Sharpening/Finishing Tool for Straight Razors

[Kimmienemo]

I found my grandfather's old collection of straight razors.  He was the only barber in a small, Canadian town.  I love all the razors - 5 of which are still in the great old boxes.  However, in this collection, I found this strange piece of wood which held a curved piece of glass.  The only thing I can think of (and I tried to find out on the internet) is that perhaps it was for putting a finishing edge on the blades, maybe by using a paste?

What do you guys think?

[bigwull]

This is a Glass Strop...it was used for sharpening single edged early safety razors....long before the gillette throw away blade came along....

[Kimmienemo]

Did they use some type of paste with it, or just the glass itself?

[bigwull]

Yes with both the glass strop and the leather one a honing paste would be applied..this was made of diamond dust and aluminium oxide....

http://www.fendrihan.com/thiers-issard-razor-sharpening-paste-p-712.html

[Kimmienemo]

Thanks, Bigwull.  You are a font of knowledge!

[bigwull]

Thanks, Bigwull.  You are a font of knowledge!

The only Font,s I know is the one where the bloody minister tried to drown me when i was baptised...and the other is where beer comes from.... ...perhaps you were thinking of "fountain"

[Kimmienemo]

I think there may be a "translation" problem .  When I looked up font of all knowledge vs fount of all knowledge - it seems that the variation may be and American-English, English (King's English) issue.  In any case. . . your wealth of knowledge is greatly appreciated and always welcomed!

[bigwull]

I think there may be a "translation" problem .  When I looked up font of all knowledge vs fount of all knowledge - it seems that the variation may be and American-English, English (King's English) issue.  In any case. . . your wealth of knowledge is greatly appreciated and always welcomed!

that makes a change....Avril keeps telling me..i,m just a mine of useless information....