Thread: Dixie Mfg letter/cards Found in Great Grandfathers things, would like info please

Hello all. Found a few things of interest in my great Grandfathers belongings and it has stirred my curiosity. I have an old letter from Dixie Mfg Co in Union City, GA and 2 cards. I found a straight razor in the same trunk but it says "George Wostenholm & Son". Can any one tell me anything about these? Dates, what happened to the company etc. I did a search on Dixie and it let me to this forum.
Card front
Card back
Thanks for any info!

Welcome to SRP
Awesome bit of nostalgia you have there.
Can't help with info but the pipe looks like it was well used & has a fair bit of hone wear with a frown, could be cleaned up and made good probably in the right hands, but would be considerable smaller after.
Someone should be along soon enough with some more info hopefully

Hi and welcome. Try a search in the library for the manufacturer info and as for the razor I recon it could be brought back to life which would be worthwhile if a family heirloom. Taking a little from the heel might salvage having to take more from the toe. Sure a pro restorer could do it no worries. Im sure there is a list of manufacturers and their info but could not direct you to it.

I can tell you a little bit about Dixie Manufacturing.
It was based out of Union City, GA, USA - which is now essentially part of Atlanta, GA. Union City was established in 1908.
I'm not sure which one came first but Dixie Manufacturing and Union Razors and Cutlery Company (not to be confused with Union Cutlery of NY that later became K-bar) came out of the same plant.

Union City Historical society is working on tracking down some information on both of the companies.

All of the Dixies that I've seen were 5/8 round point half hollows with black celluloid scales. Pretty good shavers. The Union Razors are usually 5/8 square point half hollows made of stainless steel with black celluloid scales. I'm sure they made other sizes, but those are the ones that I have typically seen.

Thanks to all. I am assuming the razor itself has nothing to do with Dixie Manufacturing? The letter and cards look like a sales gimmick. I think my mother mentioned someone in the family was a traveling salesman at one time. I have no interest in reviving the razor, I think I will stick to my Bic's for shaving my legs (I am of the female species) But amazingly it is still very sharp. I just love to know the history behind things like this! I may contact Union City Historical Society with my findings. I am glad my family are pack rats! LOL!

The pipe razor has nothing to do Dixie manufacturing. But that razor could be restored and you could shave your legs with it. There are ladies that use straights and I shave my wife's legs with a straight.

The letter and card from Dixie were part of their sales gimmick. You could request cards, put your name and address on the back of them, and then give the cards to your friends. If your friends purchased something from Dixie and included your card, then they got a discounted price and you got "points" that could be used toward your next purchase. Pretty much the same thing that cell phone and satellite TV companies do today - share with family friends.

Blue79-

Thanks for sharing that old time literature. I have both a Dixie Manu. razor and a Union-Cutlery razor and they are as Criswilson describes. They are good solid shavers that get little attention around these parts--they're the blue collar man's razor--the anti Dubl Duck Grim Reaper--lol!

Marty E.

Originally Posted by criswilson10

I can tell you a little bit about Dixie Manufacturing.
It was based out of Union City, GA, USA - which is now essentially part of Atlanta, GA. Union City was established in 1908.
I'm not sure which one came first but Dixie Manufacturing and Union Razors and Cutlery Company (not to be confused with Union Cutlery of NY that later became K-bar) came out of the same plant.

Union City Historical society is working on tracking down some information on both of the companies.

All of the Dixies that I've seen were 5/8 round point half hollows with black celluloid scales. Pretty good shavers. The Union Razors are usually 5/8 square point half hollows made of stainless steel with black celluloid scales. I'm sure they made other sizes, but those are the ones that I have typically seen.

Greetings
I was curious to know if you had found any more info on Union Razor Cutlery Co. Union City, GA? as I see this post is 3 years old and I have been trying to find out more about the company. There seems to be a lot of confusion between the Union City Co. out of Orleans, NY & Union Razor Cutlery Company out of Union City, GA.
I had read some where that post civil war era that the Dixie Razors & Union Razors were made by the same company. Dixie was sold in the south and Union to the north. I also read they closed down some where around 1911. It is around the same time that Union Razor Co opened in Orlean NY. Some say it was the same company others say it was a company already in New York that moved to Orleans. I am under the impression that the Union Razor Cutlery Company is completely separate from the company that now makes K-Bar knives. Other will tell you they are one in the same.
Any info you have to share would be appreciated. Not that it would make any difference in the quality shave I get from my Union Razor Cutlery Co straight but I am interested in the history of it.

Interesting, it was not a "money back guarantee " like you see on infomercials today. They sent you the razor FIRST and then trusted you to pay or send it back. Wow. Times have certainly changed.

Originally Posted by Steel

Interesting, it was not a "money back guarantee " like you see on infomercials today. They sent you the razor FIRST and then trusted you to pay or send it back. Wow. Times have certainly changed.

No Steel, it was the exact opposite, I sent him the money blind and trusted in his choice of what razor he was going to send me. I purchased it "site UN-seen" off his site at whippeddog.com. I had read quite a few positive reviews about Larry and was on a budget. total cost $43 with shipping. It need to be cleaned up a bit but it was definitely shave ready. Over all Im happy with it.