Rolls Razor, Heljestrand

Kees · 05-31-2008, 07:58 PM

I have always fancied uising a Rolls or Heljestrand safety razor. The reason I fancy them? 1: you got to hone & strop them yourself, 2: industrially honed blades give me terrible bleeds in the neck area when new.

Has anyone of you experience with them?

In case you haven't go a clue: Rolls Razor; - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

rolls razor instructions - Google Video

Vintage C V Heljestrand 7-day set + 7 spare blades on eBay, also, Barber Shop Shaving, Vanity Perfume Grooming, Collectables (end time 23-Jun-08 18:20:36 BST)

tris_d · 06-10-2008, 09:16 AM

I have a number of rolls razors and they are great, providing you can get them sharp. I prefer them to any DE but not as much as a straight.

They are numerous and cheap on eBay. Blades for them are very cheap and plentiful too if you want to build up a seven day set. In my experience it is worth spending that bit extra to get a very good one in great condition as if the strop / hone part is very worn you may have problems getting the blades shave sharp. My favored model is the viscount.

They are very easy to use and you get a very nice shave from them; provided you get a nice one.

I would recommend one.

LX_Emergency · 06-10-2008, 10:49 AM

I own one. They're kind of nice....but DAMN they're noisy when you hone/strop them.

hoglahoo · 06-10-2008, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kees

In case you haven't go a clue: Rolls Razor; - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I dunno... according to that article the company had better success selling washing machines than razors. It would be a fun exercise to strop those little miniature wedge-looking blades though

kaptain_zero · 06-18-2008, 05:08 AM

Speaking of which... Rolls that is, I picked up a rather nice kit, pretty clean but the hone is broken.... I remember seeing someone had replacement hones available but have since lost the link. For some silly reason, I thought it was Tilly of redtrader99 fame but I see her site is gone so if that was the case, I'm probably sol. The strop, blade, and all the other bit except for the hone is in excellent condition, the blade is almost shaving sharp as well so I'd love to get this kit working if at all possible. I know I could grab a few more kits off ebay in hopes of getting a good hone out of the deal but buying a clean used or better yet NOS hone would be better.

Regards

Christian

badboris · 06-18-2008, 05:22 PM

it was tilly that sold them
she sold them in pack of 5 hones
ask her maybe she still have 1 or 2 left

Kees · 06-19-2008, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaptain_zero

Speaking of which... Rolls that is, I picked up a rather nice kit, pretty clean but the hone is broken.... I remember seeing someone had replacement hones available but have since lost the link. For some silly reason, I thought it was Tilly of redtrader99 fame but I see her site is gone so if that was the case, I'm probably sol. The strop, blade, and all the other bit except for the hone is in excellent condition, the blade is almost shaving sharp as well so I'd love to get this kit working if at all possible. I know I could grab a few more kits off ebay in hopes of getting a good hone out of the deal but buying a clean used or better yet NOS hone would be better.

Regards

Christian

Look here:
ROLLS RAZOR HONE AND 3 BLADES IN ORIGINAL PACKING - eBay (item 360061506208 end time Jun-20-08 10:42:14 PDT)

littlesilverbladefromwale · 07-13-2008, 12:00 PM

I just bought a perfect one yesterday (apart from a tiny nick in the strop side) no effect on stroping though! I bought it just to have a look at one. It was £1

For anyone who doesn't know its a very well engineered metal box that has a mechanism inside that strops and hones a 1 1/2 section of heavy 1/4 ground wedge (about). It has a little handle that the blade fits onto for use. The blade has a little guard that flips back and fore.
It's like shaving with a section of a straight on a little handle.
The shave isn't as close as a very well honed straight, but is better than a slightly dull edge.
The mechanism on mine is pretty darn good at it's job, all things considered.
It is harder to get good shaving angles than a straight, but not too hard.
I used the hone side for a couple of swipes, then the strop side for 30 or so swipes.
The shave wasn't bad at all.
It's what men who don't want to use a straight should be using. It's good for the enviroment like Straights too

Another great British invention, that went down the pan

Damn shame.

Iron_Beard · 07-16-2008, 07:58 AM

I have a Rolls Razor and love it. I got it from eBay and then got another for spare parts. The Rolls is what I use when I don't want to carry a strop when traveling (checked luggage though). It's a little hard to get under the nose compared to a straight because the blade is so deep. Every once in a (long) while you have to take a real hone to it. Otherwise I do 50 passes on the strop each time I use it since it has such a short strop.

littlesilverbladefromwale · 07-16-2008, 08:29 AM

Hi Iron Beard, I saw a 2nd one in the car boot sale, I didn't look at it as the one I bought had the box, slip and instructions, and I initialy bought it just to see how they worked.
If I'd have known how usable they are I'd have got the other one too.
Maybe we could have a club in the razor section?
Cheers M

scrapcan · 09-16-2008, 06:39 PM

I too am looking for spare blades for a rolls imperial. Anyone got anythiing other than going to ebay and being outbid.

I almost have the single blade I have sharp enough to shave with using a norton4/8K.

anybody know what happened to the old guy in AZ who bought out the rolls name in the US? I tried to contact him several times and I got reply so assumed the worst.

littlesilverbladefromwale · 09-16-2008, 07:18 PM

Hi Scrapcan. I think the chap who bought out Rolls is either playing the harp now or is too old to be trading. Damn shame, someone should find his relatives and buy up the stock.
I've seen plently of Rolls stuff in car boot sales (a kind of UK collective garrage/yard sale) and antique shops and fairs. I bought some Rolls strop paste off ebay, but you could use an abrasive paste instead off the proper Rolls stuff really, I just wanted to try it and the bakerlite tub is cool.
You shouldn't have much bother getting blades, it might be easier to buy full contraptions though and salvage the best parts! Don't forget to offer what you don't want here though

recycling and all that

Good luck M

scrapcan · 09-16-2008, 10:32 PM

Little Silver,

I was hoping I might find another who had done the buy for parts and pass along. I know it was a pipe dream, but hey you don't know if you don't ask.

I will definitely pass along what I may not need if I pickup others. It sounds like blades, hone, and strop are sometimes needed by others.

littlesilverbladefromwale · 09-17-2008, 12:12 PM

I bought myself two Rolls Razors. The first was an Emperial No2 in quite good condition with it's cardboard box, instructions and dealers slip.
The second was off Ebay. I bought it because it looked OK and came with a spare strop and the tub of paste. The guy selling it lived nearby so I could subtract the hefty postage (because they weigh so much).
It turned out to be in good shape and an early one with the telescopic handle. The spare strop with it was fine too.
Both shave very well.
I have a spare blade in it's little bakerlite box that I bought from a flea market for £1.92/$4 ish (it's all I had in my pocket)

I think any smooth bit of leather pasted with an abrasive would be fine for a Rolls strop.
M

littlesilverbladefromwale · 09-20-2008, 08:45 PM

Hiya, picked up 3 rolls blades in their paper wrapers today £1($2ish)
If anyone needs one PM me.
I have also been given an email address for the guy who bought the rights and stock of Rolls razors(wife, he's dead!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
will report back.

napoleon · 09-21-2008, 01:00 PM

What would you guys recommend for this razor? Maybe I'll buy a spare from littlesilverbladefromwale, but till then what could I do with it? As you see the honewear is significant and uneven, and also, the edge is uneven cause of that

I bought it like that.

Also, does anyone know what type of hone is in the rolls?

littlesilverbladefromwale · 09-21-2008, 04:27 PM

The Rolls hone is some kind of man made hone. It says Made in England on the back of mine.

scrapcan · 09-23-2008, 05:47 AM

Little Silver keep us posted on what you find out about the remaining stock from the widow. I had been trying to find a contact and just had no luck. i did just pick up a second blade on ebay.

As stated I am nearly ot a shaving sharpness level using a norton 4K/8K and a barber hone. I need to get it on the strop in the case, but not sure if my strop should have grit int he dressing or if my vitamin e oiled strop will be good enough.

littlesilverbladefromwale · 09-23-2008, 12:19 PM

I used some ordinary Dovo yellow strop paste before I got the Rolls paste, it worked ok if you did lots of 'clickedy-clacks'..........

Labhoncho · 09-24-2008, 01:24 AM

This is a picture of my Rolls Razor kit that I have owned for over forty years. The blade is in the strop position. The hone lid is just below the razor case.