Thread: Clark & Hall

No idea.

I don't think it was for reducing weight - if it was, it would reduce the weight of the wedge by a minimal amount, besides, they could have used the 'one piece' wedge where one scale has a wedge left on t by selective filing/carving or whatever, and the other is normal size. Besides, I don't think they had invented the 'balance should be at the tang in a good razor' theory that we seem to have invented for our own, questionable, needs today.

As for stopping it rotating they usually scored the inner side of the scales at the wedge end, a process which lasted well into the 20th century.

I have seen plenty of wedges with two holes, possibly to accommodate two sizes of scales (but I doubt it) but four seems like overkill - the side ones would seem surplus to need, so maybe it was a decoration, but you could only see this on blonde or honey coloured scales, so it would be mostly redundant. Personally, I do not find it decorative either.

What I would note is the curious way that the wedge is uniformly larger than the wedge end of the scales, and what is more it seems to have suffered no knocks or dings (lead is extremely malleable as we know) over its long knife. Very odd... could be the scales shrinking, of course, but the edge of the lead wedge being perfect? Must have been wrapped in cotton wool all its days.

Regards,
Neil

Originally Posted by Neil Miller

No idea.
...snip...
What I would note is the curious way that the wedge is uniformly larger than the wedge end of the scales, and what is more it seems to have suffered no knocks or dings (lead is extremely malleable as we know) over its long knife. Very odd... could be the scales shrinking, of course, but the edge of the lead wedge being perfect? Must have been wrapped in cotton wool all its days.Regards,
Neil

In my opinion, the scales have shrunken a bit and so the wedge is more visible. I see this occasionally on honey horn scales of the 1800's. I have a couple Frederick Reynolds that show it well.
~Richard

Originally Posted by Geezer

In my opinion, the scales have shrunken a bit and so the wedge is more visible. I see this occasionally on honey horn scales of the 1800's. I have a couple Frederick Reynolds that show it well.
~Richard

As you can see from my post Richard, I have not discounted scale shrinkage - horn is a natural, organic material after all, as we all know. I think we have all seen it before, along with other scale materials too like celluloid.

The point I was trying to make is that as the ends of the wedge are outside the scales by a fair bit, they should be marked and knocked about. Those scales may have been around for something like 200 years after all, and lead wedges are notoriously soft, why even some of my 1920s - 1940s razors have knocked, scraped and dinged lead wedges and they do not even protrude past the scales! I am not anywhere near that age and I have a fairly knocked-about look to me, too!

The only thing (that I can think of) that would explain the shininess and newish look to the scales (for the avoidance of doubt I am saying they look newish, not that they are newish!) along with some horn material removal along with the wedge protruding past the scales along with the wedge being evenly coloured and having no irregularities (eg no knocks, dings, scratches, scrapes) along the edge is the use of a fairly hard, coarse to medium fine polishing wheel and polishing compound.

It is no big mystery, obviously, but with the extra holes in the wedge (which by the way I have never seen before - I have only seen two holes in a wedge of this period) it is interesting - that's all.

Regards,
Neil

I agree with the shrinkage theory!

Originally Posted by engine46

I agree with the shrinkage theory!

Aaaaargh! I am not discounting the shrinkage theory - I agree that they have shrunk (groan), what I am wondering about is the smooth and even edge of the lead wedge. C'mon. I couldn't possibly put it simpler!

Regards,
Neil

Originally Posted by Neil Miller

Aaaaargh! I am not discounting the shrinkage theory - I agree that they have shrunk (groan), what I am wondering about is the smooth and even edge of the lead wedge. C'mon. I couldn't possibly put it simpler!

Regards,
Neil

I understand Neil but I guess what I'm getting at is that it is a possibility!

Shrinkage of horn does not round lead edges.

I give up the fight, wounded, I retreat from the field!

Regards,
Neil

Originally Posted by Neil Miller

Shrinkage of horn does not round lead edges.

I give up the fight, wounded, I retreat from the field!

Regards,
Neil

Ahhhhhhh, I get it now. Sorry for the misunderstanding my friend. I am hard headed at times!!!!

Originally Posted by engine46

Ahhhhhhh, I get it now. Sorry for the misunderstanding my friend. I am hard headed at times!!!!

My wounds have miraculously healed! Once more into the fray...

Regards,
Neil

Originally Posted by Neil Miller

My wounds have miraculously healed! Once more into the fray...

Regards,
Neil

I believe in miracles! Some crazy things have happened in my past that didn't seem possible & there was only one thing possible, a miracle!