Wow,,,
Just sayin......
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Wow,,,
Just sayin......
It is a monster. The scales are humongous. Have not even tried to hone it. Should get it out and clean it.
Take newer and better pics. It IS a sight! :rofl2:
I take back what I said earlier about the experimental Stodart alloys looking about the same as any other steel. Mind you, I haven't gotten a good picture of it because it's a challenge to photograph, but as it turns out, both iridium osmium and rhodium alloyed steels are visibly brighter than regular steel. Whiter. Regular Sheffield steel has a very faint yellow cast to it when laid next to either of the experimental alloys.
And yeah, those razors definitely belong here.
http://theshiveringbeggar.com/wp-con...01/DSC1153.jpg
So far I've only honed the iridium osmium (because it was the one that had a chance of causing toxic gas if the osmium in the swarf vaporized into osmium tetroxide). Unlike pretty much any old Sheffield razor I've got it took an edge polish down to a quarter micron and it shaves incredibly.
These were sold on eBay for a pittance, but I tracked them down to a major eBay seller, Tony Holmes, and I offered him a wheelbarrow of cash for them. He knew exactly what they were though and didn't want to sell. Which was fine by me, they were being appreciated for what they are. But a year later and that wheelbarrow of cash looked more useful to him, but by then I was neck-deep in moving and didn't have the spare money anymore.
SO many thanks to him for holding onto them until I could make good on my original offer. They are my most cherished razors, bar none.
Those are very fascinating Zak! Thank you very much for sharing along with the info.
There are quite a few very interesting old razors in this thread. I'll throw out 2 that while not really rare are probably pretty scarce.
The first is a George Ibbertson made with Firth Stainless steel and sold through T Eaton Co in Canada in the 1930s is my guess and only a guess.
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g2...ps1f3b5de4.jpg
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g2...ps97fdf1aa.jpg
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g2...psda9858b0.jpg
The second is a Puma 18 probably originally an 8/8 but now slightly under with a French nose. Original scales were broken and I had it rescaled in black horn to original shape.
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g2...psbb70a821.jpg
Bob
That's a rare razor Bob early stainless steel.
Geo. Ibberson "Firths Stainless" Straight Razor, Sheffield
This is a very nice vintage razor made by the celebrated Sheffield firm of George Ibberson.* It was made from Firth's Stainless steel, and the two combine to make it a bit of a museum piece.* First we will talk about George Ibberson.
The Ibberson name first found mention in cutlery records in 1666. Joseph Ibberson was a Master Cutler in 1759.* In the late 1700s John and George Ibberson were knife makers.* However, we are concerned with the George Ibberson, born around 1835.* George was apprenticed to Joseph Rodgers & sons but in 1871 he set up with Albert Wilson to form Wilson & Ibberson, Exchange Gateway, Fargate, Sheffield.* In 1874 George set up his own business in West Street, at the Central Works.* IN the 1880s the now famous violin corporate mark was purchased from John C. Skinner.* George died aged 64 in 1899, and Joseph William Ibberson took control.* In 1911 they moved to Rockingham Street.* They did well to survive the war period, making a film in 1926 and employing such well-known craftsmen as forger Ted Swinden, Bill Thackray who hardened, tempered and set the marks and Ted Osborne and his now famous apprentice Stan Shaw.* The company survived WW" as well, but was taken over in the 1980s by British Syphons Industries.*
This razor was made from the comparatively new alloy of stainless steel.* Firth Brown Steels made the steel - it was a merger between Thomas Brown & Co and Thomas Firth & Sons. The now famous Harry Brearley formulated the first stainless steel while working in the Firth Brown labs in 1912, going into production in 1913 and being well established by 1915.* However, WW1 slowed down research into the new 'marvel' alloy.* Ibberson's were sent the first samples. It was called 'rustless' at first, then 'stainless'.* The early 'rustless' steel was OK for cutlery and flatware, but not so good for razors.* However, reserach continued and by the time the name changed to rustless and Harry had left Firth-Brown it was a fine steel for razors.* I would date the razor as mid to late 1920s - I wouldn't be at all surprised if it coincided with the release of the Ibberson film in 1926.
What a list of luminaries of the razor world are encompassed by this razor - Ibbersons, Firth-Brown, Harry Brearley, Stan Shaw, etc, etc.
This is a hard thread to browse, way too many nice razors that I just wish I had!
Yea, I knew from Neil and Jamie about the history. Just wanted to see if any others would tweek onto the stainless steel aspect. I don't think many realize just how long stainless steel has been with us in one alloy or another.
Bob
The Cutlers Hall has a unique fine collection of exhibition or showpieces which were designed to show off the individual cutlers skills and/or to advertise the quality of a particular firm. Some were "shop window" knives & others were produced for the large 19th century trade exhibitions & also some were intended as presentation examples for important dignitaries. On occasion they appear to have been made simply for the pleasure of producing something different in the cutlers own time which may be why some were not stamped with the makers name, usually knives but I suspect razors also. Because of their rarity, some of these knives have become highly prized by collectors.
These exhibition pieces could have been giant or minute & could have many blades or just one. There is one fine 19th century piece in particular, a pearl pocket knife with silver end caps, unfortunately unmarked of the cutlers name & shows such fascination these cutlers had for adding as many blades as possible, 52 blades! Of course it wasn't made for everyday use. Fitting together such complicated knives was a highly skilled job & required great patience from the cutler & the filing along with the final assembly of the piece. Included in the display at Cutlers Hall is a tortoiseshell folding knife made by Joseph Rodgers & Sons most likely in the 19th century & has 24 blades. More recent is a replica of a gold handbag penknife presented by W.G. Ibberson to Queen Elizabeth II on her visit to Cutlers Hall on October 27, 1954. Such a piece was a folding knife with 1 blade & a glovehook & was made a Ibberson's Rockingham Street Works by leading craftsmen Ted Osborne & Stan Shaw. The presentation case also includes a yachting knife made for the Duke of Edinburg.
Other items of such cutlery also included scissors & offered a challenge for Sheffield skills. This collection has some exquisite examples of 19th Century scissors. An unusual pair (Sheffield made) were in the shape of a stork. I saw some awhile back on the bay & I should have gotten them. Now there are many types of these from Germany, Italy, China & Morley even made some.
This goes on & on. I found this information in my book "From Mesters To Masters".
Here is a couple interesting videos, one with Stan Shaw & the other is the oldest knife maker in the USA.
A total of 6 minutes 45 seconds, Stan Shaw starts at 2 minutes 40 seconds & goes to the end of this video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcJmA0-QaLQ
John N. Cooper, oldest knife maker in the USA~If I heard it right, he is in Lufkin, TX.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYL30sqLifs
If anyone ever saw The Iron Mistress with Alan Ladd, he makes a copy of the Bowie knife like in the movie.
Sorry, I didn't mean to go off topic. I found those video's interesting & I have more on Stan Shaw but it doesn't belong in this thread. He is a very fascinating man & the Last of the Little Mesters. Should I write more on him, I will put it in the appropriate place.
I suppose one off customs are rare.
My T.I done up by Max.P
I haven't even shaved with this one yet :shrug:
Attachment 225957
Hey Tom, I found it on here. I looked around here the other day & I think they are in a box but I was looking for a razor to show outback & I came across the one I suspected of having that triangle stamp like yours & they're identical! Look here:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/show-...ml#post1494900
Doh! :banghead: I looked again and the one which said Solingen was the Fratelli Cella.
The Lorenzo Bianda has no country of origin on it. Perhaps HE is an Italian maker? Still, with the letters M and C? Gotta start digging
No idea who the maker was on this set.
http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/u...eRazors002.jpg
http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/u...eRazors003.jpg
http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/u...eRazors004.jpg
Scales are tortoise, I think it had a blade guard somewhat like the "Curley's" at one time. Lost the link that showed it was made around 1800, but I don't know if that's correct or not. Only two of the blades are even close to usable but it's different. Haven't tried honing it. Probably never will.
Only marking on it anywhere is simply the number 1. All pieces are marked the same.
http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/u...eRazors008.jpg
http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/u...eRazors009.jpg
D Edwards, maker of fine luxury boxes in London. Razors most likely made in Sheffield. MOP scaled.
http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/u...Edwrads001.jpg
http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/u...Edwrads002.jpg
Here ya go. :)
http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/u...Edwrads003.jpg
Ah! Those are the filed-edge ones, rather than the huge ones that go across the back.
Big fan of those, too. :D
http://theshiveringbeggar.com/wp-con...rangeJimps.jpg