That 1700's Show

Thanks zak !!!

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Originally Posted by lohar

Thanks zak !!!

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I'm always glad to help!

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Originally Posted by ScienceGuy

I did a doubletake because that looks dead like a Robinson that I have:

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almost twins !!!

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Originally Posted by lohar

What do you think of this razor. the "spain" mark is normally owned by Ann Rowland, but is marked B Robinson on the back. I did some research; there is a contemporary cutler of the same name, but he lived in Oxford
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Originally Posted by Voidmonster

Ah! Welcome to one of the more difficult families to research!

Well, actually, the Robinsons are easy.

Benjamin, who made your razor, was freed in 1830. His mark, 'Heart' Spain, was passed to his son Jonathan in 1757.

That's it. Your razor was really, truly, actually made before 1757.

The Rowlands are the complicated ones, and that begins in 1760 when Sleigh Rowland buys the mark, presumably because Jonathan Robinson died. What's the relationship to Jonathan Robinson? None that I can find. How did Ann end up with the mark by 1774? Probably because Sleigh died.

Unfortunately, there were sometimes as many as 4 different Sleigh Rowlands running around the area, all cousins. That era of Sheffield did not do a great job of recording women. There were several different Anns (not to be confused with the Anne or the Anna), so I can't be sure if the Ann Rowland who used that same mark was a wife or sister of one of the innumerable Sleigh Rowlands.

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Hi,

Would it be OK I use the information for my "Dip-at-toe" article? https://historyrazors.wordpress.com/...8th-century-2/
Of course with your references!

Thanks!

of course, dear Fikira

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Originally Posted by Fikira

Hi,

Would it be OK I use the information for my "Dip-at-toe" article? https://historyrazors.wordpress.com/...8th-century-2/
Of course with your references!

Thanks!

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Please do!

I recently spend a couple of days researching Henry Birks because I *thought* one of my very old razors was his, but marks that old are really tough to identify. Luckily, Joan Unwin was able to locate it. Only after I'd put it all together did I find that you'd beaten me to it on that page!

Thank you for putting all that stuff in one place, now I just need to remember to look there first. :P

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Originally Posted by lohar

of course, dear Fikira

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Thank you very much dear friend!

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Originally Posted by Voidmonster

Please do!

I recently spend a couple of days researching Henry Birks because I *thought* one of my very old razors was his, but marks that old are really tough to identify. Luckily, Joan Unwin was able to locate it. Only after I'd put it all together did I find that you'd beaten me to it on that page!

Thank you for putting all that stuff in one place, now I just need to remember to look there first. :P

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:D That was indeed a lucky moment for me!

The amount of information "hidden" in Sheffield and with Joan is enormous,
I wish I could go there and see all those books!

Thanks Zak! In the future I also will make a small separate article with your reference ;)

I recently found a very old razor. we can easily date it from the early 1700s, but I had a doubt about the country of origin. I think French because the main punch is already known (rosary), and present on the table of insculpation cutlers of the city of Chatellerault dating late 1600. But there is a second punch, smaller, seeming to represent two crossed swords. This is unusual in the tradition of French cutlery, because there should have been the name of the city of manufacture rather than a symbol (which could still represent a coat of arms). Then I saw the coat of arms of the first page of the Sheffield directory of Gales and Martin and I wonder now if this razor would not be of English origin. I therefore ask the opinion of the experts
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