Thread: Pipe(???) razor?

My scales seem to be made out of horn. I'll get them polished and nice as soon as I can as well.

Library Guy is correct. A Geo. Wolstenholm and Sheffield.

If yours is anything like mine, the steel is soft (easy to hone, just ask X-man) and gives a very comfortable shave. Given the amount of steel you've removed, I doubt that your razor retains much collectors value. But so what...enjoy to shaves!

Ed

If yours is anything like mine, the steel is as hard as rock and will take forever to restore. Once you get it keen it should stay that way for quite some time.

Glen

The "pipe" image was used by Wostenholm as far back as 1851. My source shows a photo of the pipe sign in question and it is identical to the one on your razor.

My understanding is that a good way to date the razors is by the stampings (or lack of stampings) on the blade and tang. For instance, it is specified that Wostenholm razors not stamped with "england" are pre 1890, as that is the year when the US Tariff Act was signed. Any of these razors which have been stamped with "england" are post 1890. This is not the case with all razors, as some cutlers have always voluntarily identified their works as being of English origin.

I would also agree that the scales appear to be horn. Should make a nice piece.

Matt

Originally Posted by shavethebadger

The "pipe" image was used by Wostenholm as far back as 1851.

Matt

On page 220 of the book "Standard Guide To Straight Razors"
shows the earliest pair of IXL razors with the pipe on them. There estimated date is circa 1750.

Glen

Goins' Encyclopedia of Cutlery Markings* states that while WolstenholmE {note the "E", the name was shortened to Wolstenholm in 1815} was in business as early as 1745, the I*XL trademark did not show up until 1781. It also pictures the "pipe" trademark (as seen on LX's razor) with 1851 as the date implemented.

*Latest version of the Encyclopedia, pages 307-308

Also, the pipes on the pair of razors depicted on page 220 of "Standard Guide..." are dramatically different than the pipes on the piece in question and are referred to as "the old pipe trademark (the company's oldest trademark)" by the "Standard Guide..." author. Perhaps the stylized version of the pipe was introduced in 1851, while this older pipe marking was used from the beginning.

I'm not sure which source is correct. I'm sure that both hold some truth. There aren't very many books about razors and dates, and when the few sources there are conflict, I guess there is no way to tell what the "truth" is.

Regardless, your razor looks great and we can probably agree that it is indeed a Wostenholm and it will make a great shaver and showpiece when you are finished.

A note for touching up those horn scales. A little known polishing agent for horn is Brasso. Sand the horn up to 600 minimum, the higher the better. Then hit it with a high speed buffing wheel or dremel with a bit of Brasso. It cleans the horn up like glass. Perfect shine, every time. Just don't let the horn heat up too much. Smells alot like a handful of burning hair.

Good luck,

hahaha. I even made it cut down to size.....you want a bigger one?

I was gonna say, the problem is that you're shaving with a samurai sword! Scared me so bad, my whiskers crept back under my skin. Now that's smooth.