Andreas Müller
I recently conducted an interview with Andreas Müller, General Manager (together with brother Christian Müller) of MÜHLE / Hans-Jürgen Müller GmbH & Co. KG.
The interview was sparked by my recent purchase and trial of the Mühle R41 2011. As an enthusiastic fan of this razor, I was able to approach Andreas Müller directly and interview him regarding the R41 and other matters of interest to the B&B community:
Q: Was there demand for more aggressive razors?
A: We had thought there is a demand. There are some rather gentle razors available but we wanted to create a DE that is clearly distinguishable from others - and complementary to our gentle version, the R89. The feedback and the sales figures confirm our assumption.
Q: What was the inspiration for the R41s tooth comb design? What are the advantages and disadvantages of this design versus the traditional open comb?
A: Our tests brought the results that the design does not have such a great impact on the performance of the razor as other properties have. We chose the "tooth comb" design mainly for manufacturing and design reasons.
Q: Badger and Blade member have commented that the head of the new R41 holds a blade flatter than other razors and less dish-shaped. Does this contribute to the razor's effectiveness and aggressiveness?
A: It definitely does. The tension of the blade does effect the performance of the razor considerably. The R41 is designed for advanced DE users who know how to handle such a tool. It´s for wet shavers who appreciate a very direct and straight shave. It´s definitely not a DE for beginners, and it was never meant to be such.
Q: The blade exposure on the R41 is quite significant, as well as the positioning relative to the tooth-comb. Are these also factors that contribute to the effectiveness of the razor? Are there other factors I missed?
A: Yes: We follow the discussions on B&B and other forums closely. Obviously the selection of the material as well as design is just as important to customers as they are to us.
Q: Do you feel that handle weight and material selection contribute to a razor's ability to produce audible feedback?
A: As far as the weight is concerned, we believe that it does not have a crucial influence on the shave. Yet, we understand that there a users that prefer a slightly heavier handle.
Q: Many B&B members find that Mühle's chrome plating and overall quality control set the standard for the industry. Would you comment on the plating process and overall quality control methods?
A: Thank you! Indeed we are paying major attention to the design and quality of our products, particularly to the finish and coating. We see the quality as a part of our brand identity. In fact, we submit to standards of the jewelry and pen industry. We are using the same machinery in order to achieve the same or even a better quality level as the leading manufacturers in those industries. We are very happy that B&B members acknowledge and appreciate our efforts.
Q: The former R41 model has a good reputation in the B&B community. Will it be discontinued?
A: We really appreciate the reputation that the former R41 has gained at several wet shave blogs. However, it is discontinued although its "character" is different from the new version. The feedback on the new R41 was tremendous and the demand has instantly exceeded the one of the previous model. Also we believe that in terms of finish and design we have reached a higher level with the new version.
Q: Are there plans to release other new razors in the near future?
A: We are working on several new products; some of them will be launched already this autumn. We will inform you accordingly.
Q: Is any consideration being given to a new SE razor? Straight razors? Slant bar?
A: I assume you mean the classic straight razor... We believe there is a relatively strong demand for straight blades. We see them as a substantial part of the "shaving culture" and we do a lot in order to educate people how to use the tool. Our vision is to re-vitalize the classic barber shop culture. Shaving brushes and straight blades have always been part of it. Yet the industry seems not to catch the point: new designs are desirable and the infrastructure for manufacturing blades needs optimization.
Regarding the slant bar razor: To be honest: We have not decided yet. So far we have not yet experienced a strong demand that would justify the investment (design and tooling). We will[FONT="] see....[/FONT]
Q: Mühle is the industry's leader in developing synthetic brushes, including Silvertip Fibres©. Would you care to comment on this or other areas of new product development?
A: Synthetic fibres are very important to us and we are experiencing a growing demand. We would like to adopt the level we have reached to those qualities; we call "basic" synthetic fibers (equivalent to the natural materials "pure badger" and "fine badger hair"). This is one of the fields we are currently working on. But besides working on new items, we are daily trying to perfect existing products.
Q: Finally, members Ive talked to would like to know if there are plans to introduce a Mühle TTO razor?
A: I believe pretty much all competitors are keen to offer a TTO, so are we....
I would like to thank a special friend in Saxony as well as B&B members Noahpictures and Viseguy for their contributions to the interview.
Last edited:
