more aggressive but not the same as you get it from a Micromatic open comp, also because I put too much pressure on my strokes. I had a very light razorburn on the skin of my neck for a few hours after the shave. The last two shaves I used a degree between 25° and 35°, concentrating on no pressure at all and that worked pretty well. The results were very smooth and comfortable BBS which continued for around 12 hours. Comparing those last two shaves with my other vintage SE/DE or modern DE razors I have to realize that none of them could do that in a better way. Sure with some DE´s you don´t have to concentrate the whole shave that much about the proper degree and pressure, but in the end the results are the same. I think that is pretty good for a razor which is almost 110 years old. One thing I have to note. The sound of the razor cutting the stubbles is tremendous. I love it.

Sorry for my poor English and grammar but as you can read it is not my native language.

Alexander.

**Rob72** · 06-29-2012, 07:59 AM

No need to apologize- I feel confident in stating that your English is better than the majority's ability in German!

In central Western Europe, if you like the Star/Kampfe, you may also want to watch for the CV Heljestrand 7 day set http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthr...CV+Heljestrand

Or (what, as far as I can tell, is extremely rare), a Wilkinson Sword 1904 Rapide-style. Le Grelot also made a very sleek, stylish wedge SE. The French razors are cool in that there seems to have been a significant number of independent makers that "expired" quickly; unique designs, uncommon features & styles, and little available history.

**Floid_Maniac** · 06-29-2012, 09:39 PM

Hi Rob72,

the Heljestrand is also on my must have list of vintage razors. But they are hard to get even here in Europe. Problem with Wilkinson is that you cannot use them with modern SE blades as far as I know. Most sets I have seen were not complete and the razors in bad condition. Seems that they were used a lot by their owners.

Regards,

Alexander.

**Ray Todd** · 07-05-2012, 01:21 AM

Wow, this post is a few days old now, but I just spotted it and the picture of your new Lather Catcher. It is a beautiful razor. The only similar thing I have tried so far is an old Gem Jr. from a "Damaskeene" set, and I loved the shave that I got with it. Enjoy!

**Floid_Maniac** · 07-06-2012, 02:06 AM

Originally Posted by Ray Todd

Wow, this post is a few days old now, but I just spotted it and the picture of your new Lather Catcher. It is a beautiful razor. The only similar thing I have tried so far is an old Gem Jr. from a "Damaskeene" set, and I loved the shave that I got with it. Enjoy!

Hi Ray Todd,

I love to shave with my single edge razors, too. I started with a British Ever-Ready 1912 model and that razor is really great. In the meantime I own several SE razors and all of them give me fantastic and close shaves, except my MMOC. That is really a beast of a razor. Now I am waiting for my first Schick G - model injector razor. I am looking forward for my first shave with it.

Thanks for the compliments for my Star Kampfe Bros. razor.

Regards,
Alexander.

**Floid_Maniac** · 08-03-2012, 07:54 AM

Hi members,

today my second Star Kampfe Bros. New Model Razor arrived at my place. First I put it in a glass of water with Barbicide for ten minutes to sterilize it. It is also in pretty good condition, like the first Star razor I introduced here in this thread and needed not much cleaning. With the razor I got an original case containing four blades, a stropper and a blade holder for two blades. Three of the blades are Kampfe Bros blades, the fourth is engraved with "Royal Rapid". Two of the Kampfe Bros. blades are looking less used so I toy with the idea to sharpen them by someone I know. Can´t do it on my own...

Have a nice weekend,

Alexander.

**Sledgehammer39** · 08-05-2012, 12:18 PM

Whoa it sure looks pretty, congrats!

**Floid_Maniac** · 08-06-2012, 10:55 AM

Originally Posted by Sledgehammer39

Whoa it sure looks pretty, congrats!

Thanks a lot for man. It shaves also pretty good. The shorter and much more heavier handle gives a better performance for the whole razor.
Just had one shave with a GEM PTFE balde with it. I am curious how the original Kampfe Bros. blades will perform after they will be sharpened one day.

Regards, Alexander.

**InsecureSpike** · 08-06-2012, 11:45 AM

that looks so sweet mate

**Floid_Maniac** · 08-06-2012, 10:19 PM

Originally Posted by InsecureSpike

that looks so sweet mate

Yes indeed, it does.

Although both razors show the same engravings on the backside of their heads and also signed as "New Model", there are some differences between both models:

Also the alloy of both razors is different. The Star razor on the right side with the two part handle seems to has nickel as alloy but the razor with the one part handle has a much brighter and whiter tone of colouration. Could that be rhodium or silver? I am really no specialist and can only speculate. Maybe some members know more about it.

Regards, Alexander.

**MacDaddy** · 08-07-2012, 06:10 AM

Originally Posted by Floid_Maniac

Also the alloy of both razors is different. The Star razor on the right side with the two part handle seems to has nickel as alloy but the razor with the one part handle has a much brighter and whiter tone of colouration. Could that be rhodium or silver? I am really no specialist and can only speculate. Maybe some members know more about it.

To me it looks more like the razor on the left has been replated. The first thing that jumps out is the spring clip, which I've always seen gold-toned rather than matching the razor frame. And if you look closely at the frame itself there seem to be dings that have been plated over. There's an especially large one right across the hinge seam on the far left side, and what seems to be another good-sized one between the "C" and "E" in "FRANCE." The knurling of the handle, too, really looks like it's been replated after having been worn down over the years. If I were guessing just from the color in the photos I'd say it was a replate in silver, but that's harder to be certain of just looking at photos online.

**Floid_Maniac** · 08-07-2012, 07:46 AM

Originally Posted by MacDaddy

To me it looks more like the razor on the left has been replated. The first thing that jumps out is the spring clip, which I've always seen gold-toned rather than matching the razor frame.

Hi Porter,

as the razor arrived at my place and I saw the spring not in a golden tone, that was my first thought, too. But there are some other images of the New Model Star razor with the one part handle showing the same spring in silver tone. I am showing some pictures here which were published in the B&B forum. Hopefully that is o.k.

This image was published by member T Rick and shows the same razor like mine on the left side. One part handle and same silver spring.

Here is a link showing also a Star razor head with silver spring.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ksenor/4642515123/in/photostream/lightbox/

Here is another one with silver spring, published in the B&B forum by member Ignatius.

It seems to me that the silver spring is typical for the Star model with the one part handle and the golden tone spring for the model with the two part handle. All pictures I have seen so far showing only the golden tone spring with the two part handle razor. I am not sure that the razor was replated, also the prize I had to pay for was really too low for that. On the other hand the images of the other one part handle Star razor showing nickel alloy. Hard to say...
Because I never had a razor plated with rhodium in my hands (as far as I belive to know

) so it is hard for me to say if the alloy of mine is silver or rhodium...

Regards, Alexander.

**MacDaddy** · 08-07-2012, 11:42 AM

Hmm... I've got one of those later style sets somewhere with that same sort of handle. I'll see if I can find it this evening when I get home and see if it's like yours. I may just not be remembering it correctly.

I could still be wrong but I'm pretty well sure that you're not looking at rhodium there. The look you've got there is much more silver than anything else -- at least here on my screen.

Even if the spring clip isn't an issue, though, with the signs of physical wear yours seems to have I would really expect to see the plating wearing through at least in some places. Compare your handle, in particular, to the one in Ignatius's photo above. Maybe it's just lighting and contrast differences in the two photos, but see how sharp and crisp his knurling looks? That's what I would expect to see. You can even go back a little farther in the thread and compare it to the handle that I've got on that 1913-ish Kampfe Bros. lather catcher, although I didn't get much of it in those shots. Again, maybe I'm wrong -- maybe the knurling on your handle just wasn't impressed as sharply before it was plated, but there's also the dings on the razor frame that make me wonder.

I'll update with what I find going through the Stars I've got later tonight.