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75-438: Claims that Sweeney Todd was a historical person are disputed strongly by scholars, although possible legendary prototypes exist. In the original version of the tale, Todd is a barber who kills his victims by pulling a lever as they sit in his barber chair. His victims fall backward through a revolving trap door into the basement of his shop, generally causing them to break their necks or skulls. In case they are alive, Todd goes to

150-585: A French point blade is usually flat ground. A hollow grind produces a thinner blade than the flat grind because it removes more material from the blade ( hollows or thins the blade more). The hollow-ground blade flexes more easily and provides more feedback on the resistance the blade meets while cutting the hair, which is an indicator of blade sharpness. Hollow-ground blades are preferred by most barbers and some high-end razor manufacturers limit their production exclusively to hollow ground razors. The third and final category refers to blade width. The width of

225-542: A better value and more efficient product. Dovo  [ de ] in Germany reports that since a production low of less than 8,000 units per year in 2006, the company sells 3,000 units per month, and has 110,000 orders with production lead time of three years. The Dovo spokesman commented that around 2006, “we were producing less than 8,000 straight razors per year, The tradition of straight razor manufacturing had almost come to an end.” Dovo explains, that after

300-406: A character named Tom Pinch who is grateful that his own "evil genius did not lead him into the dens of any of those preparers of cannibalic pastry, who are represented in many country legends as doing a lively retail business in the metropolis". Claims that Sweeney Todd was a real person were first made in the introduction to the 1850 (expanded) edition of The String of Pearls and have persisted to

375-547: A compromise, to the back of the blade while the mirror finish and gold leafing are applied to the more visible front of the blade. This way the blade will not be as expensive as a fully mirror finished one. Metal plating , using nickel or silver, is also used, but it is not preferred; the plating eventually erodes through use, revealing the underlying metal, which is often of inferior quality. Nickel-plated blades are very difficult to hone repeatedly and are made for mainly aesthetic reasons though lacking functionality. The blade

450-512: A disposable blade. Electric razors have also reduced the market share of the straight razors, especially since the 1950s. A 1979 comparative study of straight and electric razors, performed by Dutch researchers, found that straight razors shave hair approximately 0.002 in. (0.05mm) shorter than electrics. Since 2012, production of straight razors has increased multifold. Straight razor sales are increasing globally and manufacturers have difficulty satisfying demand. Sales started increasing since

525-429: A few are found with thin metal scales or wooden scales. The blade material is usually a high carbon steel or a stainless steel. Traditionally, carbon steel was used, but stainless steels are popular in modern times due to the ease of maintenance. The parts of a straight razor and their function are described as follows: the narrow end of the blade rotates on a pin called the pivot, between two protective pieces called

600-434: A flat ground blade, since by definition is not hollow (curved) at all, is the most stable of the blades but because its cross sectional area is the largest it also feels heavier than hollow ground and this can affect the feel and balance of the razor. A razor is well balanced if when opened it balances about its pivot pin, indicating that the torques about the pivot point, caused by the corresponding weight distributions of

675-458: A shape called the blank supplied by the steel manufacturer. The blank of the blade is produced by forging steel ingots or steel available in other forms such as wire, springs, etc.. After the blank is formed, the first step is to clean it using a heavy forge . The material used for open razors is steel with a minimum carbon content of 0.6%. This percentage of carbon content ensures optimum hardness, flexibility and resistance to wear. Following

750-411: A smaller radius of curvature . These two beveled areas have different curvatures and in a well-made razor they transition seamlessly in the ridge (belly) and the cutting edge respectively. Sometimes there are three bevels. The ridge stabilizes the blade against torsional flexing in a direction perpendicular to its longitudinal axis by acting as a lengthwise spine for the blade. The distance between

825-527: A smaller initial investment, although they cost more over time . Despite its long-term advantages, the straight razor lost significant market share. As shaving became less intimidating and men began to shave themselves more, the demand for barbers providing straight razor shaves decreased. Since 2012, production of straight razors has increased multifold. Straight razor sales are increasing globally and manufacturers have difficulty satisfying demand. Straight razor sales are increasing because they are perceived as

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900-414: A standard straight razor is usually close to 3 inches of blade length, but this does vary. Blades are described by the depth from spine to edge, measured in eights of an inch. 3/8 is a very narrow razor mostly used for detail work, with 5/8 and 6/8 being the most commonly seen sizes. It is very rare to see old razors bigger than 8/8 however there are some out there at 10/8 or larger. The other major factor

975-640: A tragic character, having lost his mind after being exposed to the horrors of the Napoleonic Wars as a barber surgeon . In rhyming slang , Sweeney Todd is the Flying Squad (a branch of the UK's Metropolitan Police), which inspired the television series The Sweeney . Straight razor A straight razor is a razor with a blade that can fold into its handle. They are also called open razors and cut-throat razors . The predecessors of

1050-505: A wealthy landowner and industrialist, to ports in the Gulf of Finland , approximately 1200 miles (1931 km) from Sheffield. From there, these goods were probably sent to Finland and even Russia. By 1740, Benjamin Huntsman was making straight razors complete with decorated handles and hollow-ground blades made from cast steel, using a process he invented. Huntsman's process was adopted by

1125-488: Is a brittle material and can exhibit cracks after some use. Resin impregnated wooden handles are water resistant, do not deform and their weight complements the blade's to provide good overall balance for the razor. Snakewood, Brosimum guianense , is also suitable for long term and intensive use. The mechanical properties of bone make it a good handle material. Handles were once made of elephant ivory, but this has been discontinued, though fossil ivory, such as mammoth,

1200-406: Is called the heel . The endpoint of the cutting edge at the front of the blade, opposite to the heel , is called the toe . A thick strip of metal running transversely at the junction where the main blade attaches to the shank is called the stabiliser . The stabiliser can be double, single, or can be absent in some razor models. The first stabiliser is usually very narrow and thicker and runs at

1275-415: Is decorated by engraving or gold leafing depending on the price. Less expensive blades undergo an electrolytic black acid engraving process. For more expensive blades, gold leafing applied by hand is employed, following a traditional process. Sharpening is the final stage in the process. At first the blade is sharpened on a grinding wheel. Following that the blade can be honed by holding the blades against

1350-457: Is difficult. The converse is true for soft-tempered blades. The characteristics of medium-tempered blades are in-between the two extremes. Carbon steel blades can reach a maximum hardness of 61 HRC on the Rockwell scale . Following the processes of hardening and tempering, the blanks are ground, according to the two fundamental blade cross sectional area profiles. Subsequent to grinding,

1425-702: Is prone to nicking the skin of an Inexperienced shaver. The "handle" on a straight razor is not a handle at all, but a protector to prevent the delicate edge being damaged when not in use, and to prevent accidental cuts from the sharp blade. Construction is in the form of two scales, held by the pivot pin through the tang, and pinned through a wedge at the other end. Scales are thin, as they must be flexible. Typical scales are 2–3   mm thick and usually made from some form of synthetic (nowadays usually acrylic, but on older razors celluloid, Bakelite, xylonite, and others are common), bone, horn, or ivory on older razors. Some cheaper razors had compressed leather scales, and

1500-420: Is simply called the stabiliser (single or double) and indicates a hollow ground blade, since a flat ground blade is massive and stable enough to not need a stabiliser. A double stabiliser implies 1 ⁄ 1 (full) hollow ground blade. The stabiliser protects the blade from torsional bending in the transverse direction (transverse spine). In addition to the transverse stabiliser, a longitudinal stabiliser

1575-478: Is so demanding that a full 25% of the blades get rejected as not meeting standards. There is a tradeoff between stability and long term blade sharpness. A full hollow ground ( 1 ⁄ 1 ) blade can keep a very sharp edge even after a great number of honing cycles because of its high degree of hollowness but it is more susceptible to torsional bending because it is thinner. A partially hollow blade ( 1 ⁄ 2 or 1 ⁄ 4 for example) cannot sustain

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1650-410: Is sometimes created in the form of a ridge parallel to the cutting edge and the blade is ground in two areas or bevels , each with different degrees of hollowness or curvature ; the area between the back of the blade and the ridge is typically less hollow featuring a larger radius of curvature , also called the "belly", and the area between the ridge and the cutting edge which is more hollow i.e. with

1725-439: Is still sometimes used, and antique razors with ivory scales are occasionally found (it is illegal to kill elephants for their ivory, but it is legal to buy an ivory-handled razor made before 1989). The geometry of the blade can be categorised according to three factors: the blade width and weight, the shape of the profile of the point of the razor, and the type of grinding method used for the blade (as grinding method determines

1800-518: Is such that when the latter is sent to the Fleet Prison for debt Weller gets himself arrested so that he can join Pickwick there and continue to serve and protect him. Weller refuses to marry his sweetheart as he believes his marriage will obstruct him from continuing to care for Mr. Pickwick. However, Pickwick makes arrangements that allow Weller to continue to work for him and still marry. In

1875-588: Is the point shape. The most common is the round or Dutch point, with the French point being fairly common. The square point is also known as an American point, and is more common on razors from the USA. There is also the Spanish point, Spike point, and Barber's Notch. Inexperienced users should use either the round point, or a razor with a muted toe (the very tip of the edge rounded slightly) as an unmuted square or spike

1950-499: The Gulf of Finland , approximately 1200 miles (1931 km) from Sheffield. From there, these goods were probably sent to Finland and even Russia. By 1740, Benjamin Huntsman was making straight razors complete with decorated handles and hollow-ground blades made from cast steel, using a process he invented. Huntsman's process was adopted by the French sometime later, albeit reluctantly at first due to nationalist considerations. In England, razor manufacturers were even more reluctant than

2025-408: The cutting edge . Finally the other free end of the blade, at the opposite end of the tang on the spine, is called the point and, sometimes, the head or the nose . There are usually two, but sometimes three, pins in the handle. The middle pin, if present, is plastic coated and is called the centre plug . Its function is to stabilise the sides of the handle so that they cannot be squeezed in

2100-423: The forging stage, a hole is drilled in the tang at the pivot point. This is a crucial step, since after the steel hardening process it would be impossible to drill. This process requires great skill. The steel is hardened through a special process where the forged steel blade is heated up to approximately 760 °C (1,400 °F) depending on the specific steel. This heating enables fast and uniform heating of

2175-423: The scales or handle . The upward curved metal end of the narrow part of the blade beyond the pivot is called the tang and acts as a lever to help raise the blade from the handle. One or two fingers resting on the tang also help stabilize the blade while shaving. The narrow support piece between the tang and the main blade is called the shank , but this reference is often avoided because it can be confusing since

2250-401: The shank is also referred to as tang . The shank sometimes features decorations and the stamp of the brand. The top side and the underside of the shank can sometimes exhibit indentations known as fluting , or jimps for a more secure grip. The curved lower part of the main blade from the shank to the cutting edge is called the shoulder . The point where the shoulder joins the cutting edge

2325-421: The 2012 James Bond film Skyfall , sales of straight razors increased multifold, and that "built into a wave of sustained overdemand that we are still riding today". The increased sales have also led to an increase in the number of associated trades and artisans such as bladesmiths , leather craftsmen, and potters. The design of the straight razor is based on the grind of the blade, the width and length of

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2400-584: The 4th millennium BC. The Roman historian Livy reported that the razor was introduced in ancient Rome in the 6th century BC by legendary king Lucius Tarquinius Priscus . Priscus was ahead of his time because razors did not come to general use until a century later. The first narrow-bladed folding straight razors were listed by a Sheffield, England manufacturer in 1680. By the late 1680s, early 1690s, razors with silver-covered handles along with other Sheffield-made products known as "Sheffield wares" were being exported by John Spencer (1655–1729) of Cannon Hall ,

2475-590: The French novelist Paul H.C. Féval (1816–1887), famous as a writer of horror and crime novels and short stories, referred to what he termed "L'Affaire de la Rue des Marmousets" in the introductory chapter to his book La Vampire . In 1875, Frederick Hazleton's c. 1865 dramatic adaptation Sweeney Todd, the Barber of Fleet Street: or the String of Pearls (see below) was published as volume 102 of Lacy's Acting Edition of Plays . A scholarly, annotated edition of

2550-581: The French sometime later; albeit reluctantly at first due to nationalist sentiments. The English manufacturers were even more reluctant than the French to adopt the process and only did so after they saw its success in France. Sheffield steel, a highly polished steel, also known as 'Sheffield silver steel' and famous for its deep gloss finish, is considered a superior quality steel and is still used to this day in France by such manufacturers as Thiers Issard . After their introduction in 1680, straight razors became

2625-430: The French to adopt Huntsman's steel-making process and only did so after they saw its success in France. After their introduction in 1680, straight razors became the principal method of manual shaving for more than two hundred years, and remained in common use until the mid-20th century. Straight razor production eventually fell behind that of the safety razor , which was introduced in the late 19th century and featured

2700-484: The Sam Weller Bump." Such was the popularity of the character that William Thomas Moncrieff named his 1837 burletta Samuel Weller, or, The Pickwickians after the main comic character in the novel, rather than on Samuel Pickwick himself. Merchandise based on the character appeared, such as Sam Weller puzzles, Weller boot polish and Weller joke books. In chapter 10 of the novel, the eponymous hero of

2775-606: The astute cockney Weller being likened to that between Don Quixote and Sancho Panza . While the elderly Mr. Pickwick is mostly a passive and innocent figure having an almost childlike simplicity, Sam Weller is depicted as 'street-wise', being the more experienced of the two despite his youth, and probably the most intelligent character in the novel. While Pickwick is quick to lose his temper Sam maintains his composure. While Pickwick has no interest in romance or marrying, Sam courts and eventually marries Mary, his Valentine – "a well-shaped female servant". Weller's loyalty to Pickwick

2850-431: The basement and "polishes them off" (slitting their throats with his straight razor ). In some adaptations, the murdering process is reversed, with Todd slitting his customers' throats before dispatching them into the basement through the revolving trap door. After Todd has robbed his dead victims of their goods, Mrs. Lovett , his partner in crime (in some later versions, his friend and/or lover), assists him in disposing of

2925-480: The blade and the handle about the pivot pin, counterbalance each other. A well-balanced razor is both safer to handle when open and easier to shave with. Sam Weller (character) Sam Weller is a fictional character in The Pickwick Papers (1836), the first novel by Charles Dickens , and the character that made Dickens famous. A humorous Cockney bootblack , Sam Weller first appeared in

3000-405: The blade is defined as the distance between the back of the blade and the cutting edge. It is expressed in units of eighth of an inch. The sizes vary from 3 ⁄ 8  in (9.5 mm) up to 7 ⁄ 8  in (22 mm), rarely 8 ⁄ 8  in (25 mm). A wider blade can carry more lather, much like a scoop, during multiple successive shaving strokes and thus it allows

3075-414: The blade is polished to various degrees of gloss. The finest finish, used in the most expensive razors, is the mirror finish. Mirror finish is the only finish used if gold leafing is to be part of the decoration of the blade. Satin finish requires less polishing time and therefore is not as expensive to produce. This finish is mostly used with black acid etching. Satin finish can sometimes be applied, as

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3150-568: The blade, the handle, which also affects the balance of the razor, the material of the blade, and the finish and degree of polish of the blade material. Straight grinds range from true wedge, through near wedge, quarter hollow, half hollow, full hollow, and extra hollow. As the grind gets more hollowed, the blade becomes more flexible and the edge more delicate, making it shave closer but require more skill in sharpening and use, and reducing its suitability for heavy beards. Blades are usually categorised by grind, size, and blade shape. Sizing of

3225-412: The bodies by baking their flesh into meat pies and selling them to the unsuspecting customers of her pie shop. Todd's barber shop is situated at 186 Fleet Street , London , next to St. Dunstan's church , and is connected to Mrs. Lovett's pie shop in nearby Bell Yard by means of an underground passage. In most versions of the story, he and Mrs. Lovett hire an unwitting orphan boy, Tobias Ragg , to serve

3300-429: The cutting edge compared to the other grades. This is considered the most expensive blade. At the highest end of hollow ground, more hollow than even the 1 ⁄ 1 grade, is the so-called singing razor, so named because its blade produces a specific resonant tone when plucked, similar to a guitar string , however such use is not recommended as it can distort the cutting edge. Its manufacturing process

3375-432: The degree of curvature   —   and therefore hollowness, or thinness   —   of the sides of the cross section of the blade). Straight razors are, at first, categorised according to their blade profiles, from the head of the spine to the blade toe, based on their point, or nose, type. The following are the main types of blade profiles called points, or nose shapes: The second category refers to

3450-572: The flat side of rotating round stones, or by drawing the blade across stationary flat stones. The cutting edge is finished using a strop . Sharpening is usually not completed during manufacturing, instead being done after purchase. Handle scales are made of various materials, including mother-of-pearl , Bakelite , celluloid , bone, plastic, wood, horn, acrylic, ivory and tortoise shell . Celluloid can spontaneously combust at elevated temperatures. Buffalo horn tends to deform with time and it possesses form memory so it tends to warp. Mother of pearl

3525-456: The fourth serialised episode. Previously the monthly parts of the book had been doing badly, selling only about 1,000 copies a month — but the humour of the character transformed the book into a publishing phenomenon, raising the sales by late autumn of 1837 to 40,000 a month. On the impact of the character, The Paris Review stated, "arguably the most historic bump in English publishing is

3600-425: The greater the thermal deformation that can occur due to changing temperatures, a fact that can lead to loss of edge sharpness. The weight of the blade is inversely proportional to the pressure that is applied during shaving. The heavier the blade, the lighter the pressure that needs to be applied during shaving. The degree of hollowness and thus the cross sectional area (thickness) of the blade vary depending on

3675-404: The grinding method used. Higher degree of hollowness in the blade implies a thinner cross section and this affects the stability ( bending or buckling properties) of the blade; the thinner the blade the more flexible it is. The length and weight of the blade and handle and their relation to each other determines the balance of the straight razor. The cutting area of the razor is proportional to

3750-432: The handle. The blade can be made of either stainless steel , which is resistant to rust but can be more difficult to hone, or high-carbon steel, which is much easier to hone and obtains a sharper edge, but will rust more easily than stainless steel if neglected. Cheap stainless steel straight razors from Asia and more expensive stainless steel and carbon steel razors from Europe are available. A razor blade starts as

3825-430: The length of the blade, therefore, a longer blade requires less frequent honing since its cutting edge does not deplete as fast as that of a shorter blade. For hollow-ground blades stability is augmented by a transverse stabiliser in the form of one or two narrow strips of thicker metal running from the back of the blade to the end of the shoulder (at the junction where the blade meets the shank). This piece, if present,

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3900-403: The middle and acts as a bridge between them. When folded into the scales, the blade is protected from accidental damage, and the user is protected from accidental injury. During folding, the back of the blade, being thick and normally with a curved cross-section, acts as a natural stopper and prevents further rotation of the blade out of the handle from the other side. The frictional force between

3975-647: The middle of the 17th century, the story is set in Calais, which is also where the author heard the story. The story includes all the details of the legend, except for the name of the character. Another version relates to a supposed 1800 narrative of events in the rue de la Harpe , Paris, which appeared in an English version in Tell-Tale Magazine (London) under the title "A Terrific Story of the Rue de la Harpe". In Charles Dickens ' Pickwick Papers (1836–1837),

4050-718: The modern straight razors include bronze razors, with cutting edges and fixed handles, produced by craftsmen from Ancient Egypt during the New Kingdom (1569 — 1081 BC). Solid gold and copper razors were also found in Ancient Egyptian tombs dating back to the 4th millennium BC. The first steel-edged cutthroat razors were manufactured in Sheffield in 1680. By the late 1680s, early 1690s, razors with silver-covered handles along with other Sheffield-made products known as "Sheffield wares" were being exported to ports in

4125-658: The novel Sam is the son of Tony Weller , a coachman. The Wellers, father and son, speak a form of Cockney English prevalent in London's East End in 1836, pronouncing a "v" where there should be a "w", and "w” where there should be a "v" - "wery" instead of "very" and "avay" instead of "away" - in language that was outdated just 40 years after the novel's publication. Having trouble composing his Valentine's Card to his sweetheart, Mary, Sam consults his father, Tony Weller: `“Feel myself ashamed, and completely cir –” I forget what this here word is’, said Sam, scratching his head with

4200-542: The novel, Mr. Pickwick , meets Sam Weller working at the White Hart Inn in The Borough and soon takes him on as a personal servant and companion on his travels. Initially, Sam Weller accepts the job as Pickwick offered a good salary and a new set of fine clothes. However, as the novel progresses, Sam becomes deeply attached to Mr. Pickwick, with the relationship between the idealistic and unworldly Pickwick and

4275-503: The number of associated trades and artisans such as bladesmiths , leather craftsmen, and potters. Forums and outlets provide products, directions, and advice to straight razor users. Straight razor manufacturers exist in Europe , Asia , and North America . Antique straight razors are also actively traded. Straight razors require considerable skill to hone and strop , and require more care during shaving. Straight razor design and use

4350-587: The original 1846–1847 serial was published in volume form in 2007 by the Oxford University Press with the title of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street , edited by Robert Mack. The original story of Sweeney Todd is from an older legend that may contain motifs from even earlier stories. Possibly the oldest reference to the story in its present form is found in the journal of the Swedish traveller Pehr Lindeström. In his diary, dating from

4425-435: The pen, in vain attempts to remember. `Why don’t you look at it then?’, inquired Mr Weller. `So I am a lookin at it’, replied Sam, `but there’s another blot. Here’s a “c”, and an “i”, and a “d”’. `Circumwented, p’raps’, suggested Mr Weller. `No, it ain’t that,’ said Sam, `circumscribed; that’s it’ `That ain’t as good a word as circumwented, Sammy,’ said Mr Weller, gravely. Sam Weller's way of quoting people has led to

4500-505: The pies to customers. Sweeney Todd first appeared in a story titled The String of Pearls: A Romance . This penny dreadful was published in 18 weekly parts, in Edward Lloyd 's magazine The People's Periodical and Family Library , issues 7–24, published 21 November 1846 to 20 March 1847. It was probably written by James Malcolm Rymer , though Thomas Peckett Prest has also been credited with it; possibly each worked on

4575-565: The present. In two books, Peter Haining argued that Sweeney Todd was a historical person who committed his crimes around 1800. Nevertheless, other researchers who have tried to verify his citations do not find anything in these sources to verify Haining's claims. A late (1890s) reference to the legend of the murderous barber can be found in the poem by the Australian bush poet Banjo Paterson , " The Man from Ironbark ". In his 2012 novel Dodger , Terry Pratchett portrays Sweeney Todd as

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4650-549: The principal method of manual shaving for more than two hundred years, and remained in common use until the mid-20th century. Electric razors have also cut into the straight razor's market share , especially since the 1950s. A variant of the European straight-edge was developed by a brother of Ghezo and it was employed as a weapon by the Dahomey Amazons . This variant was significantly larger and carried over

4725-455: The product was featured in the 2012 James Bond film Skyfall and have remained high since. Straight razors are also perceived as a better value and a more sustainable and efficient product. Dovo in Germany reports that since a production low of less than 8,000 units per year in 2006, the company sells 3,000 units per month, and has 110,000 orders with production lead time of three years. The increased sales have also led to an increase in

4800-406: The ridge and the back of the blade is inversely proportional to the hollowness of the blade and is described in fractional terms in ascending steps of 1 ⁄ 4 as, for example, 1 ⁄ 4 hollow, 1 ⁄ 2 hollow, or 4 ⁄ 4 or 1 ⁄ 1 (full hollow). Full hollow indicates that the stabilizing ridge is very close to the midsection of the blade and the farthest from

4875-504: The same degree of sharpness for as long, because as the cutting edge erodes it can eventually reach the stabilising ridge faster where there is more material and thus the cutting-edge bevel cannot be maintained without excessive honing of the stabilising ridge to remove the additional material, which could also destabilise the rest of the blade. However, the partially hollow blade is more stable because its additional material makes it stiffer , and thus more resistant to deformation. In addition

4950-435: The scales and the tang applied about the pivot is called the tension and it determines how freely the blade rotates about the point of rotation. A proper amount of tension should be present, for safety reasons, to ensure that the blade does not spin freely when opening or closing. Straight razors consist of a blade sharpened on one edge and a handle attached to the blade through a pin. The blade can then rotate in and out of

5025-710: The serial from part to part. Other attributions include Edward P. Hingston, George Macfarren, and Albert Richard Smith. During February/March 1847, before the serial was even completed, George Dibdin Pitt adapted The String of Pearls as a melodrama for the Britannia Theatre in Hoxton , east London. It was in this alternative version of the tale, rather than the original, that Todd acquired his catchphrase: "I'll polish him off". Lloyd published another, lengthier, penny part serial during 1847–1848, with 92 episodes. It

5100-524: The servant Sam Weller says that a pieman used cats "for beefsteak, veal, and kidney, 'cording to the demand", and recommends that people should buy pies only "when you know the lady as made it, and is quite sure it ain't kitten." Dickens then developed this in Martin Chuzzlewit (1843–1844), published two years before the appearance of Sweeney Todd in The String of Pearls (1846–1847), with

5175-400: The shank-to-blade junction, covering the shank and just spilling over to the shoulder. The second stabiliser can be distinguished since it is considerably wider, thinner, and longer, appearing after the first stabiliser and running lower toward the heel. The arched, non-cutting top of the blade is called the back or the spine while the cutting part of the blade opposite the back is called

5250-529: The shoulder. When folded, the razor measured about 24–30 inches long and it weighed over 20 pounds. When extended, the blade measured 4–5 feet. Straight razors eventually fell out of fashion. Their first challenger was manufactured by King C. Gillette : a double-edged safety razor with replaceable blades. These new safety razors did not require any serious tutelage to use. The blades were extremely hard to sharpen, and were meant to be thrown away after one use, and rusted quickly if not discarded. They also required

5325-511: The steel at the optimum temperature for maximum hardness. The tempering stage follows the hardening process, where the blade is heated in a bath of oil at a temperature between 200–400 °C (392–752 °F). Tempering imparts the steel its flexibility and toughness according to the phase diagrams for steel. There are three types of steel blade according to the level of tempering it has received. Hard-tempered, medium-tempered and soft-tempered. Hard-tempered edges last longer but sharpening them

5400-426: The type of grinding method used and, since it affects the curvature of the blade cross section, includes the following two main types of blade grinds: The combination of the types found in these two classification categories can, in theory, lead to a wide variety of blade types such as round point hollow ground, square point flat ground etc., but in practice some points are combined with a specific grind. As an example,

5475-405: The user more shaving time and minimises blade rinse cycles. The disadvantage of the wider blade is that it is not as manoeuvrable as a narrower blade. A narrow blade can shave tight facial spots such as under the nose, but it must be rinsed more often. The most popular blade width size is 5 ⁄ 8  in (16 mm). The width of the blade can also affect its sharpness. The wider the blade,

5550-550: Was once a major portion of the curriculum in barber colleges. Various forms of razors were used throughout history, which are different in appearance but similar in use to modern straight razors. In prehistoric times clam shells, shark's teeth, and flint were sharpened and used for shaving. Drawings of such blades were found in prehistoric caves. Some tribes still use blades made of flint to this day. Excavations in Egypt have unearthed solid gold and copper razors in tombs dating back to

5625-802: Was then published in book form in 1850 as The String of Pearls , subtitled "The Barber of Fleet Street. A Domestic Romance". This expanded version of the story was 732 pages long. A plagiarised version of this book appeared in the United States c. 1852–1853 as Sweeney Todd: or the Ruffian Barber. A Tale of Terror of the Seas and the Mysteries of the City by "Captain Merry" (a pseudonym used by American author Harry Hazel, 1814–1889). In 1865,

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