VICEROY DRY SHAVER (SPRING LOADED), 1936

Non-electric razor with cutter driven by friction motor and external hand-crank. Dark maroon phenol plastic body similar to later electric version.Sliding cutting head similar in principle to Schick/Remmington with sliding cover. Stiff metal case covered, normally with cleaning brush supplied. Tricky to use as two simultaneous actions are needed - cranking the lever and guiding the shaving head.

Your comments:

• I have one of these, rescued from a local car boot sale for a pound, don't have the case. I've took it apart and cleaned and oiled it, and have been using it on my morning journey to work, not as close as a blade but not too bad at all, what a great idea in these days of low carbon footprints and being green. surprised there isn't a modern equivalent out in the current market, surely the patents have long since expired....
  .......... Scott Humphries, Northampton, 17th of September 2012
  
  
• I spurred on by the effectiveness of the old Rolls Imperial wet razors bought on E bay whilst unemployed and unable to afford Gillette Mach whatever blade heads, I bought a Viceroy for those times when one does not want to face the blade and so it has come to be that I now maintain my visage every day with the Viceroy dry shaver, so effective it is.
  
  Recently I took it apart as it had become somewhat sluggish and was amazed to find such a durable metal cranked flywheel mechanism inside, which was no problem to degrease and there re oil with 3 in 1 before reassembly. The action now is I guess as near to new as it can be, it cranks up and runs light and free two or three rapid pumps, and it is surprising what this thing will do and so is a keeper, no batteries, no power cords, no disposable anything and totally fit for the future.
  
  It is a pity modern manufacturers cannot take note of these still useful machines from the past, for they are a lesson to be learned, these sort of machines we need, dependable repairable machines that keep on going, total value for money even when they are bought second hand.
  .......... Andrew, Plymouth, England, 14th of December 2011
  
  
• I still have one of these shavers with its case and sometimes still use it. It still gives a good shave, the old stuff are the best I saved it from a skip myself.
  .......... andrew hewitt, blackawton totnes devon united kingdom, 5th of June 2011
  
  
• I bought one of these during the 1950's when I had my first job. I think it cost about £5 which was nearly 2 weeks pay. I sometimes used it to shave on the train on the way to work and then used it throughout my National Service. It did not give a perfect shave so I used a safety razor when courting. You mention that it is tricky to use because it requires two motions. I would wind it up with 3 or 4 good squeezes and then shave for 3 or 4 seconds at a time. I think I still have one somewhere.
  .......... Tony Wellings, Stansted Mountfitchet, Essex, 5th of January 2011
  
  
• My father had two of these stored in our shed I used to play with them regularly, I remember him telling me that he wrote to the viceroy company in the depression era and offered to advertise them by shaving in public places such as trains and the underground. the viceroy company declined his idea.
  .......... Neil Goodwin, England, 15th of December 2010
  
  

A1462