Thread: Glasgow straight.

Just seen this auction on ebay.

5 VINTAGE CUT THROAT RAZORS- JOSEPH RODGERS , HAMBURG RING ETC | eBay

It's something I'm not bidding on but there is a nice Scottish razor in the bundle that some people will perhaps want to pick up.

Looks to have at least a fair bit of wear. Scottish addresses need to be studied. Lots of Sheffield razors were sold, stamped with merchant's names!

Originally Posted by sharptonn

Scottish addresses need to be studied.

So, if it says Glasgow, it is indeed in Scotland... Can you explain a little bit more what you mean?

TIA

Originally Posted by Siguy

So, if it says Glasgow, it is indeed in Scotland... Can you explain a little bit more what you mean?

TIA

Sure! If the maker and address line up with a razor maker, certainly is Scottish. If the name and address suggest an ironmonger or merchant, could be Sheffield-made and stamped for them. Happened all the time....
No need to worry until someone comes up with something regarding the name.
On your marks!
Get Ready!
GO!

Get it on! brutha!

MACGUIRE & JAGO,
Saw, File and Edge Tool Manufacturers and Ironmongers,
thirteen Union Street, Glasgow, and at Washington
Works, Glasgow,


Information Links

Here ya go The Post-Office Annual Glasgow Directory 1917-1918, Volume 1917-18, Page 413 | Document Viewer left column 2/3 of the way down. Doesn't specifically say the were razor makers so it could still be a sheffie razor that they retailed. I would bet Neil Miller would know for sure.

Bob

Too slow on the draw again I see.

Nice Work, Gents! Seems we have a bit of quandary. Not being negative! Lots of firms made some plows, chisels, and such. Supplanted by Sheffield scissors, razors and such. However, Washington works, Glasgow, seems a maker! Neil Miller is not from up there. Wouldn't know squat!
More info? Let's go!

HAR! Haggis-muncher I am not! Did deliver political leaflets all round the area for the euro election in the late 1970s, though...

The firm was started by John Elsworth in Argyll Street, c1840. Later John Elsworth & Son, the company was listed as '...saw and edge tool manufacturers...' at Portman Street. MacGuire & Jago were listed as 'successors' to that company in 1877 (which is probably a bit of 'advertising' to give them a longer history, as John Elsworth's company was still listed in the 1880-81 Post Office Directory!) at which time they were in Jamaica Street, only moving to Union Street in 1886. However, Jamaica Street joins Union Street, so they did not move far!

A Directory listing of 1882, while they were still at 35 Jamaica Street, lists them as '...ironmongers and cutlers, saw plane and tool manufacturers [and] agents for Midland Enamel Sign Co...'

As previously stated, they were listed as '...saw and tool manufacturers, ironmongers, cutlers, &c., and they are wholesale merchants also. They manufacture every description of saws in use, also mill saws, buckles and keys, axes, adzes, braces and bits and augers, chisels and gouges, planes, plane and machine irons, files of all kinds, engineers’ hammers, and tradesmen’s tools, and various other articles too numerous to particularize. They also supply tool chests both for workmen’s and for gentlemen’s use, fitted complete, and ranging in price from twenty shillings to fifteen pounds. Their general stock comprises table, dessert, and pocket cutlery, nickel and electro-plated goods, and all kinds of ironmongery...' - this from an 1888 Directory at which time the company was controlled by William Bruce MacGuire - there was no Jago.

The original Jago was presumably not Edwin Brooks Jago, profession: ironmonger, address 122 Hospital Street, although he is listed as '...of MacGuire & Jago in one of the post-office directories) as he was not born until 1878. There are other Jagos (Alfred Thomas Jago, railway clerk, 146 Hospital Street - not Edwins father btw, who was Josias Jago.

In 1895 we find a newspaper listing for M&J in which they are simply described as 'ironmongers'.

In a 1916 Directory listing we find M&J still at Union Street, but also listed at 'Washington Works' in the City (presumably Glasgow).

In the 1917-18 Directory we find W. B. MacGuire, of MacGuire & Jago, living at Rockwell House, Dunoon.

The Union Street address was only a sales room - the works was elsewhere, located in Pitt Street.

It seems that the company had an excellent reputation as edged tool manufacturers - in a carpentry sort of way - and ironmongers, plane makers, saw makers.

I have a report from a member on another forum who had a Joseph Allen & Sons razor from 13, Union Street Glasgow. However, this was in the late 1920s. By 1925 MacGuire & Jago were gone from 13 Union Street and the premises was occupied by William Marshall, a '...cutler, edge tool, ironmonger, cutlery and golf requisites merchant..."

My gut feeling is that the razors were commissioned pieces from other cutlers, probably based in Sheffield. While they had both the means, the premises and equipment to forge razors I would assume that they stuck to making carpenters tools and pressings like table cutlery. I could well be wrong, though.

Regards,
Neil

Thanks Neil, That's probably the most comprehensive information we're likely to get.