Thread: Help dating my first Royal Keen Kutter

Pretty sure those scales are hard rubber. Here's how to tell. Hold the razor in your hand and rub one spot on the scales with your thumb until it feels warm. Immediately smell the warm spot. If it's rubber it will have a burnt rubber smell to it.

Originally Posted by BeJay

Pretty sure those scales are hard rubber. Here's how to tell. Hold the razor in your hand and rub one spot on the scales with your thumb until it feels warm. Immediately smell the warm spot. If it's rubber it will have a burnt rubber smell to it.

I was mistaken . The scales are hard rubber. I found that out when I started buffing the scales.

Dave H.

Careful... it starts with Scale smelling and next you're testing the grit of your hones with your Tongue!!![emoji33]


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Originally Posted by maxpamjohn1

Careful... it starts with Scale smelling and next you're testing the grit of your hones with your Tongue!!![emoji33]


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So you're saying the tongue test is... abnormal?

Originally Posted by BeJay

So you're saying the tongue test is... abnormal?

I always thought the tpt was tongue pad test.....Explains all the cuts on my tongue

Originally Posted by Chugach68

I always thought the tpt was tongue pad test.....Explains all the cuts on my tongue

That's too funny........

Here's one I have but it is a post Sheffield one. E.C. Simmons started out in Sheffield & then came over to America if I recall correctly. This one says made in Germany.

Originally Posted by engine46

That's too funny........

Here's one I have but it is a post Sheffield one. E.C. Simmons started out in Sheffield & then came over to America if I recall correctly.

Not quite! Edward Campbell Simmons (1839-1920) was a hardware tycoon who built Simmons hardware into a legendary success story of American business.

Man! Simmons sold EVERYTHING! Huge outfit. Sad so many have died out.
I understand there are those who collect strictly items from the old hardware concerns.
Simmons, Shapleigh, etc. Just like old razors, the quality items can be had easily as they sold so much of it.
Old hardware razors are inexpensive, yet good quality razors for the vast majority, IMO.

Simmons was BIG, back then!

One of the Simmons buildings in St. Louis is still standing. It is rather large brick building across the street from Busch stadium (Cardinals). You can see the faded Simmons letters on the building using Google street view.

One of my regular antique stops has a bunch of Shapleigh and Simmons wares.