Ford and Medley Circa 1900?

[Bart]

I assume rubber scales were high-tech in 1900.

Yeah, my ancestors didn't get far past making rubber balls for over a thousand years. : : :

Well yes, of course the Mayas knew the use of rubber, but hard, vulcanized rubber (a.k.a. "Ebonite") was only discovered halfway the 19th century, by one Charles Goodyear. But rubber became really hot and fashioned when Mr. Dunlop started making inflatable tires, at the end of the 19th century. In fact, that invention saved the aforementioned Leopold's ass, because he had spend his entire family fortune at his Congo hobby, without much return on invest so far. The Belgian parliament had already injected money to save the king from bankruptcy. I think that in the slipstream of tires, vulcanized rubber became fashionable for other uses as well. At least until Leo Baekeland, another Belgian fellow entered the scene with yet another invention: bakelite (1908), world's first synthetic plastic. Not suitable for tires, but excellent for razor scales.

Kind regards,
Bart.

 

[tat2Ralfy]

By all means, I didn't copy that article to make you throw away those scales. It's just a story that hasn't been told enough. Certainly not in Belgium, where in most schools the Congo chapter is hastily covered with a few sentences about the great visionary king Leopold and the natural resources of our former colonial territories.

I assume rubber scales were high-tech in 1900. Shaving with that razor is not going to change history for better or for worse.
I hope you didn't mind my little intrusion.

Kind regards,
Bart.

Well you did make me think about how happy I would be using them, but I guess that being a white European comes with a certain "colourful" history, and your intrusion was nothing of the sort, it was very illuminating indeed.

So I decided to keep the scales, at least for now, and here it is after a gentle restore, I used "Auto Glym" rubber treatment to clean and protect the scales, and gave the blade a polish, nothing to heavy duty, after all I often like a 100 year old blade to look its age.

My Best regards
Ralfson (Dr)

 

[danjared]

It's hard to see since those scales are now so black, but I'll take that as a sign of success. Either way, it looks beautiful now. Good work!

 

[Bart]

Beautiful Ralfson!:thumbup: I'll put it in the Fundraiser later tonight.




































.... jokiiiing...

 

[Toff]

Yes, they were bloody minded blighters in the day.
Educating ourselves to the sins of our forebears is one thing, but to beat ourselves bloody and then give in to "feel good"
rhetoric giving too much to many, who have not learned to work for generations of their family, is counter productive. As we look at our nations today, the road to hell has been well paved with good intentions.
Respectfully
~Richard

 

[danjared]

Yes, they were bloody minded blighters in the day.
Educating ourselves to the sins of our forebears is one thing, but to beat ourselves bloody and then give in to "feel good"
rhetoric giving too much to many, who have not learned to work for generations of their family, is counter productive. As we look at our nations today, the road to hell has been well paved with good intentions.
Respectfully
~Richard

I'm not really sure what you're saying...

 

[Woodash]

Nice score, Ralfy. Looks like hardly any honewear, and I like the grind as well.

I wonder if any of you chaps could tell me what the scales are made of?

Sampsonite? :huh: Naugahyde? :blink: Rhinoplasty?

 

[tat2Ralfy]

Thanks, yeah there's almost no hone wear and it's no more than a half hollow grind, it's all honed up and ready to go now, so tonights the night :sleep:

Regards
Ralfson (Dr)

 

[Tok]

I wonder if they used this stuff for scales, too:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gutta-percha

 

[Toff]

Gutta Percha is a form of plant latex (rubberlike sap)It was used for many applications including rain gear,boots, eg. the English "Gummy" and furniture depending on the degree of hardening undergone. Unless fully hardened, heat would soften it and it would tear or melt.
To my very limited knowledge it was used to make scales for razors and knives. It is still in common use in dental procedures for root canals.
Anything that could be molded was used for scales including a form of papier maché, also sometimes known as composition when molded. It combined a paper, which had a fibrous content and/or fine wood fiber with a resin/glue and was molded and then heated to set/dry the resin/glue either in the mould or after removing it from the mould. In England the process was also used for some very high end snuff boxes,tea caddies, and furniture which today fetch very high prices. We continue that process with the Micarta and glasfibre.
Respectfully
~Richard

 

[Guest]

Hello friends .The ypervulcanized rubber ,to day used for smoking pipe mouthpieces.
Best regards
Emmanuel

 

[Jens]

I wonder if they used this stuff for scales, too:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gutta-percha

Sure they did!
Not unusual to find knifes & razors over here in Sweden with Gutta-Percha scales

Re: Belgian Kongo another great read is Joseph Conrads "Heart of Darkness"
Maybe more know from the film it inspired "Apocalypze Now"
A little warning must be issued, it really takes away from the "luxury & beauty" of ivory scales...