Thread: The tale about "The German Hickory" Hone

Introduction:
Doing my researches digging deep in the archives of the WWW and Newspapers i actually found another interesting and funny story to tell. Its about the phenomenal "Old Germany Hickory Hone".....did you ever heard of if ? I dont think so, actually i found no evidence a post like this was ever created....

here is the story to be told:
Ok lets start with the background, it starts in the years 1884 until 1885. The articles were printed with the nearly the same content at different Newspapers. Reno Gazette Journal, St. Louis Post Dispatch, The Argos Reflector, The Morning Astorian, Pittsburg Post Gazette, The Times.....probably there were more....

There was an article named "Some Razor Hones". A interview like told story to a "Barber" about different types of hones for honing razors. They ask questions which hones can be used. Nearly the end of the story they come to a point where the Barber is asked: "What do you consider the Best Hone ?

and now guys, what comes now ? any guesses ?

The Barber replies: "The Hone i like the best and the most wonderful in material and construction is that of petrified German Hickory. Here is one", and he exhibited a small, smooth, dark stone, hard as adamant, mounted in a wooden block. "This german hickory", he continues "is in itself a wood almost as hard as a stone. It is cut from large cultivated forests, then carefully seasoned, sawed into small blocks about this size and imbedded in a peculiar wet clay soil, where it is allowed to remain about 8 years. When removed the wooden blocks are discovered to have turned into stone. Their manufacture is confined solely to certain parts of Germany and Prussia.The experiment of petrification in this particular line has been tried in many lands, but has never been proven successful outside the countries named. That is, I guess because of the peculiar soil. Westphalia, in Prussia, is where they are principally made and there is one mill there which constantly employs 100 hand in cutting, mounting and dressing these hones.".......the story keeps going some sentences further, i skipped them....
So what ? 100 People producing all day these hones, the best hones in the world, wood petrification within 8 years
So any body heard of those wonder hones ? Now comes an additional part....

The story continues in 1906, Harrisburg Daily Independent:

"Women Razor Sharpener", "She hones 10.000 a year and makes money with it"

The story kind of continues with a women who is honing razors to do her living with it. She uses
"A Hickory Hone and an imported German Razor Hone".

So far so interesting, now i did search for some findings of those hones, to proof their existence

So what do you all think about the story ? Anybody owns a Germany Hickory Hone ?
If so please share pictures here

But interesting what i found:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/hones...kory-hone.html

I remembered that i have that A.M Hone "New Hickory", probably a marketing campaign from A.M. Hone


Actually they look like Petrified Wood...

I have several pieces of petrified wood. Hard stuff. I would not doubt it could be cut and possibly used?

Originally Posted by sharptonn

I have several pieces of petrified wood. Hard stuff. I would not doubt it could be cut and possibly used?

Oh yeah quite sure on that...there was a Discussion if the Panama Hone (actually some examples) were made of petrified wood....

The question is whats happening on the bevel using it?

Ok lets update with another puzzle/detail of history written down......

"Own's Barber Hone, Made of Hickory, 200 years Old"
Seven Valleys, Aug. 27 - H.L. Shive, local merchant, has an old barber's hone, used to sharpen razors, which has been in the Shive family for over 200 years. It is made of Hickory Wood, is about eight inches long and the black part of the hone is presumed to be a bark of the wood. In olden times, people would petrify wood by placing it in a hollow place in the ground, to make stones for putting edges on tools. The stone was at one time possessed by Luther Shive, known as Ludwig Shive, who died in 1740. He was the great grandfather of the owner......

Taken from: The Gazette and Daily (York, Pennsylvania) / 28th August 1934

The text continues but doesn't deliver further details....

Here is an old oil stone that I thought may be petrified wood, look a bit like growth rings. Then again it could be different layers of sediment. As far as petrifying wood in 8 years, not saying it can't be done just highly unlikely as it is a process that takes a long time under certain conditions.

Originally Posted by Grazor

Here is an old oil stone that I thought may be petrified wood, look a bit like growth rings. Then again it could be different layers of sediment. As far as petrifying wood in 8 years, not saying it can't be done just highly unlikely as it is a process that takes a long time under certain conditions.

Do you own it ? Would be interesting to see additional pictures...

Originally Posted by doorsch

Do you own it ? Would be interesting to see additional pictures...

Yes, will try get better pics up later.

Interesting stuff. I was always under the impression it took a very long time for wood to become petrified, yet never have looked into that.

Someday, I may take this to a stonecutter and see what happens?



I can almost imagine I see one of these in there?

Originally Posted by sharptonn

Interesting stuff. I was always under the impression it took a very long time for wood to become petrified, yet never have looked into that.

Someday, I may take this to a stonecutter and see what happens?



I can almost imagine I see one of these in there?

Actually i think its not possible to create stone out of wood within 8 years without a modern procedure. Today who knows it might be possible simulating a specific condition and pressure....its even possible to create a Diamond out of Ashes...

The New Hickory is definetely a synthethic Stone, but the older Panama Barber Hones seem to had a natural swirled backing. The instructions told us it is petrified wood