AutoStrop Razors

[Jayaruh]

I think AutoStrop razors are pretty cool. Invented by Henry Gaisman in 1906. His razor featured the ability to strop their proprietary blades in the razor with their proprietary strop without removing them from the razor.
I have my share of AutoStrop razors including the A1 and A2.

After a search, I found a video I made six years ago where I am shaving with the A1 with a Valet blade. I even use an AutoStrop strop to prepare the blade for the shave.

 

[Jayaruh]

This is the A1. It is the first of the AutoStrops. The handle is fixed to the head, and there is a button to push instead of a lever.


It says AutoStrop on the top.

The handle is fixed to the head.

There is a serial number on the end of the handle

 

[Jayaruh]

The A2 is the second iteration. It has a fixed handle with a square lug.

The handle is afixed with two screws.

Open comb.

It has AutoStrop on the blade holder.

Like the A1 it has a push button to engage/disengage the blade holder.

It also has the serial number on the handle.

 

[Jayaruh]

This is my B1 AutoStrop.

It says AutoStrop on the top. There is a leaver on the back that lowers and raises the blade holder.

The handle is detachable.

 

[Jayaruh]

This is my B2 AutoStrop. There is an interesting story. I found it on eBay and something looked funky. If you look at the razor from the front, the gears should be on the right. The one pictured on eBay had them on the left. When it reached me, sure enough the gears were on the left.

Gears are on the wrong side.

After a good cleaning, I reassembled it with the gears on the right side. The B2 says AutoStrop Razor on the blade holder.

The handle is detachable.

 

[Vittoria]

Great thread @Jayaruh I have a small collection of Auto strops myself but no A1 it's rare to even see one.
I enjoy the the stropping of the razor as you know the only way that works is the one in your video I have wrecked a few strops over
the year any other angle and you have a 2 piece strop
Cheers.

 

[brit]

My Valet Autostrops..
I have 3 in total,all made after the Gillette/Autostrop merger .2 British VC3..


..and a Canadian VC4..




These late 1930's-45 models will only accept original or Feather HS-10 blades.