On the tang and / or the box of some razors by Emil Broch there are engraved two- or three-digit model numbers. For a long time, the principle of this numbering was not clear to me. But a beautiful Kain-Abel model with the model number “77 ½” made me think about this topic once more. As I found it unlikely that Emil Broch had used “half” model numbers, I came up with the idea that this specific razor might be model 77, and that maybe two different models of this one exist. Thus, model 77 ½ might be read like “model 77, 1 of 2”, and thus be variant 1 of model no. 77.
This could further mean that all other razors might just have two-digit model numbers as well, and that the third digit, if any was given at all, might stand for the variant or handle version of the respective model.
Such three-digit models are therefore always indicated with an alternate spelling in my lists. Whether this thesis is actually true, may be clarified in the future.
Following is a list of all yet known model numbers.
| Brand | given model no. | possible model no. |
|---|---|---|
| Kain-Abel | 22 | Model 22 |
| Elsine | 272 | Model 27, Variant 2 |
| Kain-Abel | 557 | Model 55, Variant 7 |
| Bromeso | 684 | Model 68, Variant 4 |
| Kain-Abel | 72 | Model 72 |
| Kain-Abel | 77 1/2 | Model 77, Variant 1 (of 2) |
| Kain-Abel | 811 | Model 81, Variant 1 |
| Kain-Abel | 89 | Model 89 |