This is an opportunity to buy an antique razor, probably dating from the mid 1930s, and actually used in a Barber shop.  My grandfather (see "The Background" below) used razors both for shaving and for cutting hair, so I am unable to say with certainty what this was used for

The razor comes without a slip-case.

The overall length of the razor (closed) is 15cm (5 7/8 inch); the length of the blade (cutting edge) is 7cm (2 3/4 inch).  One side of the blade (non-cutting part) is inscribed 'MADE IN FRANCE" together with something illegible in an oval cartouche; the other side  '42 GARANTIE PARIS'.  The steel on the blade is a little stained, but would probably clean up in the hands of an expert. The body of the razor appears to be made from ebonized wood; the black colour is beginning to wear off along a couple of edges; there is a small chip out of it about half way along on the blade side.

Please look at my other sale items for another razor and shaving brush.  I also plan to sell other antique barber equipment (combs, scissors, clippers) over the next few weeks, much of it in brand new condition, so if you are interested save me as one of your favourite sellers.

Good Luck!

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The Background

My grandfather (b1887, d1977) was a barber, hairdresser and wigmaker.  At the height of his business, just before the Second World War, he had two shops in Coventry city centre.  It was his proud boast that he had once earned 30/- in a day by doing nothing but 1½d shaves.  That is, he earned thirty shillings (£1.50 today) by shaving men at 1½ old pence a time (that's 0.625 of a new penny).  A bit of arithmetic will tell you that he therefore shaved 240 men in that day.  He did that by using three barber's chairs, each manned by a "boy" lathering and otherwise looking after the next client(s).  I'm not sure when this was, but it was probably in the 1920s.  £1.50 doesn't sound like a lot of money today, but it was then!

His two shops were destroyed by the air raids on Coventry, and he originally retired after the war.  He got bored, though, and opened another shop (hairdressing only, men and women) in 1947 or 1948, which he ran until he lost most of his sight in about 1960.

The razors may have been used for cutting hair in the 1950s (and possibly also pre-war), or may have been used for shaving pre-war.  It is also possible, that one of them is the one he used to shave himself (up to when he lost his sight).

I have put together a small portfolio of pictures of my grandfather and his shops, together with some explanatory text, which will be offered to successful bidders (free of charge, via  email)

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