Ile de France

[efsk]

A brand that pops up on our favorite international auctionsite regularly, yet is bought not that often as it needs proprietary blades. A pity, really, as these are basically B3-derivatives and as such shave pretty good! If only we could put our modern blade of choice in it ...
I haven't been able to find out much about the brand, it's French, 30s-40s, named after the then queen of the seas.
The first I show you here was given away with the French newspaper "Le Petit Parisien" - the small/little Parisian. Not a good name, as this newspaper had a circulation of over two million and somewhere during its existence (1876-1944) it was the largest newspaper in the world. Shitloads of this razor should have been given away therefore, probably to lure people into buying the proprietary blades: that's where the money was after all.
Brown bakelite, four packs of blades:

 

[efsk]

The above razor is moreoften found with a single pack of sealed blades, that emphasizes it was given away with Le Petit Parisien:

 

[efsk]

In black, in a nice blue shipper. Tranche le poil en bias basically means cuts the hairs at a slant.

 

[efsk]

The probably nicest cardboard box is this one. Loads of text, I have to translate, but it advises loads of water. It also wants you to use the blue IdF cream. Never seen that.

 

[efsk]

Also very interesting, this razor, sold for 10 francs. Note the rounded head, where for some reason the ends turn inward.

 

[efsk]

I also was lucky enough to find a metal one, in its original bakelite case. The case is interesting, in that is has a depression where you can lay the razor or maybe your brush while you shave. That, and the nice bas-relief of course.
The razor has an interesting head. Not as massive as the bakelite ones, and two different guide posts: one regular, one wide, still forcing the proprietary blades.

 

[efsk]

Why would one have so many IdF razors is a question best answered by the heads. Note the differences on guide posts and lathergutters:

 

[efsk]

For some reason, the most fascinating IdF razor is non slanted. Text in the topcap is the same as the one in the fourth post of this thread: L'employe que l'Ile de France. Only one I've ever seen:

 

[gvw755]

Interesting that the non slanted version seem to be the only one that can take a regular blade. Too bad the slanted ones cannot as they look to be interesting shavers that are different enough from the standard B3 design.

 

[Jake]

I love that metal razor. Can you modify a blade to try it out? Very cool sets Richard!

 

[mhharsta]

The metal one is a real beauty, I got one from Richard, and it’s “on display”.
I shaved with an original blade, but I haven’t tried to fit in / modify a standard DE yet.

 

[efsk]

So far, I've only tried them with vintage IdF-blades. A bit difficult to judge the razor that way, as the age and carbonsteelfeel of the blade enter the equation. Still, I've experienced these as comfortable razors, more so than the Windrose clones.

 

[efsk]

Found another model. Alumnum, but with much more solid looks than the other metal one.

 

[Clouds]

My Ile De France arrived with a proprietary blade. When I looked at the blade I thought to myself - "What were you thinking!!!"

A few months later and lots of fiddling with the razor, I decided to take some measurements and found that after mods, there would still be more than enough metal left on each side. (Admittedly I should have done this just after "What were you thinking!!!")

Left side of the picture shows the proprietary blade, middle the modified Wizamet and right side, the Wizzy on the posts.

The finger prints needed wiping off - and its ready to use.