You guys are great. Thanks!
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You guys are great. Thanks!
a very little part of my modest collection
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...pszsncrpp7.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...psw2eyrzqt.jpg
I think that the pre 1730 razors are very rare, because only barbers had razors at these times, steel was rare and expensive, and the cutler retailed them at high price, the steel is very soft and the razors was soon worn out, due to excessiv honing, so here is a exemple in very good shape with one piece original wood scales
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...psh3bex1ep.jpghttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...pszsncrpp7.jpg
and another, less lucky one
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...ps1jtllwbf.jpg
and more
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...pskrf7bkrw.jpg
My humble stubtail submission. The latest addition to my collection is a pair of John Barber stubtail wedges wearing ivory.
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Very nice razors. I have the same blade only in black horn. Excellent shaver. This blade design of stub tail is one of my favorite. I find it interesting that different makers can have the same blade. I have John Barber and a James Johnson. If they were not stamped you could not tell them apart.
Excellent pair with the ivory.
Awesome pair of flatsides. Beauties!
Always wanted one in this style. My oldest for sure. Picked up on a low ball bid. Scales were broken on one side, but all hardware was present. New scales of streaked horn, original hardware used, only difference is brass pins, originals were iron. First time I've needed to use 3/32 round stock for pinning. Interesting honing session for sure. Strange curves.
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Interesting read about the pipe dart mark. Anyone know who was using this mark between Bradshaw and Linley?
Not much more information I'm afraid,
I've got some more information here:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...h-century.html
(page 1-2)
With the same "pipe dart" mark
Attachment 213237
The non original scales (wooden homemade) replaced with a straight horn scales of early nineteenth century
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(Honed with 2-4 layers tape according to the width)
Currently being restored
Attachment 213282
You got that one from Sweden, right? Check this out, [Ctrl F] (= search page) for 'Nils Grönstrand' (lots of pictures, so it may take a while to load). Grönstrand was a knife maker and alderman/magistrate in the Eskilstuna Free state around the turn of the 18th-19th century.
I am not sure how well the Museum of Eskilstuna did its homework, but you would think they would have some sort of idea. I came across the website (lots of useful information, even if very Web 1.0) when I found a stub-tailed razor with the same stamp here in Finland (for the ghastly price of €5 shipped).
Thanks Phitor, I had already seen that site.
In the picture the brand Gronstrand is a curved pipe, but the hypothesis that mine - with straight pipe- is a Grönstrand is possible
This is a very cool thread! I recently had a customer ask me to make him a razor with a very short thumb area, and a short tail as well. I called it a 'stubby' as well, but he preferred the name 'compact' lol. Very cool to see there's a historical precedent. His was made due to him having diabetic issues with the nerves in his hands, and always feeling like standard design razors were slipping out of his grasp. He said the stubby profile really helped him feel locked in.
Again, very cool :D.
I just found it curious that you got this one from Sweden, I got mine from Finland (where most razors are Swedish) and there is a similar trademark assigned to a Swedish manufacturer around the time that both our razors most likely have been made. It might be just a coincidence as well, of course.
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I just got one today!
I read it a Spur IP
Does anyone recognize the Strike?
Now to read further and find who is the manufacturer.
~Richard
Where's Manah when we need him?
Another recent addition. Simply marked "hounsfield" . I haven't had much luck turning up much off that stamp. Attachment 213853
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I didn't have to do much to it, so I didn't. I was surprised at how nicely the scales held up. It did have an area of rust on the heel that was not fun to hone through. The steel is rather hard. It shaves wonderfully.
I remembered seeing the name before in a search for a different razor maker. So I googled the name and cutler and got a hit from a google book on cutlers. Then I googled the full name and cutler in Sheffield with the date and got a little more info from a google book Family names and Family history. Sounds like it was a small family that did well and there is a Hounsfield road near Sheffield University. Sound like that family name died out locally though. That is all I got. No real proof he made razors, but based on the look and style of your razor I would say it is right about that time period.
I have that same page saved but he is also listed in my Tweedale's Directory of Sheffield Cutlery Manufacturers 1740-2013
Founded by George Houndsfield (1737-1801) he built his fortune through his business & marriage to wealthy heiress Elizabeth nee Twigg. His three sons, John, Ezra & Bartholomew became merchants in which John & Bartholomew conducted business in Pond Street as John Hounsfield & Co. & was directly related to cutlery & hardware. Between the years 1776-1814 the were partners with Benjamin & Jonathan Micklethwaite along with James & Thomas Barlow until 1819. Ezra Hounsfield moved to New York as his brothers' agent & made a fortune in hardware but also invested in so much property in Jefferson County, New York that a town was named after him which laid on the edge of Lake Ontario. He died in 1813 & in 1819, John became a Master Cutler but died in 1821. Throughout the 1820's & 1830's Bartholomew continued to conduct the family business in Pond Street as J. & B. Hounsfield. He also became interested in other things & partnered with James Chesterman who needed some investment to start his tape measuring business. Bartholomew was also involved with Philadelphia Steel Works in Sheffield & also registered a silver mark in 1831. He was also involved with coal mining & was partnered with Thomas Dunn & died in 1841 at the age of 67.
Does ANYONE know what a sword (pointing towards the toe)"J M",or"TM" then "cast steel " and a heart on the scales is? SRP GURUS RISE UP! Is this a worthy stubby? I believe it's mid 18th century cause the tail is almost non existent. I'm at a quandary and can't find it to save my life!
I had a look through the 1787 directory and didn't see anything (sometimes cutlers who weren't making razors at the time but later were show up in other sections there, and there was nothing there as well). There are a lot of registered marks with similar style (swords and letters underneath) so it's probably Sheffield. I would guess that the razor is very late 18th century to very early 19th. The one on ebay is IMO overpriced - you can find ones in better condition for a lot less than that.
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anonymous Sheffield c. 1830, handle mother of pearl and turtle embedded on brass and scrimshaw.
Probably it was originally a couple, this has the number "1" engraved
Interesting razor Altus, beautiful scales, what is stamped on the tang of the razor?
My razor interests have finally turned to the stub tail age... and these are my first two entries.
Heavy rust on this guy, can make out the what probably says "Cast Steel" on the tang. This is after a little dremel wire brush
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c6...110_163416.jpg
and then some 320 grit. I think it'll make a nice razor some day.
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c6...l/IMG_7537.jpg
Then I also got this Rodgers Old English Steel with some very nice flower washers I'm definitely going to surgically remove and reuse.
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c6...s/IMG_7541.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c6...s/IMG_7540.jpg
Picked this one up recently surprisingly cheap. Really nice condition for the age. Has silver pinning decoration along one side of the scales. Blade stamp says only PATENT
http://i.imgur.com/x6JFuqV.jpg
This J. Bingham 6/8 near wedge has been in my weekly rotation for several months now. The blade was in decent nick and just needed some wet sanding and polishing. The original scales were cracked, broken, and eaten away by insects so I made replacement horn scales and bone wedge. Based on the GR cypher and what I know of Bingham, it most likely dates from the 1820's.
Hey guys, I'm trying to restore to original an old stubtail Marshall. It came with these flower washers but I cannot find replacements anywhere. Anyone have any ideas or suggestions?
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Hey guys, can anyone tell me who these makers are Attachment 227037Attachment 227038Attachment 227039Attachment 227040Attachment 227041Attachment 227042? Im at my witts end 😕Attachment 227035Attachment 227036
Those are called rosettes & are very hard to come by. Your best bet is to carefully try to remove them w/o damaging them. I have found that finding the center on the pin & drilling with a bit smaller than 1/16" is good to start with & if it is off center a little, you can angle it to center it up. once centered you can come back with a 1/16" & try getting them that way. I also have slightly tilted the razor just a tad which makes them pop off. Be very careful though because it is very easy to damage them which is why it is better to start out with a drill bit smaller than 1/16".
All of them definitely 18th century! (first one maybe end or around 18th century)
The pipe could be a "Birks" or a "Linley" ("Lindley"), seen in directories of 1774 (Sketchley's) and 1787 (Gales & Martin)
See:
https://acierfondu.wordpress.com/manufacturer-research/
Also see:
https://acierfondu.wordpress.com/mak.../early-razors/
He has a razor with the "6 - ? - 2" mark, still unknown...
The last razor, could that be some sort of travel razor?...
Regards