Ellicottville in ivory

Old Carl Monkhouse and Burrell cutlery razors are known for fine steel and shaves. I was going thru the workbench pile and found an old Blackie CMon and a Burrell Top Flight. Scales rotting on one and shrinking on the other. Figured to fix them up and searched for scales. I had two sets of ivory replacement scales from a broken 7 day set with two sets of pivot holes in them. Too short for some blades as cut off at the bottom hole, but just right for these. Did my best on the blades, but too rough to sand more, so I gave them a brushed finish, blued the tangs and spines. Cut and reshaped the scales and pinned them up! They honed up nice and shave awesome :D

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I can call them a pair, of sorts, as they came from the same building in Ellicottville as evidenced by an old article dug up by Martin! Thinking this is from about 1941. Thanks Martin!

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They certainly look as if they were made by the same hands. I expect they were!

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Attachment 164797 Pretty well-dressed for some old American steel, but I suppose they deserve it after all these years!

Great to see them dressed up & back on the line.

I just love a happy ending>

Nice work on those two!

Sharp, you are a magician! Just gorgeous and so straight forward they reek of elegance. And my almost favorite maker too (like to many to narrow it down to just one).

Seriously brilliant Tom. Nothing as elegant as ivory compound that with the greatest shavers going. Those Ellicottville Monkhouse razors were so perfectly ground and ground thinner then most razors you could hear them flex. Its the coolest sound hearing those razors pop and crinkle. Simply amazing razors. Enjoy those beauties. Thomas.
Darl

They may not be twins but they are surely brothers.

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Originally Posted by pfries

I just love a happy ending>

Nice work on those two!

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Thanks! I am ashamed how long I have had the workings, yet never got to them! Sometimes it all seems possible! ;)

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Originally Posted by Tarkus

Seriously brilliant Tom. Nothing as elegant as ivory compound that with the greatest shavers going. Those Ellicottville Monkhouse razors were so perfectly ground and ground thinner then most razors you could hear them flex. Its the coolest sound hearing those razors pop and crinkle. Simply amazing razors. Enjoy those beauties. Thomas.
Darl

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You are right, Darl. Thin jokers for certain, 11/16 wide. There is another old Blackie around which is untouched. The tip can be leaned in and out. Scary thin! I have also had Top Flights thinner than this one! I have seen 7/8 versions of each as well. Imagine! :) Thanks!

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Originally Posted by Hart

They may not be twins but they are surely brothers.

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Well-said! :chapeau Thanks!

So now we know you like em long and lean, every young mans dream.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?featur...&v=CWSJAdzVBj0

Oh yeah! I alternate them with the stout, sturdy ones! :)

I do know the words to that song by heart ;)

Stellar. You got great taste my man! My Top Flight needs some love. The scales stink...literally.:(

Really nice job on those Tom...quite a pair to draw to! The blued tangs offset the brushed look of the blades nicely. :tu

They look fantastic,Just a question tho,why did you use such large washers on Ivory scales

Thank you! The blades belong that way!
~Richard

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Originally Posted by pixelfixed

They look fantastic,Just a question tho,why did you use such large washers on Ivory scales

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Thanks, Bill! As to the collars: Because of several factors. I had to totally unpin the scales as I needed, in order to thin the wedges out to keep the blades riding high. Otherwise, the heels would poke from under! Collarless peening back together would not match the blades, IMO, as they came with collars originally. (The scales are from 9/16 blades) :) Then, there is the 'safety factor' of running Babur's reinforced collars thru the ivory and peening tightly to the spacers/tang. Makes them ever so much tighter without beating on the old ivory. I like them to be tight and shave well, and can get them closing center better. In the case of authentic restoration, Yes! Ivory is usually pinned collarless. In this case, had to do collars! !
Then....there is the 'if it works, do it' thing! Basically substituting celluloid with ivory. Kindof like how you butt old ivory against acrylics! It works! :D

They look great. I have never pinned ivory but I bet it can get the heart beating louder than the hammer :<0)

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Originally Posted by 10Pups

They look great. I have never pinned ivory but I bet it can get the heart beating louder than the hammer :<0)

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In the case of these, notsomuch. Safely and easily saving otherwise useless scales! In the case of irreplaceable panels, peened collarless?? I have to take a powder and walk away to get the guts up! :)

Nicely done they are awesome !!!

Very nice.

Ivory will soon be no longer available,You gotta be carefull with what you have to work with.
You can achieve a near collorless look with SS micro washers,Ivory is not as fragile as most people think,but if you crack it, it is history. you can never get a flawless repair.
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When they were born, they were both just another razor, now refreshed, detailed in ivory, with intricate pins,
they both attract attention. A well thought out project! with noticable execution.

Tom you knocked it out of the park! Enjoy!

Thank you, Martin. As a respected member, your words are appreciated. I am honored. Thank you for your historical contribution!
Tom

They came up superbly. Well done, a pair of stunners.

Stu