Casanova

[Walid]

Been awhile since I posted a review. Gents This is the Casanova 930.

Brand: Casanova
Model: Casanova 930
Blades: Proprietary double edge
Weight Handle: 28.5g
Weight head: 33.5g
Weight total: 62g
Box: Cardboard (rigid)
Origin: Italy
City: Torino
Manufacturer: I.T.A.L.I.A ( Industria Torinese Articoli Laminati In Acciaio)
Year manufactured: Circa 1930 (according to ads of the time)


There were several Casanova kits one of them is in the Collector's encyclopedia and Waits's compendium. The blades are proprietary due to it's special cap studs as seen in the pictures below.
The handle resembles the Gillette ball point except for the knurling on the bottom part that appears denser. The handle 0.3g heavier the Gillette handle.

Oddly, the Gillette ballpoint doesn't fit properly in the head, the cap screw is a bit too long, so, the head stays loose.

What makes this razor different from other DEs is the cap studs shape and the curvature of the gard

The razor brand is also on the handle

Look at how the studs are shaped, regular DE blades won't fit.

 

[efsk]

Thank you for showing this. The Casanova is a razor not seen too often.
The guard curvature reminds me of Radimi a bit, another of those Italians.
Can blades be adjusted to fit?

 

[Walid]

Thank you for showing this. The Casanova is a razor not seen too often.
The guard curvature reminds me of Radimi a bit, another of those Italians.
Can blades be adjusted to fit?

I am waiting for my beautiful NOS boxed Radimi to be shipped to Canada in about 2 months. I'll compare the 2 and let everybody know.
If you can work around the studs then yes, you will need a template and a special clipper. I am sure Claudio can do it.
@Clouds , feasible right?

 

[Clouds]

If you can work around the studs then yes, you will need a template and a special clipper. I am sure Claudio can do it.
@Clouds , feasible right?

Yes its certainly feasible.

 

[Snowbeard]

Greetings gentlemen. There's a "Casanova" that takes regular blades! At least it looks an awful lot like a Casanova to me. It's called a Radar. Brought to you by the same person who brought you the Benz and the Metropolis (I think). Made by Paulo Baenziger, I believe.

 

[Walid]

Radimi on the right, Casanova on the left. It's possible that Radimi sold razors with different heads overtime (mine is open comb).

 

[TobyC]

This is a Casanova...

This is the info...

Brand name​	Casanova,930
Type​	Gillette type
Country of origin​	Italy
Manufacturing date​	1935
Blade​	Double edge
Manufacturer​	I.T.A.L.I.A. (Industria Torinese Articoli Laminati In Acciaio) Stabilimento del Lingotto, Torino
Patent information​
Description​

 

[TobyC]

This is a Radar...

This is the info...

Brand name​	Radar
Type​	Gillette type
Country of origin​	Italy
Manufacturing date​	1940
Blade​	Double edge
Manufacturer​	Paolo Baenziger, Bologna
Patent information​
Description​

 

[TobyC]

This is a Radimi...

This is the info...

Brand name​	Radimi,Pallina
Type​	Gillette type
Country of origin​	Italy
Manufacturing date​	1938
Blade​	Double edge
Manufacturer​	Soc. Acc. Radimi, Via Columella, 12, Milano
Patent information​
Description​

 

[TobyC]

This is a Benz...

This is the info...

Brand name​	Benz
Type​	Gillette type
Country of origin​	Italy
Manufacturing date​	1943
Blade​	Double edge
Manufacturer​	Paolo Baenziger, Bologna
Patent information​
Description​

 

[TobyC]

Don't know who makes the Metropolis.

 

[TobyC]

Radimi on the right, Casanova on the left. It's possible that Radimi sold razors with different heads overtime (mine is open comb).


View attachment 33506View attachment 33507View attachment 33508

The Casanova I posted looks a lot like your Radimi.

 

[Snowbeard]

And...this is a Radimi as well:

 

[Snowbeard]

And here's another Benz, I mean Metropolis:

 

[Snowbeard]

Here's some more Benz, I mean Radar, no I mean Metropolis...

So, we can see that the same razor has been branded Benz, Metropolis and Radar. And here in this thread we can also see that there's at least two versions of Radar. I think Paulo Baenziger may be the common element in them all. On another note, if you examine the head of my Radar with the Casanova 930, I think they're identical. The only difference appears, to me at least, is that the handles are different and one takes standard blades and one takes proprietary.

 

[Walid]

I guess there was a manufacturer with a catalogue. They chose the parts, add a box with nice logo and Voilà, a new brand was created.
The Spaniards where buying from the same provider as the Italians.

 

[efsk]

For Benz: see HERE

 

[Snowbeard]

For Benz: see HERE

Thanks Richard. In my internet "research" the name Paolo Baenziger is associated with the names Benz, Metropolis and Radar. Makes me wonder if he also had some connection to the "twisted handle" Metropolis who know one seems to know who made.

 

[efsk]

Well, you'd think if he was associated with Metropolis, then presumably with all

 

[Snowbeard]

Well, you'd think if he was associated with Metropolis, then presumably with all

Right!

Just above are three photos of the same razor branded Radar, Benz and Metropolis.

And here's a few better shots of my Radar. Obviously a different "Radar" from TobyC's Radar above. I don't have a Casanova 930 to compare it to but to my eye these two razors look to have the same plate. They are, obviously, different in two other respects: the handle and the pins in the cap. Others will be able to judge for themselves and hopefully will chime in with their thoughts if they see other differences.



Finally, what about the "other Metropolis", the one with the twisted handle, the one more commonly associated with the name Metropolis? No one knows who made it. But given that Paolo Baenziger is associated with all three brands of Radar, Benz and Metropolis, maybe it's fair to tentatively conclude, pending better evidence, that he's the one behind the twisted Metropolis as well? And, just to stretch the thinking even further, the one behind the Casanova 930? I'm guessing that last conclusions is a bridge too far for most. Maybe Baenziger just bought from the same supplier as is suggested by Walid. That's also a possible conclusion. If so, was this supplier in Italy or somewhere else would be something that would be nice to know. Personally speaking, I hope all these were made in Italy.