I recently bought four open comb safety razors from Italy, described as manufactured by Lunawerk of Solingen. Heres a photo:
Now Ive done some research on Lunawerk which was a trademark of Abraham Feist, who had a long history of producing knives, daggers and straights. In looking into other German manufactured safety razors it seems likely (certain) that along with the more well known Coles, Hoffritz and Pomco razors these were made by Merkur for Lunawerk in Solingen between 1928 and 1948 (likely before 1943 when Solingen was pounded by Allied bombers).
What is less certain is whether they were shipped over to New York like those other razors or sold in Europe. Feist did have offices in Brooklyn NY around that time. There is info on B&B and other shaving sites about Lunawerk travel razors and slants, but only passing references to OCs. Im also puzzled by why the razors say Germany rather than Deutschland? Im also slightly wary of the condition of these can they really be over 70 years old? I understand because the Merkurs were made of potmetal rather than brass that they had shorter working lives than Gillettes. Sadly these have no cases and I have no more details about how they were stored.
Can anyone offer more info and advise whether I should catalog these somewhere so at least the information is preserved.
Thanks,
Dan
Now Ive done some research on Lunawerk which was a trademark of Abraham Feist, who had a long history of producing knives, daggers and straights. In looking into other German manufactured safety razors it seems likely (certain) that along with the more well known Coles, Hoffritz and Pomco razors these were made by Merkur for Lunawerk in Solingen between 1928 and 1948 (likely before 1943 when Solingen was pounded by Allied bombers).
What is less certain is whether they were shipped over to New York like those other razors or sold in Europe. Feist did have offices in Brooklyn NY around that time. There is info on B&B and other shaving sites about Lunawerk travel razors and slants, but only passing references to OCs. Im also puzzled by why the razors say Germany rather than Deutschland? Im also slightly wary of the condition of these can they really be over 70 years old? I understand because the Merkurs were made of potmetal rather than brass that they had shorter working lives than Gillettes. Sadly these have no cases and I have no more details about how they were stored.
Can anyone offer more info and advise whether I should catalog these somewhere so at least the information is preserved.
Thanks,
Dan