Thread: Help with identifying maker

Hello gents,
I was hoping to get some help with a razor I got from my father. It has Kayser Ellison & Co's Best Sheffield Silver Steel and the number 88 on the other side of the tang.
Here are a couple pictures. It was recently rescaled with Dovo scales.
Is the 88 the makers mark?

Thanks for any help you can offer,
Paul

I couldn't find much I am sure someone here can help but I did find this about the company

Kayser, Ellison and Co

KAYSER
...
...
WIll
"'"
..,
..
..,
...
...
..,
..,
..,
..,
"'"
..
"'"
WIll
wI
..
.."
.."
.."
wI
.."
wI
wI
wI
..
wI
...
..
wI
..
'fill
..
wI
wI
..
wI
wI
'fill
wI
..
KAYSER, ELLISON & co.,
Carlisle Works
Sheffield
ea. 1862 - (1919)
Cutlery of all kinds
Ref. 1892, 1919, 1974

Good looking razor. Is it shave ready?

Originally Posted by jwy77

Good looking razor. Is it shave ready?

I did send it out to get cleaned up and honed. The scales were broken and replaced. I made the mistake of shaving with it when I first got it back from the honing and at the time only had about 20 or so shaves under my belt. The extra length and shallower blade gave me a rough, bloody shave. I'm ready now to bring it into the fold. Pretty sure Kayser Ellison just supplied the steel and the maker could be from anywhere.
Hopefully some one will weigh in with more information.
Thanks,
Paul

Originally Posted by bouschie

KAYSER
...
...
WIll
"'"
..,
..
..,
...
...
..,
..,
..,
..,
"'"
..
"'"
WIll
wI
..
.."
.."
.."
wI
.."
wI
wI
wI
..
wI
...
..
wI
..
'fill
..
wI
wI
..
wI
wI
'fill
wI
..
KAYSER, ELLISON & co.,
Carlisle Works
Sheffield
ea. 1862 - (1919)
Cutlery of all kinds
Ref. 1892, 1919, 1974

Thanks for the info though I think your message got a little garbled up. Wonder if Kayser Ellison actually made razors? I'm thinking they supplied steel.
Paul

Paul is right, more then likely a German razor made from Kayser steel.

The story of the steel goes back to Wilson, Hawksworth & Moss, later Wilson, Hawksworth & Hunter & Sons.

Wilson, Hawksworth & Moss was founded in 1825 by John Wilson (father of Lady Mappin) and John Wilson Hawksworth. John Wilson had a premises in Sycamore Street which the company rented. Joshua Moss was originally the firms american agent. Such was his success that he was taken on as a partner in 1832, at which point his name was added.

The 1833 trades directory for Sheffield gives Michael Hunter as being a table knife manufacturer, Sheldon Row, Willey Street; home Broomhill Terrace.

In 1836 they moved to Arundel Lane, also renting another site where they made their own steel. By 1846 steel making was gaining greater prominence and Joseph Ellison had joined the firm.

In the 1850s they relocated to the Don Valley, and steel-making becoming the principal work.

In 1869 they took on Charles W. Kayser as a traveller. Kayser, originally from Solingen, Germany, gave them an ultimatum - at the end of 3 years they would either offer him a partnership or he would leave the firm. In 1872 he was made a partner, eventually becoming master of the whole company. It was under Kayser's direction that the firm abandoned knifemaking in favour of specialist steel production. They became known as Kayser, Ellison & Co., one of Sheffield's leading special steelmakers.

A number of countries imported their steel billets for razor making, including Germany.

I have no idea if it was made in England or Germany, but like Martin I tend to lean towards Germany. I don't think that "88" is a makers mark, more like a model number referring to a specific grind/shape/width, but I could be wrong.

Makes me wonder why it has no prominent makers mark or country of origin. Could have been made when Germany, for obvious reasons, was out of favour with the rest of the world, eg WW1 - but I am probably mistaken about that, too...

Regards,
Neil

I restored a lovely Puma made from Sheffield steel by Kayser Ellison & Co of Sheffield.

Neil,
Thanks for the great information! Regardless of the maker, it is a nice razor that I'll eventually get shaving smoothly.
Thanks again,
Paul