Thread: Please Assist identifying old straight B.H. Co. and rough age of 2 razors.

I bought several razors the other day in hopes of cleaning up to use and I want to use one out on the field if it's period is correct (Civil War). They are both horn handles, neither has a stamp on the other side. One states Our Best B.H. Co., the other is Colley & Co Sheffield with an "S" above two hammers. If you specialists could assist me in age and the manufacturer of the "B.H. Co." I would sincerely appreciate it.








Thanks,
Shawn Dyer
Novice shaver

passing on what I was told, unsure if it is correct or not the near wedges were around the 1860's the fist razor appears hollow, if this is true it is not period correct, second one I cannot tell it may be a wedge.the same person told me this said the hollows started appearing along the 1890's. the bh is not in the database, it was probally made by someone else for the b.h. company, not uncommon for a mfg to pt some one elses name on a large order. that is take it for what its worth. someone else may shed more light on it.
I found the other here is what I have on it so it has to be pre civil war
:COLLEY & CO
Sheffield
1834 - 1844 ("Old Sheffield Razors" by Lummus. Antiques, December 1922 p.261-267)

Of the 2 the second one would be from that time period. Roughly. Can't get exact with straight razors without some type of lineage to connect them to

I think the first, frowning razor is of the 'hardware store' variety. Made in Germany for BH @Co, whoever that was. I would venture to guess around turn of century at oldest, due to design.

The second one, Colley and Co, is a 'rattler' grind. An early version of hollow grinding, the spine was ground in a conventional manner while the blade faces were done on the wheel longitudinally, possibly on the side of the wheel to get the metal thin. Should fill the bill for your reenactment.
Nice one!

Tom's got that B.H. & Co's number. Almost certainly an 1880's-1900 hardware store razor (which are often great shavers).

The Colley & Co is a real catch.

Their primary business was in the timeframe listed above from Henry Lummus (mid 1830's-mid1840's), but they were a continuation of a much older business, going back to the late 1700's, when it was Alice Colley and her son, William. She was the owner of the mark, which is crossed pipes with the letter S above them.

That particular style of razor was very popular in the late 1830's and early '40's.

Thank you guys, great help!

-Shawn