Giesen & Forsthoff manufactures hand-crafted straight razors, safety razors, and manicure and cosmetic instruments under the Timor® brand in Solingen.
Giesen & Forsthoff GmbH & Co. KG
SolingenNew on Amplifa
About Giesen & Forsthoff
Giesen & Forsthoff GmbH & Co. KG is a Solingen traditional company founded in 1920 that manufactures straight razors, safety razors, safety razors, shaving brushes, as well as manicure, pedicure and cosmetic instruments under its own brand Timor®. The hand-crafted straight razors are hand-honed in the company's own manufactory; blades are made from non-stainless carbon steel or stainless steel in sizes from 4/8" to 6/8". Scales and handles are made from fine woods, genuine horn, genuine carbon, titanium, stainless steel, anodized aluminium, celluloid and brass; safety razor head parts are made from zinc die-casting. Surfaces are chrome-plated, gold-plated, lacquered, oxidized or etched. The company supplies retailers in Germany and abroad and operates a factory outlet in Solingen as well as an online shop. In addition, G&F offers services such as re-sharpening and repair of straight razors – including products from other manufacturers. The product lines include 1920 (Men's Shaving), ZÓE (Women's Shaving) and Gentle Shaver (Unisex) as well as vegan care and Zero-Waste series.
- Site
- Solingen
- Processes
- Hand honing/re-sharpening of straight razors (Solingen manufactory, also service for other, Finishing/assembly of straight razors with various scales (hand-crafted straight razors), Chrome plating (chrome-plated brass handles, chrome-plated razor heads), Gold plating (rose gold plating, matte gold plating, hand-gold-plated spine), Lacquering (high-quality matte black lacquer finish), Oxidizing/blackening of blades (oxidized blade, fully oxidized), Etching/blade decoration (etchings 'Deluxe', gold etching, 'Timor Blue Steel'), Grinding of straight razor blades (hollow grind, hammer finish)
- Materials
- Carbon steel (non-stainless), Stainless steel (blades, handles), Brass (razor handles, butterfly razors), Zinc die-casting (safety razor head part), Titanium (scales), Aluminium (anodized scales), Genuine carbon (scales/inlay), Celluloid (scales)
- Certificates
- ISO 9001
- Founded
- 1920
- Industries
- Wet shaving / men's, women's and unisex shaving, Manicure/pedicure, Cosmetic instruments, Zero waste / sustainable products
- 01
Blade manufacturing (carbon steel/stainless steel, hollow grind)
- 02
Surface treatment (oxidizing, etching, chrome plating, gold plating, lacquering)
- 03
Production of handles/scales (wood, horn, carbon, titanium, brass)
- 04
Assembly/finishing and hand honing
- 05
Factory outlet, online shop and distribution via specialist retailers
- 06
Service: re-sharpening and repairs (also for other manufacturers' products)
Materials & Processes
Carbon steel (non-stainless)
Blade material of the hand-crafted straight razors in 4/8", 5/8" and 6/8", partly oxidized or etched.
Stainless steel
Used for straight razor blades, solid razor handles, scales and manicure instruments.
Brass
Handle material for butterfly razors and razor handles, usually chrome-plated or gold-plated.
Zinc die-casting
Head part of the ZÓE Safety Razors.
Titanium
Scale material for premium straight razor models.
Aluminium (anodized)
Anodized scales, partly with genuine carbon inlay.
Genuine carbon
Scales and inlays on premium straight razors.
Celluloid
Scales in various designs, including mother-of-pearl look.
Wood (olive wood, marblewood, ebony, rosewood and others)
Natural material for scales and razor handles in numerous wood types.
Genuine horn
Scales in light or dark versions.
Cattle leather
Material for straight razor cases.
Cork
Vegan material for cases in the Zero-Waste segment.
Location
Solingen
DEHeadquarters with production/manufactory and factory outlet
- Materials
- Carbon steel, stainless steel, brass, zinc die-casting, titanium, aluminium, carbon, celluloid, wood, horn
- Hand honing/re-sharpening
- Assembly/finishing
- Surface finishing (chrome plating, gold plating, lacquering, oxidation, etching)
Components & Products
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hand honing/re-sharpening of straight razors (Solingen manufactory, also service for otherTesting | – | – | – | – | Carbon steel, stainless steel |
| Finishing/assembly of straight razors with various scales (hand-crafted straight razors)Assembly | – | – | – | – | Carbon steel, stainless steel, wood, horn, genuine carbon, titanium, stainless steel, celluloid, aluminium |
| Chrome plating (chrome-plated brass handles, chrome-plated razor heads)Surface | – | – | – | – | Brass, steel |
| Gold plating (rose gold plating, matte gold plating, hand-gold-plated spine)Surface | – | – | – | – | Stainless steel, brass, steel |
| Lacquering (high-quality matte black lacquer finish)Surface | – | – | – | – | Stainless steel |
| Oxidizing/blackening of blades (oxidized blade, fully oxidized)Surface | – | – | – | – | Carbon steel |
| Etching/blade decoration (etchings 'Deluxe', gold etching, 'Timor Blue Steel')Surface | – | – | – | – | Carbon steel |
| Grinding of straight razor blades (hollow grind, hammer finish)Machining | – | – | – | – | Carbon steel, stainless steel |
| Manufacture of razor blades (premium razor blades under own brand Timor®)Machining | – | – | – | – | stainless steel |
| Manufacture of manicure/pedicure instruments and cosmetic instruments (scissors, tweezers etc.)Machining | – | – | – | – | Stainless steel |
| Blade re-sharpening including repairs (services)Testing | – | – | – | – | Carbon steel, stainless steel |
Additional services
Reference customers
Quality
Straight razors are hand-honed in the company's own Solingen manufactory; an in-house sharpening service including repairs – also for straight razors from other manufacturers – ensures blade sharpness throughout the product life cycle.
| Evidence | Solingen |
|---|---|
| ISO 9001 |
History
- 1920
Foundation of Giesen & Forsthoff in Solingen; by 2020, 100 years of company history.