Thread: Antique Store Find - C.T. Bingham Tally-Ho

Hey Guys,

I've spent the last few weeks immersing myself into the straight razor culture and I will be starting to learn about the art of shaving with a straight razor as well as learn how to hone and restore them. I have always loved restoring all sorts of items (from motorcycles to furniture) and straight razors have always intrigued me.

I picked up this one for a few bucks at the local antique store. I don't see much corrosion or rusting but these is a decent amount of aging on it. The edge has some smaller chips (nothing over 1/16").

I see some very interesting naked lady etching on the face and have yet to find anything similar online to learn from or study.

I'm looking for some thoughts on the age, brand history, and viability of a restore. Do you guys think that it will be difficult to save the etching on this razor (it looks like it has the potential to be very ornate)? Any recommendations on how to carefully proceed with this project?

I've attached some photos.

Happy shaving,

Jonathon

Sadly the etching looks shallow compared to the likely depth of the pitting. Personally I don't mind a bit of scars on a razor that old. So I would not risk anything more aggressive than polish.

The first step is to have the bevel set, either do it your self with some tape or send it out. The chips don't look very deep but there sure are a lot of them. So you may loose some of the etch, but hopefully not much. If you get a good bevel without loosing too much of the etch I would try some mothers on a rag. See how that goes then reevaluate trying to save the etch vs removing pitting.

I would guess that it is very close to 1890 but not later than 1891, no England on the tang. Over all it should give a good shave once it is honed. I hope you can save the etch it looks interesting.

Jonathan

That is a nice find. The scales look like they are ivory or mother or pearl; hard to tell from the pictures.

I agree with Datsots, try some Mothers or some other metal polish on the blade first, and see how it goes. The chips on the blade should hone out pretty easily.

In answer to your questions, that looks to be a viable restore and it could turn out to be a very nice looking and shaving razor. Not sure about the etching, depends on how much metal needs to be removed to clean it up, if at all. I hope you hear from more experienced restorers. Good luck.

I concur with Datsots; some pitting on the unused part of the bald is incidental and adds character.

Well I hope it does otherwise I am in trouble.

A touch of polish and a bit of time on the hone is all I would venture if you want to save the etching.

I am sure a few more experienced than I will chime in and give some solid answered here in a bit.

As far as the age I will be of no more help than Datsots.

Enjoy it!

Welcome to SRP. What Datstots said ..... if you use some q-tips to apply maas or whatever metal polish, wipe with a paper towel and plenty of elbow grease, that will keep the etch. Buffing or tumbling in media will make it less readable or take it off completely. Those scales look cool, maybe carved bone ? Anyway, nice find. I'd either send it out for honing or put it aside and get some vintage full hollows to begin practicing honing. I'd save that for when I felt good about my honing or send it out.

Jonathan, that looks awesome, hope you get to enjoy it. BTW you wont' stop at just one....

That razor looks like it’s got some potential! The Mother’s or Mass will work well, but as it’s been said, it will take some time and elbow grease! Some will scoff, but using crumpled newspaper with the polish works faster than just cloth!!

However it will take a lot of work on that edge! I’d follow Jimmy’s counsel and send it out to be honed or restored! Not only will you receive a very nice edge, you will have a comparison to future edges, stropping effects etc.

While I hone my own razors, I have a favorite restorer and honer that I highly recommend!! If you’d like further counsel give me a PM.

Good Luck On A Wonderful Journey!

Great find. As far as the age of the razor goes, if I'm not mistaken, the stamping "CT Bingham, Late F Fenney" was only used from the early 1850's to the mid 1860's.

Those are some nice carved bone scales there - you can tell it from ivory by the tiny black streaks, where dirt collects in the veins. I like the etch. I would save that by just polishing (the rest of the razor can be restored more heavily). As for dating - courtesy of Neil Miller:

"Frederick Fenney was apprenticed to a razor maker in 1813, became a razor maker in his own right in 1822 and was granted the 'Tally-Ho' mark in 1833. He died on 25th of March 1852. A 'gentleman and merchant' called Charles Thomas Bingham bought the famous mark and razors continued to be manufactured with 'C. T. Bingham late F. Fenney' stamped on them. Bingham sold the Tally-Ho works in 1863, and George wostenholm bought the rights to the famous mark."

Thank you guys for all the feedback. I think i'm going to let this one sit for a while until I have more skills in shaving and putting and edge on a blade or the inclination to send it out to a pro to put the edge back on.

I found this razor yesterday, do you guys think this one may be a little more conducive to someone starting out in straight razor shaving and restoration (since this one is not a wedge)?

Anyone familiar with Sperry and Alexander?