Hi All!
Here's the razor I received from a 77 year old Canadian who approximately 70 years ago witnessed his father shaving with his father's razor (granddad's) at the kitchen sink when the father dropped it and it hit the edge of the sink breaking a thumbnail size 'chunk' out of the blade.
He saw tears in his father's eyes! Years later after his mother and father had passed and he was clearing their home out, he found that they had saved the razor, the broken chunk and the box the razor was in. He held onto it for sentimental reasons. Granddad had came over to Canada from England and raised his family. He had died at a young age and the owner's father inherited the razor. The family story handed down is that Granddad had brought the razor with him from England!
Long story made short, through a chain of events I was asked if I could 'place the chunk back' so that his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren etc could see something from their heritage!! I accepted the challenge and about the last of January I received the razor.
I told the owner that it would not never ever shave again, nor would it ever close into the scales and he was fine with that! At one time this was a very beautiful Boker razor! It had some gold wash on the blade and the tang was blued. 99.9% of the gold wash was gone and most of the bluing and the owner OK'd polishing off what remained of the gold wash.
Here's some pictures to help with the journey!
Here's the AWCRAP!:gaah:
Attachment 160022
Here's how I attached the broken piece back to the razor. I used JB WELD at both ends then after that had set I applied the JB in the middle and finally got it almost perfect before the working time of the epoxy was up. It is ever so slightly raised at the top and I could have sworn to GOD that it was flush when I was finished but all in all I think it came out very nice:
Attachment 160023
Here's how it looks now:
Attachment 160024
I had a friend make the display box. I've tried and tried to get the pictures to show how really nice it looks but No Go! It's got a beautiful gloss finish inside and out and the wood is much darker! The top is secured with two guide pins so it can be lifted of and the glass can be removed and allow access to the razor. There are vent slots cut into each side. I made 90 deg angled pieces of 1/16" brass rod and then polished them. The one is at the end of the blade to support it and the other two sit between the scales. That helps prevent any lateral movement. They are also close enough to keep the razor from rocking in them.
Attachment 160025
The owner has been so very patient and understanding this whole time! Once the razor had cleared customs in Chicago the USPS in all of it's wisdom sent it to New Jersey which is about as far away from me in a direct line running East to West as you can get in the States:banghead:I do hope that the owner will be pleased when he sees it first hand as the pictures really don't do either the Razor or the display case justice!
I'm hoping to have it packaged and headed home with tracking and insured today! Padding and boxing it so it makes the journey in perfect condition is my biggest worry so far!
I hope all have enjoyed the journey! :tu