Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-11-28

Where They Are Made. How They Are
Used aid What Becomes Of Them.

'Razors. said the expert to a representative
OF the New 0rk Sun. swinging one of the tools
IN his hand with freedom that made the re-
porter shudder, ''why. they're a field broader
than the moral law. They are the touch to ma
ture that makes all mankind kin. from Presi-
Gent Arthur in his dressingIoom to his constit-
uents at penny-ante poker game in Thompson
street. No, few ra3Ors are made in this cOun-
try-nOne worth speaking of-say one in a mil
lion. The best come from England The next
best are Swiss. The French raZors deserve a
proud distinction as cmaXHg the worst so far
as know. Some used to be made in Bridge
port. Conn. but | believe tine enterprise was
abandoned. Some are made yet in Massachu-
sets. ut Worcester. bat not nanv.
in one respect we do better here than in
England. We can give here deeper concaye
grind than the English grinders can put upon q
razor. consequently many thousand dozens of
blanks are shipped here every wear for finishing
The reason for this IS that the skilled and care
iul German grinders are in the business here
The business started in Hamburg and has
drifted into German hands almost entirely so
far as this country is concerned. Years ago the
most famous Sheffield firm of cutters in the
razor trade imported two German grinders to
show how their class of work c0uld be done 1t
prrcipitafed general strike. and the employers
had To come to the strikers demands-the
bouncing out of the DeutcIers.
The Sheffield grinders are EnTShmen and
will not readily accept the competition of men
OF other natiOnatieS or adopt the methods of
others They are not fond of change. Razors
ground to perfection over here have been shown
to them models. but do you imagine they
would follow them: No, indeed. Primarily q
razor. to be good. must be made of good steel
but it must also be ground properly to he fit for
shaving. Everything. in fitting any edge tool
for use, depends upon correct undcrstan
OF the service it is expected to perform and
nice adaptation Oh its edge to lust that service
\ carving-knile. for instance must be ground
nat on one side and wcdge-shaped on the other:
pocket knife must be ground convex and have
sufficient thickness behind its edge to
keep it: and a razor must Ge ground thin
and concavc. See this one, for Instance 1t is.
as You Will observe. thinner little back of the
edge than ciose>to it. halily thicker than a
sheet o: paper Nip tine end of its edge with
your thuin6-nai and you viii hear it ring like
little silver bell. More raZors are spoiled by
improper grinding than in any other way. The
only way to know positively whether a razor is
good or not is to shave with it. The eve VII.
not determine its quality. But even if razor
iSOt the best steel and fauitlessly ground it may
be spoiled and rendered quite unfit for shaving
by improper stropping. \ little too much strop-
ping, or not quite enough and you will have a
bad edge. Then the razor, which is really not
at all to blame is condemned as no good
oiten, too. people who are not adopts in the
not shave we'll when the fact is that they scrape
with them. holding the blade almost at right
angles 10 the skin, or use them with straight
push OF the edge against the hair. The proper
way Is to draw the razor with an easy gliding
motion against the hair-so. Use it right, and
even Ii 1t is not quite irstcass razor or in per
feet condition. you can still get pretty salts
factory shave with it, But, for lack of doing
that, people get the queerest notions about
their raZors-actually attribute to them whims
and obstinacies as if they We're sentient beings
Know one gentleman who atiirms that his best
razor his pet when in town. will not shave him
at all IN the country. He actually believes that
The tact Is. that he is away from his ordinary
conditions OF being and surroundings when in
hecountry. and, uncOnsciously of course neither
treats his razor nor Uses it as he would at home
Many men Affirm that their raZors refuse to work
well on the Seacoast. as if the razor cared where
it is used. Ihree-quarters of the people who
shave themselves do not know how to use o
razor and consequently are liable to condemn a
good one.
"A razor is supposed to be better tor a rest
after II has been used for a good while. And it
is My idea about it is that an i.nperceptible
rust gathers on it in disuse and when that is
honed ana stropped Off its edge is thinner and
sharper than before. But YOU will not inre-
queEtiy hear barber speak OF a razor as being
Urea and needing rest Many men avoid
Wearylng Il razor by constant use 10y the eXpe-
dient OF having several and using them in turn
Here Tor example. Is what We term a calendar
case. got to meet the requirements OF gentle
men who take that sensible view of their ri,zors
lt contains. as you will observe. seven fine |
razorS letered on the backs for the DAYS of the
week. Such cases are sold at various prices all |
the way up from = to go. Why do | call il a |
sensible view Eecause Naturally seven razors |
by such Changing round will each do but one |
seventh of what wOud be required of one razor
in constant use, and consequently the evil
day OF regrinding is put seven times
further away. Some men have q great
number OF raZors. and keep adding to their col
lection all the time Joe Jefferson. the actor
buys at least dozen per annum from a big cut
leTy Rouse Oh Nassau street alone and know
he also buys elsewhere. / should imagine that
he must have a trunk full of raZOrs if lie doe,
not lose them OF give them away all the time
a good razor is worth from $50 to 50 80
but there are cheap kinds sold as low as - a
dozen. These are the kind generally employed
IN thompson street to stien up weak poker
hands or persuade people who don't carry a
raHZer There are an Infinite number of STYLES
anu sizes of raZ0rS. Some like a big heavy
blade: others small, light. very narrow and
deeply conceived blade. rather think the latter
are least liable to cut the skin In all cases the
blade and handle of the razor should balance
perfectly when it is held in position for use"
1T Is q wonder to Inc where all the rs,Zors 90
t0-Wilat becomes of them" said the genial pro-
rrietor OF the big cutlery house in Nassau street
Now. deal only i'm strictly first class goods
in raZOrs as in all other lines of cutlery. so NV
business is more restricted than some others.
but last year imported 2. iG1 dozens of raZors
worth more than so 900 to me. And that is
about what the demand is every year Some
houses here-and there are eight or ten proni-
nent lmporters-do considerably more than |
10 ana II Is not at all uncommon for me to sell
loo dozen day. Every boy should be taught
TO shave. 1t should be made a part Of his edu-
cation Just as inuch as SWIMMING dancing or
carVing-a.l necessary accomplishments"