Help with some history C.V. Heljestrand

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03-12-2014, 01:48 AM
HARRYWALLY

3 Attachment(s)

Help with some history C.V. Heljestrand

I picked up this Heljestrand off the bay just recently and was wondering if you guys could help me a bit. First off, what or who is the G.V. Rundstrom & Co. that's etched on the blade. My guess is some company, but who?? There's also a number 5 etched on the tip of the tail, if that means anything.

Second is, the scales appear to be ivory but they're a lot more yellow than any ivory I've ever seen ( which is maybe 3 or 4 times.) It definitely has a grain to it, but the color is whats making me scratch my head. What do you guys think?

Attachment 159382 Attachment 159383 Attachment 159384

Any help with this would be much appreciated.

Thanks.
03-12-2014, 02:01 AM
sharptonn

Nice Heljie. Definitely ivory, yellowed with age. What is the town under the name?
03-12-2014, 02:04 AM
HARRYWALLY

Quote:

Originally Posted by sharptonn

Nice Heljie. Definitely ivory, yellowed with age. What is the town under the name?

Hi there Tom

Norrkoping is the name
03-12-2014, 02:13 AM
BobH

From a quickie on the net G.V. Rundstrom & Co was a hardware store in Norrkoping.

Google Translate

Interglot - "järnaffär" translated from Swedish to English

Bob
03-12-2014, 02:24 AM
HARRYWALLY

Haha. Thanks Bob.

I find it funny that something this lovely, and high quality was once sold at a hardware store. I'm at one everyday, and the only "tool" I see of any quality there, are the Titanium Stiletto hammers chained up, that no one has ever bought. Most of the hand tools I would never buy from there cause the quality is low.
03-12-2014, 02:25 AM
Martin103

Sweet looking razor! Ivory scales, thumb notch! Enjoy! i see you been coloring?
03-12-2014, 02:34 AM
HARRYWALLY

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martin103

Sweet looking razor! Ivory scales, thumb notch! Enjoy! i see you been coloring?

I thought you'd like that! I was having troubles staying in the lines. :rofl2:
03-12-2014, 02:40 AM
pixelfixed

IF thats ivory,is not typical Helji Ivory,May not be ivory,JMO
03-12-2014, 02:57 AM
sharptonn

Quote:

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

IF thats ivory,is not typical Helji Ivory,May not be ivory,JMO

Get out the HOT PIN! :rofl2:
03-12-2014, 02:59 AM
HARRYWALLY

Oh Geez.......
03-12-2014, 03:05 AM
HARRYWALLY

It's a natural material that's for sure, so it's either Bone or Ivory. When the suns out again I'll take a better pic and show you the grain that's very visible, and also slightly raised. Is there anything else it could be????? and don't say celluloid!
03-12-2014, 03:06 AM
BobH

Got to apologize for not saying that is a lovely razor in the first post. Yea, quality at hardware stores can be quite low these days but time they have changed.

Bob
03-12-2014, 03:22 AM
sharptonn

Quote:

Originally Posted by HARRYWALLY

It's a natural material that's for sure, so it's either Bone or Ivory. When the suns out again I'll take a better pic and show you the grain that's very visible, and also slightly raised. Is there anything else it could be????? and don't say celluloid!

Not to worry, HW! It is ivory. Possible walrus? The crack at the front side wedge runs with the curved grain and Schreger line/ grain I see on the obverse scale. I think this will prove to be a very old Heljie, into or close to the 1800's, looking at the tang stamp and the more square design.
Patina like that should be sponged off and Renwaxed! Nice!
03-12-2014, 03:24 AM
HARRYWALLY

Quote:

Originally Posted by sharptonn

Not to worry, HW! It is ivory. The crack at the front side wedge runs with the curved grain and Schreger lines are seen on the obverse scale. I think this will prove to be a very old Heljie, into or close to the 1800's. Looking at the tang stamp and the more square design.
Patina like that should be sponged off and Renwaxed! Nice!

I like you Tom!!
03-12-2014, 03:41 AM
JimmyHAD

Ivory or I'll eat my hat ........ :chapeau

Nice piece ! :tu
03-12-2014, 03:43 AM
sharptonn

Quote:

Originally Posted by HARRYWALLY

I like you Tom!!

I shall send you a Bill! :)
05-12-2014, 06:50 PM
MrMagnus

Ivory scales. I had a cpl yellow scales on Heljestrands also seen pink ivory on Heljestrands.

Heljestrand often sold razors to hardwear stores and other places.

The 5 indicates the model of the razor. As in n5 or mk5.
05-12-2014, 06:57 PM
Neil Miller

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Ivory or I'll eat my hat ........ :chapeau

Nice piece ! :tu

Oh, how I would love them not to be ivory just to see that!

I don't think we are going to see Jimmy eat hat, pork-pie or otherwise, though! :)

Regards,
Neil

PS What BobH says is very true, especially with regard to Swedish Hardware Stores in the past. I have seen Osbornes, Cadmans, and other marques of famous Swedish makers with a hardware shops name on the blade or on the tang. They certainly appreciate good steel in Sweden.
05-12-2014, 07:01 PM
pixelfixed

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrMagnus

Ivory scales. I had a cpl yellow scales on Heljestrands also seen pink ivory on Heljestrands.

Heljestrand often sold razors to hardwear stores and other places.

The 5 indicates the model of the razor. As in n5 or mk5.

Pink Ivory?? Have been Buying, selling and working with Ivory for 30+ yrs,have never seen pink natural Ivory.:)
05-12-2014, 07:11 PM
MrMagnus

Quote:

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

Pink Ivory?? Have been Buying, selling and working with Ivory for 30+ yrs,have never seen pink natural Ivory.:)

white with a some pink clouds in it. a friend of mine told me that some heljestrands had it. and after a while i saw one.
05-12-2014, 07:24 PM
pixelfixed

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrMagnus

white with a some pink clouds in it. a friend of mine told me that some heljestrands had it. and after a while i saw one.

I have seen similar, but is normally caused by a blade setting in a red velvet lined case for many yrs.
05-12-2014, 07:29 PM
pixelfixed

1 Attachment(s)

This is Walrus,(a tiny tusk)Is no mistaking it from any Ivory.
The entire center section looks Like Tapioca,bad pic, sorry.
Attachment 165976
05-12-2014, 07:30 PM
MrMagnus

1 Attachment(s)

Quote:

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

I have seen similar, but is normally caused by a blade setting in a red velvet lined case for many yrs.

";"
Attachment 165977";"
05-12-2014, 07:33 PM
pixelfixed

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrMagnus

";"
Attachment 165977";"

Thats funny:) and a very well endowed old bull to Boot:)
05-12-2014, 10:08 PM
JimmyHAD

Quote:

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

This is Walrus,(a tiny tusk)Is no mistaking it from any Ivory.
The entire center section looks Like Tapioca,bad pic, sorry.

Bill, with these various ivory sources, is the total tusk usable, or is the center too soft/pithy to use for scales or brush handles, whatever ?
05-12-2014, 10:33 PM
HARRYWALLY

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrMagnus

Ivory scales. I had a cpl yellow scales on Heljestrands also seen pink ivory on Heljestrands.

Heljestrand often sold razors to hardwear stores and other places.

The 5 indicates the model of the razor. As in n5 or mk5.

MrMagnus,

You were late to the party! But better late than never. I knew you were a Heljestrand fan, and was hoping you would shed some light on this razor. Thanks for the info on the ivory and model number. At least now I know what I have. I'm loving the shave with this razor, and it has become one of my favorites. :)
05-12-2014, 10:33 PM
Baxxer

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neil Miller

Oh, how I would love them not to be ivory just to see that!

I don't think we are going to see Jimmy eat hat, pork-pie or otherwise, though! :)

Regards,
Neil

PS What BobH says is very true, especially with regard to Swedish Hardware Stores in the past. I have seen Osbornes, Cadmans, and other marques of famous Swedish makers with a hardware shops name on the blade or on the tang. They certainly appreciate good steel in Sweden.

It seems to me like most if not all Bengalls sold in Sweden(they're quite common here) were distributed by Borlänge maskinaffär(Borlänge is a town(city?) and 'maskinaffär' translates literally to machine store) and it's quite common for Bengall razors here to be stamped with 'A-bol Borlänge maskinaffär'(A-bol is short for aktiebolag(Swedish for 'Joint-stock company'))

Imo every Swedish semi serious collector should have a Borlänge stamped Bengall as well as one or more 1840s Bengalls.
05-12-2014, 10:39 PM
pixelfixed

1 Attachment(s)

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Bill, with these various ivory sources, is the total tusk usable, or is the center too soft/pithy to use for scales or brush handles, whatever ?

With a larger tusk all is usable,the center is hard, solid and polishes like Glass,This tusk is 8 in.around at the large end and 31 in long.
I could make scales out of it till the cows come home:) but I won't,belongs in a museum.
Came off of an Eskimo harvested walrus that was approx 4500 lbs,as big as a prius:)
What I find of interest is they eat Mollusks so the tusks are used as digging tools,but the main purpose is when they sleep thru an Ice hole, they are used to lock their heads onto the ice.
Attachment 165989