Gregsteel razor from early 1920's.

Printable View

06-27-2015, 06:40 AM
Renspen

Gregsteel razor from early 1920's.

I'm hunting for an original 1920's Gregsteel (Gregory Steel Products) cutthroat razor. Any condition!
I don't expect there to be many but there must still be a few around somewhere.
If anyone already has one but doesn't want to part with it PLEASE still let me know. A photo will do.
Or, if you have one already, and don't want anyone else to know, I will keep it confidential (just PM me - pleeeease!)
Thanks
Renspen
06-30-2015, 06:14 AM
johnmrson

Good luck with the hunt. I've never seen one but will let you know if I do.
06-30-2015, 10:00 PM
sharptonn

1 Attachment(s)

I have a Grace Brothers......pretty rough, still.

Attachment 205456

Bruce
07-02-2015, 03:53 AM
Renspen

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnmrson

Good luck with the hunt. I've never seen one but will let you know if I do.

Thank you - I really appreciate you replying. If we all keep an eye out one of us might find one ..... it would be fantastic!
07-08-2015, 01:27 PM
MickR

I'll keep an eye out for one in any condition. If I find it and the price is right, I'll pick it up and send it your way (temporary or permanent depends on how much I want it for myself ;) )

Mick
07-09-2015, 01:58 AM
Renspen

Quote:

Originally Posted by MickR

I'll keep an eye out for one in any condition. If I find it and the price is right, I'll pick it up and send it your way (temporary or permanent depends on how much I want it for myself ;) )
Mick

Thanks Mick - appreciate you looking. And if you find one .... it would be greaaaaaat!
Joan
07-09-2015, 03:29 AM
sharptonn

So. I suppose my Grace Brothers is chopped liver? :roflmao
07-09-2015, 08:59 AM
Renspen

Quote:

Originally Posted by sharptonn

I have a Grace Brothers......pretty rough, still.

Attachment 205456

Bruce

Thanks Bruce .... if this was etched for the Australian Grace Bros, established by two English brothers in about 1903, then its a good find. But as it has Grace Bros and Sheffield on the tang it makes me wonder if their was a Sheffield based Company called Grace Bros. I'll need some more time to check this one out, but thanks for posting. Any clues based on where or how you got this one?
Cheers
07-09-2015, 02:33 PM
sharptonn

I could not find a Sheffield maker of Grace Brothers, so I figured it was made in Sheffield, sent to Grace brothers in AU for retail.
Being a big fan of 'Have You Been Served', I bought it as a whim. Surely most razors in AU back when were English-made? Cannot remember from where I procured it, however. :shrug:

Bruce
07-09-2015, 11:47 PM
Renspen

Hi Bruce - It's interesting. My cursory check hasn't found a Sheffield Grace Bros either .... but I am puzzled as most razors made for companies in early Oz times had the company name with their address - and made in (wherever) and/or the makers trademark/name elsewhere on the blade or back tang, not as a single entity name on a tang eg Grace Brothers Sheffield, which would usually indicate Grace Brothers of Sheffield. I''ll need time to keep looking further into this one.... thank you again for posting the pic.
Razors in the late 1800's/1900's in Aust. were mainly made in Sheffield, England, or Solingen, Germany. There were some razors being manufactured in Australia as well, such as Barker Bros in say 1850's, W Jensen in the 1860's, and Gregory Steel Products (Gregsteel) in 1921! Few and far between.
07-10-2015, 12:12 AM
sharptonn

Quote:

Originally Posted by Renspen

Hi Bruce - It's interesting. My cursory check hasn't found a Sheffield Grace Bros either .... but I am puzzled as most razors made for companies in early Oz times had the company name with their address - and made in (wherever) and/or the makers trademark/name elsewhere on the blade or back tang, not as a single entity name on a tang eg Grace Brothers Sheffield, which would usually indicate Grace Brothers of Sheffield. I''ll need time to keep looking further into this one.... thank you again for posting the pic.
Razors in the late 1800's/1900's in Aust. were mainly made in Sheffield, England, or Solingen, Germany. There were some razors being manufactured in Australia as well, such as Barker Bros in say 1850's, W Jensen in the 1860's, and Gregory Steel Products (Gregsteel) in 1921! Few and far between.

Well, should you determine that my hunch is indeed the case, I would be happy to send it to further your historical cause.
Indeed, it would be a piece of Australian razor history were it true. I could even clothe it into some scales as well.

Bruce
07-10-2015, 01:25 AM
Havachat45

1 Attachment(s)

Quote:

Originally Posted by sharptonn

Well, should you determine that my hunch is indeed the case, I would be happy to send it to further your historical cause.
Indeed, it would be a piece of Australian razor history were it true. I could even clothe it into some scales as well.

Bruce

They'd have to be green and gold, Bruce

Attachment 206223
07-10-2015, 01:54 AM
sharptonn

Quote:

Originally Posted by Havachat45

They'd have to be green and gold, Bruce

Attachment 206223

Hey! I said scales! Not a bloody UFO! :D

Bruce
07-10-2015, 08:13 AM
Renspen

Quote:

Originally Posted by sharptonn

Well, should you determine that my hunch is indeed the case, I would be happy to send it to further your historical cause. Indeed, it would be a piece of Australian razor history were it true. I could even clothe it into some scales as well.
Bruce

That's a very kind offer Bruce ... I'll do some more digging and see what I can find and report back to you.
Cheers...
07-12-2015, 04:56 AM
Renspen

Quote:

Originally Posted by sharptonn

Well, should you determine that my hunch is indeed the case, I would be happy to send it to further your historical cause.
Indeed, it would be a piece of Australian razor history were it true. I could even clothe it into some scales as well.
Bruce

OK Bruce - re the Grace Brothers razor. Could not find any hairdressers-cum-tobacconists, nor a store by that name in Sheffield (only a pair of cricketers!) so we must assume then, without evidence to the contrary, that it is indeed our Aussie Grace Brothers with a 'made in Sheffield' razor, either for sale from their drapery and retail store, or as part of the hardresser's store (possibly also barber shop that would ordinarily sell branded razors) they ran inside their larger store from the 1920's.
Brothers Joseph and Albert were from Buckinghamshire England, and decided to go seek their fortune; Joseph heading to Australia and Albert to Boston USA. The deal was whoever 'made it' first would call the other. And so, Albert left Boston in 1885 to join Joseph in the beginning of a small but growing drapery store .... developing into an Australia-wide retail chain and removalists which was run through three generations of family members before fnally being taken over and rebranded by Myer.
I would be most happy to give your 'Grace Brothers' a new home amongst other Australian historical razors - clothed in scales or not. (will PM details) :angel:
With thanks
Joan
07-12-2015, 01:32 PM
sharptonn

Wellllll, Oy OY OY! Happy to send it. Thanks for the history lesson on Grace bros as well. One condition would be to ask you to share a link or a thread here about the razors and history with us. We colonists appreciate all that such.

Regards,
Bruce