Why did old barber chairs have a 'strop' or leather strap?

Subject: Why did old barber chairs have a 'strop' or leather strap?

Date: Mon Jan 21 20:32:50 2002
Posted by No name entered.
Grade level: 7-9 School: No school entered.
City: No city entered. State/Province: No state entered. Country: No country entered.
Area of science: Science History
ID: 1011663170.Sh

Message:


I did a search here and found nothing related.

Why did old barber chairs have a 'strop' or leather strap?  Does leather really 
sharpen a straight razor?  Seems impossible, by common sense, that leather 
could do it.  Of what use is leather to the barber?

On that similar subject, our ancestors apparently used 'whet stones' for their 
knives.  What types or rock make acceptable whet stones, only one?  I have 
never understood, and found contradictory explanations, of which way to drag 
the knife across the stone.  Is it only one way?  Toward you? Away from you?  
Both?  A cutting motion or a filing motion?

Re: Why did old barber chairs have a 'strop' or leather strap?

Current Queue | Current Queue for Science History | Science History archives

Try the links in the MadSci Library for more information on Science History.