The Apollo company, still known today as Apollo even though they no longer make or sell razors, has a long and impressive story in the history of shaving. Likely started as a straight razor company, there's little known about them until the release of their uniquely designed double edged blade razor, with a proprietary blade that was released with a strop to keep the blade sharp longer than the comparable Gillette blades. The head of this early Apollo razor (to be displayed in my next installment) had curved edges on the blade guard, so Gillette-styled blades would not work in this razor.
Possibly German arrogance, or maybe the design was just more effective. In any case, Apollo eventually compromised on their blade & head design to follow the more conventional Gillette design and allow their razors to achieve higher market penetration. The German engineers were pioneers with the slant designs and were early developers of the adjustables as well.
The early Apollo adjustable razors were released around the time of the Gillette Fatboy razors -- late 1950s & early 1960s. And there was no lcak of ingenuity and innovation, since the Apollo adjustable razor allowed for the adjuster knob to be detached from the razor handle and the inner mechanism could be twisted up or down to change the blade exposure beyond what was possible with the adjuster knob.
Unfortunately the Apollos often used pot metal in the head design. This lower quality metal didn't maintain the plating as well as solid brass (like what Gillette often used), and so the plating often peeled off or the head got corrosion in areas that should have had a solid smooth surfacce. Nonetheless, these razors are among the heftiest, most effective shavers made in the 20th century. Well worth owning and using. Just not as extensive as their Gillette cousins. I'll continue this presentation of the Apollo line, and encourage any others of you who have the rare and minty Apollo set to share it with our community of shaving connoisseurs.
Several Apollo Mikrons and a few leather cased traveler sets. Like Gillette & Rotbart and a few other companies, they made blades as well as razors, but it's doubtful they gave away these expensive razors just to encourage blade purchase.
They made a nice 4-piece as well as a number of sets with Bakelite handles.
Such hefty razors. The Ben Hur (not pictured here) was among the classiest & heftiest made by Apollo.
These adjustables have the potential for a much greater blade exposure than the Gillette adjustables.
Beautiful and well engineered razors. Sure wish the modern Merkur adjustable were as well made as these vintage Apollos.
I'll provide more in this Apollo illustrated history, but please add to this thread or start your own documenting the colorful history of the Apollo razors.
Possibly German arrogance, or maybe the design was just more effective. In any case, Apollo eventually compromised on their blade & head design to follow the more conventional Gillette design and allow their razors to achieve higher market penetration. The German engineers were pioneers with the slant designs and were early developers of the adjustables as well.
The early Apollo adjustable razors were released around the time of the Gillette Fatboy razors -- late 1950s & early 1960s. And there was no lcak of ingenuity and innovation, since the Apollo adjustable razor allowed for the adjuster knob to be detached from the razor handle and the inner mechanism could be twisted up or down to change the blade exposure beyond what was possible with the adjuster knob.
Unfortunately the Apollos often used pot metal in the head design. This lower quality metal didn't maintain the plating as well as solid brass (like what Gillette often used), and so the plating often peeled off or the head got corrosion in areas that should have had a solid smooth surfacce. Nonetheless, these razors are among the heftiest, most effective shavers made in the 20th century. Well worth owning and using. Just not as extensive as their Gillette cousins. I'll continue this presentation of the Apollo line, and encourage any others of you who have the rare and minty Apollo set to share it with our community of shaving connoisseurs.
Several Apollo Mikrons and a few leather cased traveler sets. Like Gillette & Rotbart and a few other companies, they made blades as well as razors, but it's doubtful they gave away these expensive razors just to encourage blade purchase.
They made a nice 4-piece as well as a number of sets with Bakelite handles.
Such hefty razors. The Ben Hur (not pictured here) was among the classiest & heftiest made by Apollo.
These adjustables have the potential for a much greater blade exposure than the Gillette adjustables.
Beautiful and well engineered razors. Sure wish the modern Merkur adjustable were as well made as these vintage Apollos.
I'll provide more in this Apollo illustrated history, but please add to this thread or start your own documenting the colorful history of the Apollo razors.
