ROLLS RAZOR 'VICEROY' ELECTRIC DRY SHAVER in TRAVEL PACK, 1938

Rolls Razor Ltd. is probably best known because of its sets of safety razors with a sharpening device (1920's and later) and later its manually driven Viceroy Non-electric Dry Shaver (patent application filed 1937). In the 1940's and 1950's Rolls Razor also manufactured electric shavers.

Assuming good prospects on the electric shaver market, Rolls Razor opened a new factory in Hemel Hempstead, where it was one of the pioneers in a new industrial area. However, Rolls Razor announced that it was to close its factory because of mounting losses and fears of a world slump - it was going back 'home' to Cricklewood. The company sold the Hemel Hempstead site and land for expansion to Kodak. Kodacolor film was introduced in 1957 and all the colorfilm processing in the UK was to be carried out at the Hemel Hempstead plant.

Bruce Hammond Collection

Your comments:

• I have one of these travel packs.It was given to me by my wife for our first wedding anniversary in 1951. I took it everywhere when going on holiday and used it every day after wiping my face with "pre electric shaving lotion". I think it was actually the same as "after shave" but another way to make money. It used to amuse people when I used to open the shaver and rub some fine emery paper between the points to boost the shaver's energy, just like we used to clean the points on the Car distributor. I still have it and I guarantee it would work if I could find a correct cable.I still have the original cable but it is dry and hard.God bless this wonderful machine
  .......... Robert (Bob) Kentsley, Cockle Bay, Howick, Auckland New Zealand., 12th of November 2012
  
  
• I have a Rolls Viceroy dry razor that I bought in the late '70s at a church bazaar in Wembley. I think I paid 10 or 15p. It is very similar to the one in your picture, however it is in a small black case, just large enough to contain the razor, instruction book & cleaning brush. The instruction book is in v poor condition & shows the Cricklewood address. Any idea when this model dates from? I suspect it is early '40s.
  .......... Richartd Tague, Colchester, Essex, 25th of May 2010
  
  

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