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That's a very nice Wade Oustoura. Good job on the scales too.
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I have had this old girl for some time.
I have found nothing really with the same or similar mark.
Another one that is a bit mysterious to me.
I thought I had posted it a long time ago but have not been able to find it.
John Bingham
with a mark that appears to be an axe? a pipe?
Old English on the blade.
In the Sheffield and Rotherham Directory of 1841 there is a John Bingham listed as a razor manufacturer.Attachment 248279
In 1839 John Bingham received a patent for some material for handles.
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This Ivory clad beauty arrived today. Harwood & Co warranted
I am thinking 1790's .
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One is flash second pic the first is no flash. Will try again maybe in day light.
More likely 1800-1820
Do you have any info on the manufacturer? Don't know if it is correct, but the only info I found on a razor maker with this info was from a 1797 listing and others I have seen from this maker look around the 1790's-1810. From the ones I have seen and judging on the stub tail length and design too. The ones from around 1800-1810 seem to have a little longer tail.
Harwood & Co was actually a trademark for Harwood, Johnson & Thomas, found in Directories as Merchant of fine cutlery (Lancet, razor etc) on Howard St and later Arundel Street. Their trademark Harwood & co silver mark registered in 1801.
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In 1822 the business name was Harwood & Sons, and later in 1835 as Samuel Harwood & co.
My guess would be 1800-1810 give or take a few, nevertheless a beautiful razor, Enjoy!
Outside pics of the harwood. A little easier to see.
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I just wanted to share this with everyone, too bad it has a hairline crack in the blade.
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I finished restoring this one recently and wanted to be sure to share it in Stub-Tailed Shavers. So many amazing razors shown here!
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Attachment 250710Just found this Gratian stubby at a little country store. The lady selling it did not know anything about the value and was surprised when I paid her more than she was asking (gotta have some sense of fairness) it was still a bargain.
Any ideas on age?
I only see warranted on there?
These older blades are a different animal to me. I have honed many a blade on carving tools and several razors but none this old. What do you speak of when you say "original finish"?
ScienceGuy... If I could get your thought on the Gratian, It shows no signs of ever having been honed at all, as you noted but it has gone through two sets of handles (now # 3 with the Indian buffalo scales I put on). How does a razor wear out or need new scales and never get used? Even more puzzling, the wood scales in the photo above, were made by someone who worked with wood. The wood is pecan and is one piece sawn with a very thin sharp saw. The maker cut the slot then worked the wood down with a spoke shave (you can still see the blade marks where it was shaved down and not carved with a knife). The pivot pin is a section of a square door nail like those used to make cabinet and other light doors, he then peened the ends with no washers. So someone did all this work, or paid someone to do it, and never used the razor for the second set of scales. this seems odd to me.
I wouldn't want to make a call without seeing it in person. I'm sure it's been honed and used quite a bit, just not to the extent that others of the era have been. Scales can break or warp and be replaced without the same kind of wear being evident on the blade.
and bugs get quite a few sets of scales.
That makes sense, I hadn't considered the bugs eating the horn, I have a few that show signs of being eaten on. I don't see any sign of honing though, maybe they taped it......(reference to a different thread on a member asking why we tape now when the olden guys didn't).
The square nail pivot pin surprised me when I took it out. It was evident that the person who put the wood handle on just used stuff he had around and didn't try to reuse the original washers or match the type of pin that came off.
Who got the stub tails that just sold on the bay this evening?
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George Palmer, 1820-30, tortoiseshell
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George Palmer, 1820-30, pair in ivory and scrimshaw
George Palmer was a cutler to His Majesty's Court. He lived at the prestigious address of Number 1, St. James's Street, London. Although a fine cutler, he is principally known for his fancy boxes, tea caddies and writing slopes. A Palmer box was an expensive item, a receipt shows that in 1814 one of his writing slopes was sold for more than £6 — a small fortune at that time.
I'm not sure about the 1820-30 date on those Palmers. I have a few as well, and especially yours in tortoise has a rather early-looking shape. I think it might be George III rather than George IV. He was definitely active earlier than 1820. In any case, the new one is beautiful.
My hypothesis on George IV is due to the fact that I have no knowledge of the use of the Royal Warranty before George IV. It is true that the shape of the blades seem older but the punch "G crown R" I do not know if it was ever used during the reign of George III. If you have some more information are very happy to back-date these razors.:tu
Faroh stubtail info? Sorry no pics yet. Got it today and it seems to be in nice condition. I scrubbed it and now it is taking a dip in neats foot oil. Blade is discolored, but not much rust or pitting. It also seems like a full blade not much hone wear. Rivits have a small amount of suface rust and scales look original and really straight and nice only one small chip on one scale.
Seller guessed 1805, I am thinking between 1780-1810. Can't find any info on a Faroh cast steel though. Saw one that was lightly restored, but no info on maker.
Ok adding before pics from the seller. Attachment 254239Attachment 254240
I think I remember having something on the FAROH mark but need to look. Those scales are in great shape. Based on blade style I would peg this one at no earlier than the 1790s, possibly as late as 1810 (this is based on other dated examples and the changing of styles gradually). But need manufacturer info and dates to be sure.
ScienceGuy any luck on the makers mark?
Here she is cleaned and honed. Shaves real nice.
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Nothing turned up for Faroh. This is speculative, but it may be instead FARQR. There is precedence for Farqr. being a shortened form of Farquhar, a name that shows up quite a lot in England. I didn't turn anything up in my initial search for that surname, but you may want to look more into it.
Dont even think about kicking yourself. The truth is, and I have proven this myself numerous times, that the only reason it went cheap is because you were not there driving the price up! You would not have gotten if for that " a few dollar more" instead if would have cost you a fist full of dollars
Realized I never posted finished pic of this one. Took It to the CF hone tonight and got it right.
Did anyone ever find dates for Roberts?
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Just finished 1790 beauty :-)
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That's beautiful