IMPROVEMENTS IN RAZORS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Lloyd Wise, of 7, Whitehall Place, in the City of
Westminster, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAZORS."
A com-
munication from abroad by Messieurs Durand, Bossin, and Brard, of Paris, in
the Republic of France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Lloyd Wise at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st May 1880.
WILLIAM LLOYD WISE, of 7, Whitehall Place, in the City of Westminster.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN RAZORS." (A communication from abroad by Messieurs
Durand, Bossin, and Brard, of Paris, in the Republic of France.
This Invention of improvements in razors comprises the following features:-
1. The application in front of the razor blade, parallel thereto and at a short
distance from the edge, of a small axle or pin carrying a series of small rollers
arranged with their bosses next one another, and so as to rotate freely upon the
axle or pin which is carried by suitable projections of an adjustable plate.
2. The combination in a razor of a body with spring arrangement, a shaving
blade hinged or jointed to such body at one end so as to lie next it in position for
use, and a haft or handle hinged or jointed to the other end of the body, and
arranged to carry hinged to it, or otherwise, articles of utility, such as a comb, a
mirror, a hone, or the like.
3. The so connecting all the various portions of the instrument that it may be
shut up into a small compass for portability, or be used with the blade open for
shaving, or be cleaned, or have the blade sharpened, all without in any way
disconnecting any of the parts.
Referring to the accompanying Drawings, Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate an example; a is
the body; b; the blade; c, the adjustable plate; d, the axle or pin; e, e, are rollers;
f is the handle.
It will be evident the details may be more or less varied according to
circumstances.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Lloyd Wise in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th
November 1880.
WILLIAM LLOYD WISE, of 7, Whitehall Place, in the City of Westminster.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN RAZORS." (A communication from abroad by Messieurs
Durand, Bossin, and Brard, of Paris, in the Republic of France.)
This Invention of improvements in razors comprises (inter alia) the following
features:-
1. The combination in a razor of a body with spring arrangement, a shaving
blade hinged or jointed to such body at one end, so as to lie next it in position for
use, and a haft or handle hinged or jointed to the other end of the body, and
arranged to carry hinged to it, or otherwise, articles of utility, such as a comb, a
mirror, a hone, or the like.
2. The so connecting the various portions of the instrument that it may be shut
up into a small compass for portability, or be used with the blade open for shaving,
or be cleaned, or have the blade sharpened, all without in any way disconnecting
any of the parts.
3. The application in front of the razor blade, parallel thereto and at a short
distance from the edge, of a small axle or pin carrying a series of small rollers
arranged with their bosses next one another, and so as to rotate freely upon the
axle or pin which is carried by suitable projections of an adjustable plate.
Fig. 1 is a side view of a razor folded up, thus allowing of its being placed in a
box or case and put in the pocket.
Fig. 2 is an end view, and Fig. 3 a view of the side opposite to that shewn in
Fig. 1, the instrument being still supposed to be folded up.
Fig. 4 is a view of the same side of the instrument as is shewn in Fig. 3, the
handle however being opened out into position for use.
Fig. 5 is a plan of Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 is a side view shewing the razor in position for sharpening or setting
the blade, or cleaning of the rollers before mentioned.
Figs. 7 shew in side and end view the blade detached.
Figs. 8 shew in elevation, plan, and end view the roller plate provided with
rollers. As will be seen the plate is held against the body of the razor by screws,
on which it is capable of sliding.
Figs. 9 shew in side elevation, plan, and end view the body of the razor without
the plate which carries the rollers.
Fig. 10 is a side view of an ordinary razor having rollers applied thereto according
to this Invention, this being effected by a mounting or roller holder provided with
screws resting on the back of the razor blade, whereby the position of said
mounting or roller holder relatively to the blade (which it grips slightly) may be
regulated.
Figs. 11 and 12 are respectively an end view and plan, and
Fig. 13 is a view of the side opposite to that shewn in Fig. 10.
Figs. 14 show the mounting or roller holder in detached side and end view.
Fig. 15 illustrates an arrangement of razor which may be used either with the
right or left hand, the instrument being shewn folded up.
Fig. 17 is an end view, and.
Figs. 18 elevation and plan of the slide handle.
Referring now to Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive, A is the body of the instrument, to the
left and right of which the blade and handle open out successively; B, the blade of
the razor articulated to one end of the body; C, the handle articulated to the other
end of the body, and in which is made a slit to receive a comb or other toilet

page_text: article; D, adjustable roller plate held by means of screws against the outer face in
front of the body of the instrument; a, a', perforated extensions of the plate
designed to hold the axis b on which are threaded the rollers c, c', c¹¹. The axis b
being slightly burred or rivetted over at the extremities acts as a stay to a, a¹; it
may also be screwed, in that case terminating at one end in a shouldered and
notched head; c, c', c¹¹, rollers rounded off placed against each other, turning very-
freely on the axis b; d, d, small screws serving to fix, guide, and adjust the roller
plate D; e, screw serving as axis to the tang of the razor blade; this tang terminates
in a square end, the two edges of which successively pass under a spring in the
body of the apparatus or attached thereto, which spring they raise, and whose
office is to keep the blade in the shut or open position, as the case may be; f, spring
serving as back to the body A and covering the back of the blade; at the side
opposite the blade joint it terminates in a clip g, which keeps the said blade in
its place. The head h of the blade when brought into position ready for use
engages between this clip and the back of the body A. The blade is thus
maintained exactly in position, held as it is, additionally, by the pressure of the
spring f.
Referring to Figs. 10 to 14, i is a recess in the side of the handle into which the
rollers fit when applied to an ordinary razor; j, handle; k, mounting or roller
holder; v, v, screws serving to fix and adjust the mounting k; l, ordinary blade on
which is arranged the mounting k which carries the line of rollers m.
Referring to Figs. 15 to 18, p is the mounting on which the roller holding plate
is adjusted by screws working in slots; r, spring formed in this arrangement by a
thin drawn steel blade, and fixed at one end to the part p; g, sheath fixed on the
top of the part p; t, extension jointed to handle c, split at the end and engaging
in the sheath g jointed at M.
Referring again to Fig. 1 it will be seen that an instrument, according to this
Invention, may be arranged to occupy a very small space, so that it will go in a
case that may be furnished with a stone and strop for sharpening it. Fig. 4 shews
that by the simple rotation of the handle the razor is brought to the form of an
ordinary razor, and that without the addition of any part. This form is preferred.
The cleaning of the apparatus may be effected with the greatest facility when it is
opened out, as shewn in Fig. 6, keeping to the ordinary handle form, which allows of
the blade being easily sharpened, passed over a strop, and even used in the ordinary
way (ie., without the rollers being near its edge) for shaving, especially when the
person has a pimpled or rough face.
As regards the series of rollers, applied as described, it is to be remarked that it
serves as a guard to prevent cutting of the face when shaving, and by their rotation
the rollers have the effect of removing the cut hairs and soap lather, thus preventing
filling of the space between the rollers and the blade. The back of the blade is
rounded, and its sides are slightly hollowed out to facilitate sharpening.
With reference to the arrangement of razor designed to be used either with the
right hand or the left hand, it is to be remarked that it suffices to insert the slide t
at the one or the other extremity of the sheath g, Figs. 15, 16, 17, to obtain the
desired result.
Having described the nature of the said Invention and the manner of carrying it
into effect, as communicated to me as aforesaid, I claim,―
1. A razor formed of three principal parts articulated and firmly connected with
each other, substantially as hereinabove described and represented in Figs. 1 to 7
inclusive of the Drawings, the said three principal parts opening out or folding up
on themselves, so that the complete instrument may occupy either the lesser space,
Figs. 1 and 3, or be partially opened, as in Figs. 4 and 5, or take the ordinary
handled form, Fig. 6.
2. The application in front of the blade of a razor (whether of the improved
construction or of ordinary kind), parallel to the edge thereof and at a short
distance therefrom, of a small axle or pin carrying a series of small rollers,

page_text: substantially as described, so as to prevent the razor edge penetrating the flesh,
and to facilitate the removal of the cut hairs and soap lather.
3. The combination with a razor blade of the recessed handle j and mounting k,
with screws and rollers m, as described with reference to Figs. 10 to 14 inclusive.
4. The improved razor with reversible bandle, as described with reference to
Figs. 15 to 18 inclusive.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Lloyd Wise, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
Witness,
F. J. BROUGHAM.
W. LLOYD WISE. (L.S.)