Thread: Connecticut Silver

Originally Posted by 57vert

Attachment 195708

The R. Wallace & Sons factory in Wallingford CT. Birthplace of your scales.

i thought the scales looked like my grandmother's silver pattern, which may have been Wallace. Pretty interesting!

Wallace Sterling Silver - Collector Information | Collectors Weekly

Originally Posted by BeJay

"Vary"........ Well done.

Yezzzzzzz! Thanks!

Originally Posted by UKRob

Fabulous razor and great reserarch too.

Thanks, Rob. The history and hunting is the most rewarding thing about these objects, to me!

Originally Posted by 57vert

Attachment 195708

The R. Wallace & Sons factory in Wallingford CT. Birthplace of your scales.

Cool, Charlie! Looks like a rocking spot! Wallace was in on a Nickel-silver plant before the one you show. Apparently pioneered it in this country. He must have been quite a man!

Originally Posted by Haroldg48

i thought the scales looked like my grandmother's silver pattern, which may have been Wallace. Pretty interesting!

Wallace Sterling Silver - Collector Information | Collectors Weekly

Thanks for the link, Harold! Dang! I had lotsa buds in school in the 70's who would have loved this Wallace Silver Fro-pick!

Stunning.
Harrywally summed all my thoughts up already, so I'll go with the "+1 to what he said"

Nice work Tom!
Thanks.

Originally Posted by sashimi

Stunning.
Harrywally summed all my thoughts up already, so I'll go with the "+1 to what he said"

Nice work Tom!
Thanks.

My thanks, Herman!

I have found that Waterville Cutlery had several incarnations, beginning in 1843 which was shuttered. It was then reincarnated with 50 cutlers imported from Sheffield in 1847 which lasted for 7 years. It was bought and sold several times until it's last run was from 1890-1913. I hope to find from which run this razor came. It certainly seems to have Sheffield influence. Seems much older in style than 1890 to me.

I'm not a huge fan of any sort of metal or 'fancy' scales, but that's a very nice looking razor, well made. Looks end of the 1800's with some Eskilstuna/Sheffield influences if you ask me, quite refined. I have an Electric Co. 5/8 with a similar faux-frameback look, patented 1890.

Originally Posted by Redcane

Sharptonn that is in the top 2 or 3 razors I have ever seen. I like simple, very plane razors but that razor is out of this world. I can't stop looking at it.

It reminds me of something that belongs in the House of Windsor.

Originally Posted by Pithor

I'm not a huge fan of any sort of metal or 'fancy' scales, but that's a very nice looking razor, well made. Looks end of the 1800's with some Eskilstuna/Sheffield influences if you ask me, quite refined. I have an Electric Co. 5/8 with a similar faux-frameback look, patented 1890.

Thank you both. You each bring up a preference for simpler razors. I can understand that completely. In fact, this razor has nothing a regular razor has as to components and shave-worthyness. This sort of embellishment is overkill to some. I, also, have some simpler razors I rate as my favorites.
Still. Cannot hurt, eh?

Some time ago here in Atlanta folks boasted of the Player's Ball, which was actually nothing more than the Pimp's Ball, which carried all of the hallmarks of their trade complete with sightings of pimps in their fur coats, fancy hats, and of course their women. This razor appears so flashy that it certainly could belong to a Player! When I first saw it, my first reflex was the involuntary utterance "pimp!" While it is certainly a work of craftsmanship, and a fine one at that, something seems oxymoronic here with the juxtaposition of the manly art of shaving expressed in a lady's piece of fine silver. Perhaps all would be reconciled with the thought of a fine lady shaving with it; legs of course.

Originally Posted by sharptonn

Thank you both. You each bring up a preference for simpler razors. I can understand that completely. In fact, this razor has nothing a regular razor has as to components and shave-worthyness. This sort of embellishment is overkill to some. I, also, have some simpler razors I rate as my favorites.
Still. Cannot hurt, eh?

Don't get me wrong, I actually like the combination. It looks beautiful on the whole. Even though overly ornate scales will never be my favourites.

I'm a big fan of letting the razor and scales dictate where you go with a clean-up/restoration. A rugged aged blade needs a matching set of scales that show their age. A shiny blade requires clean scales. It's all about balance. In this case, the balance is perfect, outstanding razor.

Originally Posted by Robeth

Some time ago here in Atlanta folks boasted of the Player's Ball, which was actually nothing more than the Pimp's Ball, which carried all of the hallmarks of their trade complete with sightings of pimps in their fur coats, fancy hats, and of course their women. This razor appears so flashy that it certainly could belong to a Player! When I first saw it, my first reflex was the involuntary utterance "pimp!" While it is certainly a work of craftsmanship, and a fine one at that, something seems oxymoronic here with the juxtaposition of the manly art of shaving expressed in a lady's piece of fine silver. Perhaps all would be reconciled with the thought of a fine lady shaving with it; legs of course.

Yeah. Like the Player's Ball, I suppose this razor is evidence of the decadence of the past.
Still, I don't see a pimp, nor a woman named 'Alfred' as I look at it! Thanks!

Originally Posted by Pithor

Don't get me wrong, I actually like the combination. It looks beautiful on the whole. Even though overly ornate scales will never be my favourites.

Oh, I totally understand. It's pretty common for guys to think ' I would never shave with THAT!' . For me, there is sometimes a bit of trepidation in reaching for a razor of carved ivory, pearl, or silver such as this one. Some of us like things warm, comfortable, simple, and familiar. Still nice to put a rich man's razor to the face on occasion.

Originally Posted by 57vert

I'm a big fan of letting the razor and scales dictate where you go with a clean-up/restoration. A rugged aged blade needs a matching set of scales that show their age. A shiny blade requires clean scales. It's all about balance. In this case, the balance is perfect, outstanding razor.

Thank you sir! I thought the same. Glad you agree!