Thread: LF help on a vintage Thiers-Issard

A couple of weeks ago I bought a L'Essor razor for $20 and along with that razor came a straight razor "Thiers Issard".
Now, I know a fair bit about DE and SE razors but straights are very much an unexplored area for me.

In essence I'm curious to learn any history/dating of this razor.
I've tried Googling for it but it's hard to search for the number 17 along with the brand name and come up with a good thread/info.

Also, is this razor 'good enough' to have honed up and put to use - or is it better suited as a shelf-display?

Thanks in advance!

Here's a bunch of photos....

The case says "69" but the razor itself says "17" so I'm guessing it's not the original case.

Does the "17" on the razor help in dating it more accurately?

To my untrained eye it looks like it's in good shape (there are no cracks or any chips in the scales and no, as far as I can see issues with the blade) - but I would love to hear from people more SR-savvy than I am.

Hone and use - or shelf-piece?

The case:


Front side:


Back side:


Close-up of markings:




Front of the razor shows, I believe, that it's a "true" frameback?


The end of the scales have a white 'insert';

Oh and here's the L'Essor that I really was after

It looks to be in great shape! Get it honed up and give it a try. Both of those for $20 was an awesome deal.

iknow nothing about the single edge. I am just staring to learn a little about those myself.
The TI on the other hand I know a little. Most of the vintage TI razors are marked with 69. I am to understand that this mark was chosen or assigned to TI sort of their cutlers number, but that part is a little shaky. It is in fact a true frame back with a removable blade. It shows a little wear but not much. It also shows a beautiful patina. In my opinion it is in near perfect antique condition. It will hone up quite nice and shave like a dream. The mark of 17 I have never noticed on many razors. Henckels put out a 17 model that is completely different. I have one and have wondered if others would pop up. I suggest you get that old girl off to be honed and put her back to work. Please don't clean it.

Originally Posted by BeJay

It looks to be in great shape! Get it honed up and give it a try. Both of those for $20 was an awesome deal.

Thanks, the L'Essor blew me away when I got it - it's in near mint condition and the way the blade is secured is just great.
Can't wait to try it out as it appears that a modern SE blade fits well - and securely - in it as well.

I think you're right...it might be worth the money to have it professionally honed if there's still "life left in it"

Originally Posted by RezDog

iknow nothing about the single edge. I am just staring to learn a little about those myself.
The TI on the other hand I know a little. Most of the vintage TI razors are marked with 69. I am to understand that this mark was chosen or assigned to TI sort of their cutlers number, but that part is a little shaky. It is in fact a true frame back with a removable blade. It shows a little wear but not much. It also shows a beautiful patina. In my opinion it is in near perfect antique condition. It will hone up quite nice and shave like a dream. The mark of 17 I have never noticed on many razors. Henckels put out a 17 model that is completely different. I have one and have wondered if others would pop up. I suggest you get that old girl off to be honed and put her back to work. Please don't clean it.

I've been trying to find something like a Wiki page or something where all the Thiers-Issard vintage models are listed but can't find something like that.
Yeah, I wonder what the "17" means/stands for as well and I guess the case is a mismatch - although that's less of a concern.

Question: When you say "have it honed but don't clean it" - do you mean not having the blade buffed to shine?

That is exactly what i mean. Most often as razors age the get black rust mixed in with the patina. Yours appears to be a nice clean true patina. It comes from decades and decades of care. It is near impossible to fake or recreate. This is a shining example of patina. Most of the time people are saying this razor has a nice patina it is actually black rust, but not yours. True patina like that is a tough find.
The 69 on the box means nothing aside from it is part of the TI mark and it is a generic TI box not specific to any model so it could be original.
17 is likely the model.
It is a very impressive razor as is.

Originally Posted by RezDog

That is exactly what i mean. Most often as razors age the get black rust mixed in with the patina. Yours appears to be a nice clean true patina. It comes from decades and decades of care. It is near impossible to fake or recreate. This is a shining example of patina. Most of the time people are saying this razor has a nice patina it is actually black rust, but not yours. True patina like that is a tough find.
The 69 on the box means nothing aside from it is part of the TI mark and it is a generic TI box not specific to any model so it could be original.
17 is likely the model.
It is a very impressive razor as is.

Thanks and I think that's a great suggestion to preserve the signs of use.

I put my Sherlock hat on tonight and spent some time trying to piece together some information about the razor...this is the best I've come up with so far...


This marking showing the number #17 and the crown above it on the blade was registered in 1884 (founding of razor works) and used till close to 1920.
So the closest 'dating' that can be made would be somewhere within those 30-35 years.

Then, subsequently, the #69 was registered.
The razor has a fixed razor blade in a frame that can be removed and is not a hollow ground.

Blade is 2.9" long (7.3 cm), width of blade average about 1/2" (12 mm), with frame about 11/16" (18 mm)
It features a curvature that was typical of the Thiers frameback blades.
Scales are made out of bakelite.


Now, granted that's from browsing the internet but so far it's the best information I could find.

Congrats on finding those two gems in such fine condition at a very reasonable price.

I wholeheartedly agree with RezDog's comments on the TI as to maintaining the original patina and just having it honed. TI is a very reputable brand and produced very good razors. Honed it should give a wonderful shave.

The L'Essor in the same condition as the TI. That is a very interesting SE and I have not seen one before. If it is like the SEs that I have it should also turn out to be an excellent shaver. Be interesting to know what blade they originally took. Be sure and post how it shaves for you.

Bob

Originally Posted by BobH

The L'Essor in the same condition as the TI. That is a very interesting SE and I have not seen one before. If it is like the SEs that I have it should also turn out to be an excellent shaver. Be interesting to what blade they originally took. Be sure and post how it shaves for you.

Bob

I have the same razor and it came with a hollow ground blade - albeit maked Le Grelot - so not a matching set. I used a Heljestrand hollow ground which fits perfecly and it resulted in a nice shave. The razor will also take a standard Gem blade.