Thread: Razor history - Shavesi Razor

Does anybody have information about the Shavesi razor made by Southern & Richardson.
Trying to find out some of the company history and any other information on the razors

My searches so far have shown dates of manufacture in Sheffield from 1863 to 1920
Information source is from a document found on Google named Straight Razor Manufacturers and Dates of Operation.
I am still looking for more information on this razor as I am currently restoring one for a friend.
I would like to be able to give him the restored razor as well as some history of it's manufacture.
Any help or information provided greatly appreciated

Hi Ricky, I've got a nice little 5/8 S&R, but unfortunately my researches didn't unearth anything more than what you've come up with. Oddly, my Shavesi doesn't have "made in England" on it, although it looks more recent than 1890. I think we'll have to wait for input from other members. Possibly Neil Miller might be able to help.

The company started out as Wilson & Southern in 1828 on Edward Street, in 1840 they were on Solly Street and Wheeldon Works.

In 1847 Wilson retired and Samuel Richardson teamed up with Francis Southern and changed the firm name to Southern & Richardson. In 1912 the company became Limited, so any items marked with LTD would be after 1912. In early 20s, they merged with Needhan, Veall & Tyzack for a short lived adventure.


That said the only trademark registration for Shaveesi (not shavesi)that i found was from 1909.

Interesting that the information i found claimed that the company became Limited in 1912, after posting i realize that the trademark registration from 1909 had the name Southern & Richardson Limited. Perhaps Mr Miller can clear this up!

This is a brief summary of what I found is that the firm originally was known as Wilson & Southern & was founded in 1828 (1828-1928). One partner was Francis Southern (1800-1877). The other partner was George Wilson. When Wilson retired in 1847, Samuel Richardson became a partner. In 1851, Sothern & Richardson moved to Don Cutlery Works inDoncaster Street, Shalesmoor. When Samuel Sr died in 1887, his son became owner of the business. He was Master Cutler two years later in 1889. The firm manufactured table, pen & pocket, butchers, carries & Bowie knives besides razors & scissors. The corporate trade mark (1880) was a birds nest & three eggs. By the late 1880's the workforce surpassed 200 & in 1889 employed about 300. Certainly it was among the top 20 cutlery manufactures in the town of Shalesmoor. However working at the firm could be fatal. In 1858, a nine year old girl was frightfully mutilated in an unguarded grindstone shaft. In 1899, a boiler explosion wrecked part of the factory. Two workers died instantly, another man was scalded to death. Two men & a boy died later in a hospital & another individual died soon afterwards. The final death toll was seven. The Board of Trade inquiry into one of Sheffield's worst industrial accident judged that no one was to blame. (1899)
The firm registered a silver mark in 1902. In 1912 S.G. Richardson took Harold Willey (1880-1973) into partnership& the business became Ltd. Besides pocket, table knives the firm manufactured SHAVEESI safety razors, electro plate & holloware. Other marks were CIGAR & SQUATTER. In 1919 , Southern & Richardson joined Sheffield Cutlery Manufacterers Ltd, a merger led by Needham , Veall & Tyzack. S. G. Richardson retired & died in 1934. In 1926, Harold Willey & co-director Henry Ernest Brant (1869-1941) relocated Southern & Richardson to Needham , Veall & Tyzack's premises in Milton Street. Sheffield Cutlery Manufacturers Ltd had made steady losses & the move was to rationalize production. However it was akin to a takeover & eventually Southern & Richardson survived only as a "name" at Needham, Veall & Tyzack9as such is listed in directories until the 1970's). In 2013, part of the derelict Don Cutlery Works still stood in Doncaster Street.

There was more to this but I narrowed it down to the most important parts of the history of the firm. I hope it is satisfactory for you.
Steve

Originally Posted by engine46

.... In 1899, a boiler explosion wrecked part of the factory. Two workers died instantly, another man was scalded to death. Two men & a boy died later in a hospital & another individual died soon afterwards. The final death toll was seven. The Board of Trade inquiry into one of Sheffield's worst industrial accident judged that no one was to blame. (1899)....

There's a clipping of a newspaper article covering the boiler explosion on this thread.
I also have an S&R, but mine's not a "Shaveesi", but a "Swiftsure". The only other Swiftsure I know of is a Yaght race that was founded in the 1930's. Perhaps there's a connection, but I'm not certain.

Originally Posted by Jakobs

There's a clipping of a newspaper article covering the boiler explosion on this thread.
I also have an S&R, but mine's not a "Shaveesi", but a "Swiftsure". The only other Swiftsure I know of is a Yaght race that was founded in the 1930's. Perhaps there's a connection, but I'm not certain.

I couldn't get that web page to open on my Macbook Pro, I have Safari for a browser.

Originally Posted by engine46

I couldn't get that web page to open on my Macbook Pro, I have Safari for a browser.

Odd - the original link seems broken. Try this one: Sheffield Boiler Disaster of 1899.

Originally Posted by Jakobs

Odd - the original link seems broken. Try this one: Sheffield Boiler Disaster of 1899.

That link worked!

Such great information on the company, many thanks to all who responded.

Jakobs: a very interesting article on the boiler explosion. I can certainly appreciate how different things were on those days. Thankfully we learned better ways for the most part.

engine46: thanks for the history lesson on the company. If you can send any more by PM I would be happy to read through it.

Martin103: interesting to see the trade mark document showing the 2 different trade marks used. The razor I restored has the Shaveesi ribbon stamped on the tang. Is there any information on whether this was the preferred mark for razors or did it vary through the years.

I will post some pics soon just to show what I have managed to do.