Thread: That 1700's Show

Originally Posted by altus

An interesting punch: it is usually believed that the "GR crown" punch was used for King George IV (1820-30) and then in the XX ° for King George V.
However, these razors are typically dated between 1760 and 1780 for the shape of the blades (dip-at-toe) and characteristics of the handles (turtle and typical silver tips) in the range of luxury products. So, GR is also for George III.

The "LONDON" punch is used by Samuel Linley (son of William Linley cutler. Freedom granted in 1772) and by John Linley (son of William Linley cutler. Freedom granted in 1770) (Gales & Martin 1787 directory)

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Very interesting, but when I saw your pair of razors, it made me think of another who had a similar mark that will ask questions. It corresponds to the French system of the same period: the name of the city accompanied by the punch of the cutler. Here is the picture and another example to illustrate

Since I got my first razor made in the 1700's, Well late 1700's but still...

According to Zac, William and John Birks 1787ish...

Originally Posted by lohar

Very interesting, but when I saw your pair of razors, it made me think of another who had a similar mark that will ask questions. It corresponds to the French system of the same period: the name of the city accompanied by the punch of the cutler. Here is the picture and another example to illustrate

I had always figured this said LONDON. But it looks very much like the system of French marks with the example you gave. Do you know if it might read a different city?

The last letter must be clearly identified. If it's the letter N, it's LONDON. If it's a M this can be the city of CONDOM
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Condom_(Gers)

Edit: But the shape of the blade (stubtail in particular) would rather correspond to an English razor

My Saule's pair from Condom has more of a french touch

Originally Posted by Slawman

Not many German razors from the 1700's. I wonder why.

I was wondering too. A lot of English and French razors from before 1850, and even before 1800, but I haven't seen even one German (apart from a single one earlier in this thread). Why is that? Henckels are in business since 1731, and I'm pretty sure there were other makers in Solingen too. Where are all their razors today?
And what about Swedes and Spaniards? Were they manufacturing razors back then or did they start later? I know Sweden was selling its iron ore to Sheffield (among others) back then, but may be they were also making some of their own razors? I don't know anything about Toledo of that period.
Does someone here have any information?

Originally Posted by dimab

I was wondering too. A lot of English and French razors from before 1850, and even before 1800, but I haven't seen even one German (apart from a single one earlier in this thread). Why is that? Henckels are in business since 1731, and I'm pretty sure there were other makers in Solingen too. Where are all their razors today?
And what about Swedes and Spaniards? Where they manufacturing razors back then or did they start later? I know Sweden was selling its iron ore to Sheffield (among others) back then, but may be they were also making some of their own razors? I don't know anything about Toledo of that period.
Does someone here have any information?

I have pondered this before. I have seen a few examples of Swedish razors from the period (one pictured below from maker Nils Grönstrand), and there are a few on the internet here and there from Swedish museums. German ones are very hard to find from the early 19th; I don't have a good answer as to why. Same with Spanish - there are numerous examples of very fancy ones from the 18th (though you run into the question of who produced the set vs who forged the razor in some cases) but not much in between that I have seen up until the 20th. So I'm not sure if razors just disappeared from those periods or if the English just became such prolific exporters (as seems the case for exports to America in the 19th) that it overwhelmed local markets. I haven't actually done much real research on this though.

Originally Posted by Gasman

Since I got my first razor made in the 1700's, Well late 1700's but still...

According to Zac, William and John Birks 1787ish...

Actually, IMHO this is a "German Steel" stub,made by John Birks F1786 (1 of the 2 brothers).
He used this (his) mark between 1786-1804, probably it would be around 1795-1800 due to its shape (rounded spine)

https://historyrazors.wordpress.com/2017/06/26/birks/

Regards

Originally Posted by Fikira

Actually, IMHO this is a "German Steel" stub,made by John Birks F1786 (1 of the 2 brothers).
He used this (his) mark between 1786-1804, probably it would be around 1795-1800 due to its shape (rounded spine)

https://historyrazors.wordpress.com/2017/06/26/birks/

Regards

Well that one is a 'Cast Steel' variant. Here is a 'German Steel' (though who knows they were probably the same steel anyway):

Both are great examples: "German steel", but English razors. The same with Swedes - most of Dannemora mine production was exported to Sheffield back then, but Dannemora made razors one can find only about a hundred years later. Why?
My educated guess about Germans would be great efficiency of their metal scrap recycle during the two world wars. They probably recycled all the old razors. But some of them were probably exported and should have survived somewhere else. And what about Sweden and Spain?
It's still a conundrum for me.