Eugene G Mergenthaler and his band razors

Eugene G Mergenthaler was the son of an inventor,1 and it was perhaps naturally that he tried his hand on inventing himself. While Eugene died young,2 he never the less had three patents to his name. One patented in 1910, when he was just 25 years old, and two more in patented in 1919.

Common to all three patents is the fact that they are band razors. This is a kind of razor that was dreamt up early and then refused to die. Well, at least until cartridges made their debut. The last band razors I’m aware of were the Schick Auto-Band Razor and the Gillette TechMatic.4

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Shave of the day 6th 2022

Razor: Schick “Lady Eversharp”

Blade: Schick Injector

Brush: Wilkinson Sword Badger

Pre-Shave: Proraso Pre Shave Cream

Lather: Williams Mug shaving soap

Aftershave: Myrsol Formula K

Additional Care: Alum Block

Shave of the day 2022-07-06
Shave of the day 2022-07-06

The book sale is still ongoing!

Shave of the day 4th July 2022

Razor: Schick “Lady Eversharp”

Blade: Schick Injector

Brush: Vie-Long #13051M

Pre-Shave: Proraso Pre Shave Cream

Lather: Pereira Sample – mint/menthol

Aftershave: Barber No3 Marmara

Additional Care: Alum Block

SOTD 2022-07-04
SOTD 2022-07-04

Reminder: the countdown sale of both my books are ongoing – still sitting at 0.99$ each!

Book sale has started!

The count down sale of my kindle books have started – the sooner you purchase, the more you save!

Starting as this post goes live, the sale will run until Sunday the 10th. Prices start at just 0.99 US dollars, and bumps up a dollar every 37th hour until the book is back it it’s normal price. So if you’ve been curious about my books, or just like old patents in general, now is the time to pick them up for cheap.

Click here for my first book and here for my second book!

Shaving oddities and razor patents updated

I just finished updating the link page on shaving oddities and patents. I cannot guarantee that I gotten all the posts I’ve made about razor patents, shaving accoutrements patents, and shaving oddities listed. Currently there is two hundred and seventy four (274) links to blog posts about weird and wonderful shaving stuff.

The "Eight shoot revolver razor”, one of many patents and shaving oddities covered on my blog
The “Eight shoot revolver razor”, one of many patents covered

If you like this kind of thing, I also have published a pair of books published. They are available both digitally, in paperback, and in hardcover. You can find both the first and second one on Amazon. And in just a few days there will be a countdown sale on both of my books!

So why not grab yourself a cup of coffee or drink of your choice and spend some time reading?

Shave of the day 29th June 2022

Razor: Schick “Lady Eversharp”

Blade: Schick Injector

Brush: Semogue TSN LE 2012

Pre-Shave: Prep Original

Lather: Asylum Shave Works Flying Mango

Aftershave: Proraso Wood and Spice Additional

Care: Alum Block

Shave of the day 27th June 2022

Razor: Schick “Lady Eversharp”

Blade: Schick Injector

Brush: Artesania Romera Manchurian Badger, imitation horn

Pre-Shave: Proraso Pre Shave Cream

Lather: Pereira Shavery Shaving Cream w/ Activated Charcoal

Aftershave: Barber No3 Marmara

Additional Care: Alum Block

SOTD 2022-06-27
SOTD 2022-06-27

Folding safety razor

It can be interesting to follow the trail of which patent cites which other patent. The patent for the pen style shavette, for instance, is cited by several other patents. Including by one for a folding safety razor.

Patented by Valentinus M Zeles, the folding safety razor shares similarities with other razors we’ve looked at lately. The handle contains a lathering agent, like Bowlin’s shaving kit. The razor can use a double edged blade, like the combination writing instrument and shaver’s kit. And it has spare blades, like the rather neat razor we looked at on Tuesday.

Where it differs is, naturally, in the details and execution. And the choice of lather, but more about that later.

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A rather neat single edge razor

During my prodding into the weird and wonderful world of pen-shaped razors,1 I found a rather neat single edge razor. Nelson H Fairweather and Leroy H Crosby filed for the patent in 1922, and it was granted two years later. What originally drew my eye was what they choose to store in the handle.

Not a brush, nor soap, nor a styptic pencil.2 Not even a pair of tweezers.3

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Styptic pencil in the handle of a razor

A little while ago we looked at a razor with a shaving aid – specifically a styptic pencil – in the handle. Turns out the basic idea was patented almost a decade before. Marcellin Eyraud Jr filed a patent in 1922 for a razor with a styptic pencil mounted in the handle in such a way that it would stay secure and dry.

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