05/28/2026
ROLLS RAZOR
Yet another gem from our “It’s a Man’s World” pop-up exhibit is this Rolls Razor. With its snazzy art deco metal case, it was a self-contained, self-sharpening safety razor system. Its manufacturer chose the name “Rolls” to evoke the luxury and quality of a Rolls Royce even though it had absolutely no connection to the car manufacturer.
Pitched as a shaving solution that lasted a lifetime without needing disposable blades like its competitor, Gillette, the Rolls Razor sold from the 1920s into the early ‘50s. Its slogan was “The razor that is stropped and honed in its case.” The iconic Greek key pattern on this case dates it to pre-1930.
Fancy enough to come with its own instruction booklet printed in several languages, here’s how it worked. A top-quality Sheffield steel blade fit into the handle, providing the convenience of a safety razor. One side of the case was fitted with a flat stone to sharpen and give the blade a new edge, while the other held a leather strop to polish the blade’s edge. Users flipped the handle back and forth for a smooth, clean shave every time.
Often marketed as the perfect 21st birthday gift for young men with the idea that it was the last razor they would ever need to buy, demand for the Rolls Razor declined as simple, convenient electric razors gained popularity in the 1950s.
