Thread: wostenholm doubly carbonized

That is pretty much what the razor looks like, the manufacturer mark is slightly different but other than that it is the same, does anyone have experience restoring these?

since you guys asked for a pic

Originally Posted by jpatte

since you guys asked for a pic

That is the variety of frameback which has the tang integral to the blade. There is a spine added. The previous one shown has the Tang and spine integrated and the blade installed. Either will shave good!

sharptonn are you saying that this may not be a true frameback?

There were two type of the Wostenholm frameback razors:
1. The gold colored print pressed into the dark horn handle says : "George Wostenholm & Son's, Doubly Carbonised I*XL Razor", "Registered Sep.10, 1850. No.2434". The handle has brass pins and a metal spacer.
The razor's shank is stamped "The I*XL Improved Swiss", "manufactured solely by", "George Wostenholm & Son".
2. A second similar razor (on the picture above) has much the same shape to its black horn handle and frameback blade.
The frame back portion of this blade is flattened slightly and stamped "Geo. Wostenholm & Son's Doubly Carbonized I*XL razor".
The frameback and the blade's edge have a curve to them instead of being straight. The curve is about the same as that made by the razor's handle. The shank has a diamond shaped mark and is stamped inside the mark "Registered", "10 Sep.", "1850", "No 2434", "I*XL".
The frameback style continued to be sold for decades though not in great number.

I can say that I never was attracted to framebacks until this one posted by Manah......wait, did Sharptonn post the same razor? Anyway, I like the blade added type....fascinating razor, all kinds of stuff going on.....wow.

Originally Posted by jpatte

sharptonn are you saying that this may not be a true frameback?

It absolutely is. Both are. Just two different styles!

Thanks for all the info manah and sharptonn, I may just have to jump on this deal before it passes

Keep in mind the 2 major differences in the type Manah has shown and the one you posted is that the one Manah posted has a thick tang and heavy spine. The one you posted has a thin tang, light spine and is much, much lighter in weight.
I tend to favor the design in Manah's post as I prefer a heavier razor, while some do not.
Both are framebacks, but like night and day to use!

I recently acquired one of these. But as you see, mine differs from the other examples being discussed here in several ways:

(Pic from eBay)

• Celluloid scales: *sigh* I'll probably restore them
• The spine is more gracile, and there is no imprint
• The etch on the blade is different, just:
  
  Geo Wostenholm & Sons
  Doubly Carbonized IXL Razor
• The imprint on the spine's show side lacks an outline, and reads:
  
  G.WOSTENHOLM & SONS
  * S H E F F I E L D *
  DOUBLY CARBONIZED I·XL RAZOR
• The imprint on the back of the spine has the outline, and reads:
  
  REGISTERED 10SEP
  I·XL
  1850 No2434
• The blade measures (from the back of the spine) 6/8ths near the toe, and 11/16ths toward the heel

Does a variant such as this one warrant an entry in the database?