Thread: the who's mark is it game

The fact that there's an I. Barber razor with the anchor got me looking around, and in fact various styles of anchor were used as masonic symbols, much like the square & compass that John Barber used.

Correct! Good call Zak.
J. Barber used the square & compass & also Wolf with the crown.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...tml#post809665

Looks like gooser got it nanoseconds before I did.

Originally Posted by engine46

J. Barber used the square & compass & also Wolf with the crown.

To be precise, yes the company used the Wolf & crown later, but it wasn't of his making, it was acquired in succession to the Shepherds.



(From Pigot's directory, 1837)

It was pretty common for marks to change hands later in the 19th century. Zak could chime in here - was the Barber mark itself later acquired by someone else?

I could see that particular razor, the I Barber on the bay, being a sort of copyright infringement. Trademark infringement rather, I wouldn't call it a counterfeit. IOW, if back when the makers were contemporaries one of them stole the others logo and made some razors I could see that.

A person now making a one off counterfeit of an obscure brand I couldn't see. I've seen counterfeit Case, Remington, Winchester, and so forth, pocket knives with engraved stamps show up. Back in the early '70s, but a true stamp would cost the guy a hundred bucks, unless he was a machinist and made his own. So if it is a 'counterfeit' it is contemporary with the original in age. IMHO.

Originally Posted by ScienceGuy

To be precise, yes the company used the Wolf & crown later, but it wasn't of his making, it was acquired in succession to the Shepherds.



(From Pigot's directory, 1837)

It was pretty common for marks to change hands later in the 19th century. Zak could chime in here - was the Barber mark itself later acquired by someone else?

Yep! I just didn't go into too much detail. My Tweedale's Directory which Zak also has, shows a lot more. Thank you very much for the insight my friend.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I could see that particular razor, the I Barber on the bay, being a sort of copyright infringement. Trademark infringement rather, I wouldn't call it a counterfeit. IOW, if back when the makers were contemporaries one of them stole the others logo and made some razors I could see that.

A person now making a one off counterfeit of an obscure brand I couldn't see. I've seen counterfeit Case, Remington, Winchester, and so forth, pocket knives with engraved stamps show up. Back in the early '70s, but a true stamp would cost the guy a hundred bucks, unless he was a machinist and made his own. So if it is a 'counterfeit' it is contemporary with the original in age. IMHO.

When I talk about fakes / forgeries and old Sheffield razors I also go under this assumption. Based on quotes / allegations it, or at least misleading, definitely happened at the time. I also wouldn't see much sense in someone going to the trouble to make a modern fake of old razors; they're just so relatively abundant and of low value that it probably wouldn't make financial sense.

Yeah & i have a couple of old pipe razors that I believe are of good quality but they used the pipe, (slightly different) for the mark.

Originally Posted by engine46

Yeah & i have a couple of old pipe razors that I believe are of good quality but they used the pipe, (slightly different) for the mark.

There was also a large variety in manufacturers using various pipe marks. http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...ml#post1262113

Originally Posted by ScienceGuy

There was also a large variety in manufacturers using various pipe marks. http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...ml#post1262113

I had them listed back in July here:

http://straightrazorpalace.com/show-...ml#post1364623