Thread: CLUE... "It was Hilliard, in the workshop, with a razor!"

I've been trying to pinpoint the date of manufacture for my Hilliard blade. Through the help of some fine folks on this forum, (many thanks), as well as some research on my own, and Robert Doyle's book on collecting... I have finally come up with a couple of clues that narrow down the window of time for the birthdate of this blade.

Milliard first showed up in the business registry of Edinburgh, Scotland... at 7 Nicholson St. in 1850, manufacturing surgical instruments. Prior to that he was in Glasgow from about 1830, or so. After sorting through numerous journals, period advertisements, etc. I have been able to see that Hilliard and/or his son(s) remained at 7 Nicholson St., doing business in the manufacture of surgical instruments from between 1850-1885. It was sometime between 1885-1895 that Hilliard left that address and the address was then taken over by Messrs & Son. I believe those folks were architects, but not positively sure.

So, now. We have a blade that could have been made anytime between 1850-1885, or so. I honestly doubt that the blade was made in 1850 (sigh), because it is a full hollow grind, slightly pushing the 'extra hollow' profile and the grinds appear to be pretty darned uniform from side to side. According to Doyle's book, the hollow grind was not perfected until 1885. The finish is also quite smooth with only faint signs of grind/polish lines. Just enough to give it a very subtle satin like grain finish. Judging by the data/info that I currently have, I'd have to say that this razor was 'probably' made between 1885-1895, but I'm also far from being an expert. If any of you folks have anything to add to this research, chime in and let me know what you've got. I'm not going to start on the scales until I'm fairly certain as to what they would have likely looked like at the proper period of time when this blade was made.