Thread: Bengall's Band of Brothers

Hello from the Gold Coast,

Yesterday I inherited two Bengals from my Grandfather. He passed some time ago now and the razors became lost in the murky area of a quickly finalised estate and feuding divorced parents.

As such I have little information on them. The members of SRP have been generous with their knowledge and suggest that both razors are post 1890, most likely circ 1926 and dressed is celluloid or Bakelite.

My Grandfather was stationed in Reykjavik during the Second World War as a navigator of Liberator bombers. He was billeted in Suffolk when on leave. He may have acquired them then. He also flew for Qantas post war for a few years, likely flying to London via Changing and Bombay.

I'll be getting these professionally restored and honed to shave ready. I intend on using them for the rest of my life and putting together as much information on them as I can so I can pass them on to my son one day.

Any help in identifying or more accurately confirming what exactly they are e.g. 5 or 6/8 full hollows? Celluloid/ Bakelite/ivory? What year? Would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks everyone, may today's shave be your smoothest yet.

Tim.

Mine:
From:
To:

For a Friend
He wanted it to have all of the pits and such in it.
To each his own I guess:

Excellent work. I think I'll tear up a little when I see them fully restored. I've been recommended Onimaru55 as a restorer. Had you posted a reply to me in an earlier thread?

Originally Posted by gcstraightshave

Excellent work. I think I'll tear up a little when I see them fully restored. I've been recommended Onimaru55 as a restorer. Had you posted a reply to me in an earlier thread?

Thanks,

Onimaru55 does some GREAT stuff from what I have seen.

I just do it as a hobby. My stuff is EH compared to the Pro's

Don't know if I replied to you before? Maybe... LOL

Haha no stress mate, reply is much appreciated. I've done one restore myself but it was serious amateur hour.

Originally Posted by TimK

I have many Bengalls in my collection and will blind you all with some of them soon however my pride and joy is my latest Purchase.

I give you the Imperial Bengall....

Tim! I have this exact razor and my name is also Tim! I just inherited it from my Grandfather. Do you have much information on it? Scale material? Date?

This was my great grandfathers Bengall

Hi GC - you've come to the right place to ask about Bengalls, there are plenty around here. Your info above seems correct - and from the photos, looks like your scales are almost certainly bakelite. There are tests that can be done, most of which will end up scarring bakelite in some way - it's strong enough to last 100 years but as soon as you start getting the sander or even polishing disc involved they seem to burn. Even putting them into hot water for a quick scrub will give off the awful formaldehyde smell...

Look forward to seeing them restored. Regretfully, my grandfather's estate in SA was sold off by a bitter widow, along with his WWII razors.

I'll post some of my photos from NZ shortly.

Some of my current Bengalls:

1. A very scarred blade for restoring;
2. An extra-hollow "Bengall" (not branded "Cadman&Sons") with my first attempt at custom wooden scales;
3. A nice condition blade with custom engraving (Motueka, NZ);
4. Pitted blade in bone scales (surprisingly one of my best shavers);
5. Scarred blade in my first custom red and black plastic scales.

Nice collection