Thread: Unkown Manufacturer

If anyone can help I'm sure you gentlemen can. I recently won two razors from eBay. One is a Wade & Butcher. The other I cannot find any info on. On the shaft it says "Spring is Celebrated Razor" while on the blade is says "Silver Steel Razor". I've read what silver steel is, but that has been the end of my ability to find anything else on this razor. Any ideas?

Sincerely,

Bryce

Welcome, Bryce, post pictures if you can. I'm sure some of the members will recognize the razor's manufacturer.

Here are some pictures.


Thank you again.

Sincerely,

Bryce

It might take some time, because it's late here, but the members across the pond will be up & on in a few hours.

I'm in no rush. I'm just happy there's a place I can come to with these questions.

Sincerely,

Bryce

I think that's "Spring's Celebrated Razor".

No manufacturers named Spring show up in the usual Sheffield listings, so it was most likely made for a retailer of that name. Where was that retailer? I don't know.

The style of razor was very popular in the 1850-1860 range. The scales are horn.

With a bit of cleaning, it should be an excellent razor. Pretty much any razor that survives from that period was made by professionals at the top of their game.

The men and women who did the work often worked for multiple different companies, and work done by them could be sold under many different names. So one razor stamped "Wade & Butcher" may have been made by a team working on Wostenholm's factory floor. It all depended on who had the buyers for the product. There wasn't as predictable a demand as the producers would like, which is what lead to that kind of interdependence. The employees actually paid rent on their tools, bought their own raw materials and paid for power (gas, water, and much later electric). So sometimes foremen would produce goods simply to pay the bills, and mark those goods for whoever was willing to pay.

Thank you Mr. Jarvis.

Sincerely,

Bryce

Originally Posted by Voidmonster

I think that's "Spring's Celebrated Razor"... snip...
The style of razor was very popular in the 1850-1860 range. The scales are horn.
With a bit of cleaning, it should be an excellent razor. Pretty much any razor that survives from that period was made by professionals at the top of their game.

You may find that blade shape very accommodating to your face. I like it about the best of the razors I use. With the heel a little less wide it is forgiving of some shaving moves.
Have Fun, 'tis a neat blade!
~Richard