Thread: That 1700's Show

With my interestes in early US historic living I started wanting to find early 1700's shaving stuff. Not easy to find (for me at least ) and so I thought it would be fun to see what others, who are interested in this time period, have to share.

I formed this "Club" to share all things related to straight razor shaving. The razors, brushes,strops, soaps, mirrors, stands, bowls.... ANYTHING related to shaving. I welcome all discussions as well as I'm sure many will have questions, and hopefully answers, to this time period.

I don't know if any makers stand out durring this time period but would love to find out. I'll post any links to sites I come across as well

Here is a link to Clavichord's timeline with some pic's V

Here is my Clark N Hall Warranted that I believe is pre 1800. But I don't know about the scales. I'm still researching the materials of scales during this time. Mine has small iron washers/pin caps with what looks like copper/brass pins. The scales are probably horn but are clearer than any horn scales I have, until today I assumed they where opaque, when I started taking closer pics I could see threw them... Learn something new everyday I guess lol. May even be tortoise, that would be cool, makes me nervous to restore them is so ...

Originally Posted by DwarvenChef

I believe is pre 1800.

I don't think so.
Clark & Hall - 1798 - 1823.
The blade form looks like 1810 - 1830.

Originally Posted by manah

I don't think so.
Clark & Hall - 1798 - 1823.
The blade form looks like 1810 - 1830.

I'd love to see other C n H blades. The only other one I saw that was said to be a 1810 make has the step down tang to heel, not a straight line. Hence my thoughts of it being earlier. Not that it's much earlier

Love to see more of these. Sorry if my typeing is shot today.. burnrd the hell out of my left hand today... 3 fingers and palm blistered... not waht i call fun...

Here is a post with photos of two that I have which I think are pre-1800 going by Robert Doyle's description of blades and scales in "Collecting Straight Razors". The Rodgers Cast Steel has been honed and shaved with since I posted those photos and is very nice. The other one has a chip that is too large to hone out without changing the blade profile so much that it would take away from the look of the razor. I love the overall look so much that I am leaving it as is.

After viewing the photos of that early 1800s str8 razor, I now understand why men grew beards back then.

Originally Posted by jhenry

After viewing the photos of that early 1800s str8 razor, I now understand why men grew beards back then.

What I find most interesting is seeing the evolution and refinement of the blade. The development of a distinct tang and a shoulder began in the early 1800s. Many cut thumbs spurred those innovations no doubt. Monkey tails became longer for convenience of holding while shaving and opening and closing. The scales up until the 1810/20s were straight with squared ends, narrow at the pivot and wide at the wedge. They began to have a curve to them and eventually rounded ends in the early 1800s and by around 1840, according to Robert Doyle, began to have the bow shape which continues up until today. By the 1880s, again according to Mr. Doyle, the full hollow dominated the market and the wedge was passe. There is a romance to the early ones that has always fascinated me.

J.Pryor razor is very similar to Clark & Hall.
According the stamp, the razor was made 1820-1830.

Yes very simular, thanks for the pic I'm still trying to find some known pre 1800 blades so please post any you happen to see