rare looking razor need help

[philthepain00]

Hello all, I recently snagged a single edge Hoffitz and Boschen “Senator” open comb, and after quickly exhausting the single edge razor database as well as scouring various sources over the past few days i haven't come up with much. It looks like a copy of a henckels rapide/wotan or a wester bros safety razor. I think the parent for this style expired in 1911 or something along those lines so I heard similar copies popped up. Other than that I also read that hoffritz dropped the “and boschen” post 1932, however, im unsure if that’s an accurate way of dating it. Any information or resources would be tremendous after coming up so empty handed. Thanks a ton in advance.

-Phil

 

[pogonaut]

As it seems no one is about, my 2 cents - Hoffritz Cutlery stores was a fast growing US chain store started in the early 30s. They distributed mostly Solingen made items in the 30’s and didn’t manufacture their products. Your razor is of a type popular then and for sure is either rebranded or perhaps a clone of a wotan/rapide. The Waits Compendium talks little of Hoffritz and misses the mark some by indicating only DE razors were sold. He does however include a Solingen cutlery firm under the name Senator who were listed trading in 1932. This would be around the time your style of razor was popular. It is possible they were the manufacturer as Solingen is where Hoffritz inventoried cutlery from their beginnings up to well past the time your razor was made.

Im just a newbie here myself and have personally not seen the Senator name on a Hoffritz razor. It is on yours however, so it must have been one of their off the shelf razors back in the day. There are other cutlers such as Exclusive Cutlery out of San Francisco who had rebranded SE razors very similar as these too. Not common to find one of theirs, but they are not rare. (James Bond once mused on film about shopping at a Hoffritz store because he believed their long tooth razors were better than the Gillette version.)

There seem to be some heavy hitters around this ball park so Im sure you will see better info come forward. Folks may have seen it. And despite it being a chain store item, perhaps your razor is as scarce as the old hens teeth saying would suggest. It would be great if it had branded wedge blades. This type frequently came in a case with up to seven blades as well as a stropping device.

One thing for sure, that blade has nothing to do with that razor. It would be best to remove it and remove any crud it might have left on the razor frame. It would be nice to then see a photo without that blade. The teeth on those razors are wonderful. And last thing, I‘d be very pleased if I came across that razor. Are you thinking of shaving with it?

 

[pogonaut]

And, I suppose since this area is intended as a welcome * * * * * * €

 

[efsk]

Hi there and welcome. Your razor is a very nice piece.
Yes, it definitely has similarities to a Rapide/Wotan/Mandarin. Dating it pre-1932 seems a safe bet, even though I'd place it earlier. The Rolls blade is not a blade that came with your razor, most types of wedge SE blades would fit however.
What I find interesting is: First of all, the Hoffritz & Boschen branding. I cannot remember ever having seen that before. Second: the model razor itself. Most if not all DE-razors Hoffritz sold were Merkur Solingen made, and recognizable as such. This Senator is something I've never seen with Merkur-branding. That could suggest that at one point in history, before they went with Merkur, Hoffritz acquired there razors elsewhere. I find that very interesting.
Have you tried shaving with it?