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I just purchased this lot of 3 blades on Ebay. My main interest is in "The Master Razor",shown up top. I personally think it is quite sexy and would dress up really well sporting a set of custom Cocobolo scales. What can you folks tell me about this blade? Is it a good quality makers mark, good for shaving... or will this simply become a nice looking display piece?
Attachment 173260
I don't know anything about the top or bottom one but the duck in the middle are very well liked around here.
The Dubl Duck has issues. A lot of hone wear on the spine and a frown on the cutting edge. I could turn it into a 9/16, or a 4/8 and smooth out the spine wear, cosmetically, but it ... it has issues. Not sure if I'll even mess with that one.
I really like the top one. Cool notch n love the French point
Do you have a shot of the makers mark? BTW, looks like the top and probably bottom should clean up and shave fine.
I like the third one too. The makers marks are as follows;
Attachment 173263
That top one was most likely Sheffield-made for a Scottish merchant. Milliard? Nice blade.
Totally worthy of correct dark horn scales and brass appointments. JMO
I can't remember what the third line spells ( Elinburgn** ) but I bet it is a town around Sheffield. Reminds me of a Liverpool razor. I was thinking honey horn for it. The Duck needs ICU but the Simmons shows a lot of promise. Congrats :<0)
Edinburgh, Scotland. I think Tom nailed it. Looks Sheffield to me.Quote:
Originally Posted by 10Pups
The Duck speaks for itself, and the Simmons is most likely Solingen made.
It looks like Hilliard of Edinburgh.
Antique Medical Instruments - Elisabeth Bennion - Google Books
H & H Hilliard listed at 7 Nicholson street in 1850.
Thanks John! Does mean the blade was made in 1850? Just what 'does' that information mean?
What does it mean?
Rough question to answer. Reminds of Neil's statement about "how long is a piece of string". ;)
The Hilliard should be able to be made into a great shaver. It's quite possible the blade was made around the time stated. It's a very nice looking old blade as far as I can tell.
The other two blades are great blades too and will shave very nicely.
By the way. I'm in Cowtown. If you're anywhere close, shoot me a PM.
Willie
Looking at the razor, I think that you're safe to say that it would have been sometime around 1850 - 1870.Quote:
Originally Posted by TMJudd
I can tell you I came darn close to bidding against you for it! ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by TMJudd
"Whew, glad you didn't start a bidding war against me... Thanks!" :chapeau
Fear not. All is not lost. You'll have yet another chance to consider bidding on it, after restoration, when it once again lands on ebay.
John,Quote:
Originally Posted by johnmrson
Would you happen to have a suggested list of good reading, historical references, sources, etc. concerning the identification, history and dating of old straight razors, such as this? I'd be most appreciative. I have a lot to learn and am currently in need of all the info that I can get...
Thanks,
Tom...
He is even more lucky I am low on funds right now :<0) I thought it was a good group. I am starting a Duck tang collection,,, it's cheaper :<0)
Quote:
Originally Posted by entropy1049
Good tangs are probably more plentiful than good ducks. :pQuote:
Originally Posted by 10Pups
I disagree. It's been a while since I had any good tang, however. The Mrs. does give me many good opportunities to duck!:shrug:
I have yet to try a DD but I will be getting my chance soon, just scored this one off the bay Vintage Dubl Duck Pearlduck Satinedge Straight Razor Solingen Germany | eBay
The Hilliard looks like it should be a good shaver and the Simmons, if it is anything like the ones I have, will be one for your permanent rotation.
You ain't been holding your mouth right. :rofl2:Quote:
Originally Posted by TMJudd
The Hilliard was made by Edinburgh cutler, Harvey Hilliard in Scotland - it was not made in Sheffield for him.
Hilliard was 'Cutler & Surgical Instrument Maker to the Queen' and was based at 7 Nicolson Street according to the 1871- 1875 Edinburgh Post Office Directory and lived at 5, Hope Park Crescent.
He was later joined by his son to make H. Hilliard & Son, still based at 7 Nicolson Street, as is recorded in the South of Scotland Trades Directory for 1900.
As luck would have it, Harvey Hilliard was born in Sheffield in 1810. He later joined Thomas Chapman's 'Scottish Cutlery House' in Glasgow circa 1833 (Chapman was recorded as 'Cutler & Dressing Case Manufacturer to the Queen' and went into partnership with Thomas Chapman to form Hilliard & Chapman in Glasgow circa 1842.
Their is some confusion about who started the Scottish Cutlery House - Chapman has billheads proclaiming it as his venture, but when Hilliard & Chapman dissolved their partnership around 1849 Hilliard advertised his new venture as The Star and proclaimed in the press that he was the originator of the Scottish Cutlery House and that the same used to be referred to simply as 'Hilliards'.
Hilliard married Jane Wilson in Lanarkshire, Scotland in 1835. He died in 1881. He had a number of children, several of whom died tragically young. One died the same year as his father, but on the Benin River in Africa! One became a celebrated surgeon - Robert Harvey Hilliard. Discounting Robert Harvey Hilliard, and two sons who died in 1861 and Theodore who died in Africa, we are left with Frederick William Hilliard, born 1853 . In 1871 he was listed in the census as Assistant Surgical Instrument Maker and in 1881 as Cutler, so he is the 'Son' of H. Hilliard & Son.
Regards,
Neil
Nice! A real Scottish Razor! :tu
Thank you Neil. That's quite a bit of info! I appreciate you going to the trouble to research this and post your findings. Is there any way to accurately date this blade? In addition, I'd also like to find a drawing, or a photo of what the original scales would have looked like and of what material they were made from ( thanks for the good advice, Wullie), but I am clueless where to look in further researching this razor. Any ideas?
Thanks again for this post.
Tom...
No problem - pleasure to help, especially after the recent 'derailing'...
Time period - obviously after the partnership and the 'Star' venture, so say around 1855/60 to just before the name changed to H Hiliard & Son, who was assistant (ie apprenticed) to his father in 1871 but recorded as cutler in 1881, so a ballpark figure would be like John already posted, and could be 1860 to 1881.
I have had several sets of razors by Scottish Cutlers and Instrument makers, and they have all been high class razors, befittingly scaled in ivory - even the very large blades. Although you could get away with dark horn, I would think.
You really need access to old newspaper archives and ancestry websites - there is a lot of information out there, but you get it more by 'hunch' than by logic.
Regards,
Neil
Please could you let me know if you decide to sell the top one as it is (without restoration?) Hilliard and sons were my Great-Great and Great-Great-Great Grandfathers. I completely understand if you are not prepared to sell it but I would be very interested.Quote:
Originally Posted by TMJudd
Perhaps you may send a PM to the OP. Sales and solicitation among members is fine, I think, as long as it is kept private and to PM's. Not on the open forum. If that is from your Great 3 times, I hope you have great luck!Quote:
Originally Posted by Chilli
Ooh thank you. Sorry- I should have read the full T&C really but in my excitement over seeing this, I didn't think. Thank you for the heads up. I shall do it later. Thanks again.Quote:
Originally Posted by sharptonn
