LILLICRAP’S HONE , AVAILABLE 1930-42 WAS DESIGNED TO SHARPEN SAFETY RAZOR BLADES.

HONE WAS INVENTED BY JOSEPH RICHARD LILLICRAP. THE INFORMATION LEAFLET THAT CAME WITH THE HONE STATED “The Hone is made in Uranium Glass with a specially prepared surface.” THUS IMPLYING THAT URANIUM GLASS HAD PROPERTIES THAT MADE IT PARTICULARLY APPROPRIATE FOR ITS USE AS A HONE. WHETHER THIS WAS MARKETING HYPE OR BASED UPON SOME QUALITY OF THE GLASS, SUCH AS ITS HARDNESS , IS NOT CLEAR.

IN 1904 KING CAMP GILLETTE FINALLY PATENTED HIS SAFETY RAZOR, INVENTED IN 1895. AS THE BLADES BLUNTED QUICKLY, VARIOUS GADGETS APPEARED OVER THE YEARS THAT WERE CLAIMED TO RESHARPEN AND EXTEND THE LIFE OF THE BLADES. WITH MANY OF THESE IT WAS RATHER MORE CLAIM THAN REALITY. LILLICRAP’S HONE WAS A SIMPLE AND EFFECTIVE SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM, NOT PRODUCING AN EDGE OF QUITE THE SHARPNESS OF A NEW BLADE, BUT CERTAINLY ONE THAT WOULD PROVIDE A CLOSE CLEAN SHAVE.

AS WORLD WAR 2 GATHERED PACE , AND SUPPLIES OF RAZOR BLADES DRIED UP, THE HONE WAS EVEN ISSUED TO THE BRITISH SOLDIERS.

THIS HONE IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION WITH NO CHIPS, CRACKS OR SCRATCHES TO IT.

MEASURES 6.5 X 5 X 3CM