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Apollo / Ben Hur

That’s excellent additional information. I really appreciate seeing the razors and the catalog or brochure. Do you have that catalog?
 
I certainly do Jake!
Most of it is general houshold utilities, or what passed for them in the 1930s. The posted pic is all there's in there that's shaving-related. Bought it because it has a slant in it, which was my only focus then (these days secondary). Found my first Apollo "Zweischnitt" a few months later.
 
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Cool. If you can get a decent scan and PDF of that page (sometime), I’d love a copy. Thanks!
 
efsk said:
I do not believe the one on the right is an Apollo or Ben Hur. It is missing the telltale "propellor"-shape the regular Ben Hur/Apollo have (except for the very old ones which this is not either). No idea what it is however.
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I found a similar razor to the unknown brand of razor I was showing (on the right) in the above photos. This similar razor that I found on the internet is branded "Emergo". Emergo is latin for the word "emerge" according to our local expert, Dr. Google. This particular Emergo razor is being sold by a vendor in Italy. This vendor claims that it's an Italian razor but is unable to provide any solid information for this belief. The gold plated razor I showed above came to me from Belgium. Just across the border, in the Netherlands, is the province of Zeeland. Zeeland's motto is, (again according to Dr. Google) "Luctor et Emergo" (I Struggle and Emerge). All this to say, I still have no idea where this razor comes from. The Netherlands? Italy? And no one else seems to be able to provide an answer with any confidence either! I guess the search continues. At least we now have a brand name to assist.

Emergo 1.jpg
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Emergo 3.jpg
 
benedetto said:
New addition to my collection .. Apollo Mikron 2nd Gold Series like new ..

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Benedetto.
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benedetto said:
As anticipated in my previous posts today I will write to you about what I know about the famous Apollo / Ben-Hur "Mikron". This adjustable razor is one of the few razors to be highly sought after and in great demand by all of us collectors. But why? This adjustable razor owes its popularity as well as its charm from the German lines to its mysterious history and its precision and delicacy in cutting the beard.
When was it born?

Before 1938! Let's see why ...
In numerous shaving forums you can read numerous theories about it and despite my in-depth research I cannot tell you with mathematical certainty the first year of its invention and production. But it is certain that (as was used at that time) Friedrich Heckenrath & Co. produced and distributed the new razors even without having the registered patent because it wanted to observe whether the product liked or disliked the buyers. In the event that the product was successful, the manufacturer and the inventor went to register the patent. That said, it is clear that we cannot rely on the year that is written in the registered patents nor can we rely on the year that is written in the instructions that we find in our Mikron case, because between the 1st Mikron produced and sold (pilot) and the 1st Mikron produced and sold with a registered patent and accompanied by instructions passed many years. I believe that the mythical Mikron razor was born in the mind of Mr. Paul Lauterjung between 1938 and 1950 (release of the first patent).
In the photo there are the 3 Mikron series produced between 1950 and 1975.
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Was it the first adjustable razor?
No. Let's see why ..
The first true adjustable razor patent was born in 1919 from an idea by the Frenchman Fernand Cailleteau (obviously after light years from the German engineering signed Lauterjung).

How many versions of Apollo / Ben-Hur Mikron have been produced?
3 series were produced.

What I love about this razor is its tool kit. The first series comes out with only the blades. From the second series onwards the Mikron was equipped with N ° 15 and N ° 20 blades also by a cleaning brush and a capsule that contained alum of rock (hemostatic) .. from the third series onwards it is added in addition to the N blades ° 15 and N ° 20, the cleaning brush and the capsule that contained a hemostatic also by a key that disassembled the Mikron for a more thorough cleaning.
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Having no catalogs, I can assume that the price changed first if you chose a model coated in gold or nickel, by the number of blades supplied and by the type of case that customers chose. Bakelite or Leather or later Pollopas.

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Further on, I think you are pleased to dedicate a post for the cleaning and maintenance of the three series of versions of Mikron ...

Thank you.
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Excellent and very informative posts by Benedetto. I’m assuming he is the same man I have purchased some lovely razors from on eBay recently. The accumulated knowledge of razors and shaving from him and others here is truly impressive.
 
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