Tapered Sharpening Stone

[Tom Moore]

I'm not sure where to ask about this but I found an interesting tapered sharpening stone at a garage sale and couldn't resist. It appears to be a natural stone with a soft (white) side and a harder (grey) side. It was made in Italy and the label is still legible. It says:

Milano Pietre da Rasoio Italiane
senza rivali per la loro qualita
e modicita dei prezzi
Le migliori sul mercato
L. Campanini Milano

Anyone have any idea what it says and why the stone is tapered? Thanks, -Tom

[JTR]

Because that's the way Italians make things!
I have an old Italian car, and there's nothing straight on it either

Hopefully someone more knowledgeable will have a better answer.

John

[David Veith]

This is what I got from google
David Veith
Milano Italian stone Shaver

unrivaled for their quality

and better market
L. Campanini Milan

[Don Getz]

The Italians were making a lot of these wedge shaped stones,  scholars thought they were being made to straighten the leaning tower of Piza (spelling?).   I also heard that they recently installed a clock in the leaning tower, the thought being
"why have the inclination if you don't have the time"...............Don

[Acer Saccharum]

I have to go looking for my bandaids. I just fell off my chair laughing......

[Acer Saccharum]

OK, I'll take a shot at it: I suspect it's for sharpening straight razors, prior to stropping. The owner didn't rotate his stone for even wear, hence the taper.

[David Rase]

Tom,  After reading Don's post I think he is on to something and it is not about his idea of why the stone is tapered.  It is time for another entry into our "what is it" category.  I can fore see a lot of "wisdom?" from our board members being put into their answers.
DMR

[Acer Saccharum]

Don's already got a great start on the "Whazzit" all by himself.

[Acer Saccharum]

Dave, do you mean start a new forum for 'Senior Moments' or 'Silly Threads' to bring out what wisdom we have left? I don't think of myself as a senior, but this morning when I woke up and looked in the mirror, why, I'm one day closer......

[Tom Moore]

Well, I can see we are certainly blessed with our share of "wise guys". I like the whazzit idea but we need a prize for the best entry. First prize could be an Italian sharpening stone. That would, of course, mean that second prize would be two stones!!

BTB, the stone is in unused condition. They did manufacture it with the taper. -Tom

[Black Hand]

Milano Pietre da Rasoio Italiane
senza rivali per la loro qualita
e modicita dei prezzi
Le migliori sul mercato
L. Campanini Milano

I says;
Milans Italian Razor Stones
Without rivals in quality
and price
The best on the market
L. Campanini Milano (the guys name)

[Acer Saccharum]

[/quote]

I says;
Milans Italian Razor Stones
Without rivals in quality
and price
The best on the market
L. Campanini Milano (the guys name)
[/quote]

Blackhand, I shoulda taken you to Rome with me. I didna speak a twink of Roman, tho I had seven years of Latin. http://thosrome.wordpress.com/

[rick landes]

Here's my shot at the mystery tapered stone...
I think what you have found is a razor hone stone. Not all razor hone stones were the ideal rectangle that we have come to expect. I did a bit of digging and found from "the invisible edge" site in the UK the following...
[Speaking about one of their brands of whetstones] These whetstones are ideal for this purpose. Made from selected yellow coticule, they are called ‘bouts’ - irregularly-shaped pieces of stone that are less expensive than the perfectly rectangular stones, yet ideal for the individual who is taking care of one or two (or six or seven!) personal razors in their ‘rotation’. Unlike normal ‘bouts’ - that may even be triangular in shape - these are specially selected pieces chosen for straight razor use - as the photos show. Presented in an attractive beech box with hard foam liner that is individually tailored to the stone it holds, these Belgian whetstones represent fantastic value for money and should last a lifetime.

I think your stone fits this bill. The base seems "squared" and perhaps the tapered area is a more expensive/rare type of stone.

[Black Hand]

Blackhand, I shoulda taken you to Rome with me. I didna speak a twink of Roman, tho I had seven years of Latin.

I grew up speaking Italian and still speak it to my mother and relatives who are from the old country.  Ah Rome, It has been many years since I was there, and I was entirely too young to appreciate it.

[J.D.]

The Italians were making a lot of these wedge shaped stones,  scholars thought they were being made to straighten the leaning tower of Piza (spelling?).   I also heard that they recently installed a clock in the leaning tower, the thought being
"why have the inclination if you don't have the time"...............Don

Ahh, the word of age and experience...or is it just senility? 

[Black Hand]

......"why have the inclination if you don't have the time"...............

From personal experience, the Italians have plenty of time to do anything, but they choose to do other things instead.  Work or eat?  Sleep or work?  Work or socialize?  I know which ones the Italians choose.....