The product was a sophisticated safety-razor which promoted the slogan “The razor that is stropped and honed in its case.”
Case: The case is a rigid, rectangular frame enclosed by two detachable lids; one lid carried a stone and the other a leather. The lids could not be interchanged. With a lid removed, a handle drove a shaft along the frame. Pinions on the shaft in both directions engaged with racks on the case to rotate the shaft to either push the blade forward against the stone or to drag it against the strop. It was easy to use, fast and safe.
Sharpening: Sharpening was noisy as each change of direction rotated the blade to slap against stone or leather. The blade was about the size of a conventional disposable blade but was solid, hollow ground and not disposable, and it incorporated a safety guard. The Rolls trademark, “The Whetter”, was registered in the US in 1950.
Use: The claimed first use was 1922. The US patent for the method of attaching the blade to the handle was filed in 1925 and issued in 1930. The name “Rolls Razor (1927) Ltd.” was used in advertising. The razor was still manufactured and sold until 1958.
Dimensions: The dimensions are 2-7/8” high x 6-1/4” long.