Robeson Cutlery Co razor

Received this razor in a larger lot and out of the three straight that were in in this one seems to have the most potential.


Robeson Cutlery Co. Premier.
"Rochester" on the blade.


This thread gave some good information about the company and helped me date it to about 1900-1920.
The scales are in good condition (no visible cracks) but not sure if they are horn or celluloid.


The blade looks ok to my untrained eye but would love some input on if this is something that is worth getting honed/restored - I'd rather get bad news early :)

Some pics:
http://i67.tinypic.com/2qlu81e.jpg



http://i65.tinypic.com/2ag23ig.jpg



http://i66.tinypic.com/xc4sba.jpg

Those scales look to be some form of Bakelite. Light sanding and poilishing will clean up the brown oxidation. The blade looks like it could be made into a decent shaver. I wouldn't recommend sending it out for a full on restoration because when all is said and done it wouldn't be worth the money that you would have to spend on it. The blade shows a good deal hone wear but should still take a nice edge and make a good shaver. I'd recommend cleaning up the blade and scales on your own and sending a out for honinig.

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Originally Posted by BeJay

Those scales look to be some form of Bakelite. Light sanding and poilishing will clean up the brown oxidation. The blade looks like it could be made into a decent shaver. I wouldn't recommend sending it out for a full on restoration because when all is said and done it wouldn't be worth the money that you would have to spend on it. The blade shows a good deal hone wear but should still take a nice edge and make a good shaver. I'd recommend cleaning up the blade and scales on your own and sending a out for honinig.

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Thanks, really appreciate it.

Robeson’s are excellent shavers, the scales are probably Gutta Percha an early form of hard rubber and will clean up nicely with 000 steel wool and WD40 as will the blade. Polish with a good metal polish and the scales will look gleaming black, like new.

Hand sand the blade with 1K wet & dry and 600 if needed and polish with good metal polish. 1k & 600 will preserve the etching and stamps.

The blade is in great shape, I see very little wear, I suspect it was a narrow blade to begin with.

It will clean up nicely and make a very nice shaver. A very nice find. Robeson’s are one of my favorite vintage shavers.

I have a Robeson that has a blade shaped like that one. At some point they started calling their razors "Shure Edge." All my Robey's are good shavers except the ones that suffered from actual damage to the blade (not the razor's fault).

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Originally Posted by LawsonStone

I have a Robeson that has a blade shaped like that one. At some point they started calling their razors "Shure Edge." All my Robey's are good shavers except the ones that suffered from actual damage to the blade (not the razor's fault).

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From what I've read the shift to "Shure Edge" happened in the 1920's.

I have a tumbler-polisher for the brass casing I use in reloading target shooting ammo. I have sometimes taken a blade like that one and tumbled it in my polishing media for a couple hours. It's amazing how clean they come out. They do, of course, need a complete re-honing, but that's one good way I've found to get the tarnish off.

That's a very early Robeson. I suspect the scales are hard rubber or gutta percha. Got a few Robesons in my pile. They shave very nicely.

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Originally Posted by Wullie

That's a very early Robeson. I suspect the scales are hard rubber or gutta percha. Got a few Robesons in my pile. They shave very nicely.

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Thanks, I think I will try to clean it up a bit.

That hone wear seems normal (light) for its age. Slightly honed out toe, you can tell both by the spine wear and the edge. If I were you, I'd attempt the restoration on my own. 1K wet and dry, followed by 2K and polish... 800 is the lowest I'd go, if 1K doesn't work. Very interesting blade, a fine addition to your awesome collection!

I believe those scales are hard rubber also known as ebonite and vulcanite. A very common scale material during the early 20th and late 19th centuries. I doubt they are bakelite but if they are be careful if you take them apart. Bakelite is very brittle. Gutta Percha was used during an earlier time frame than your razor say mid to the end of the 19th century. In my experience with antique firearms, where it was commonly used make hand gun grips among other things, it does not deteriorate like hard rubber.
As the hard rubber deteriorates it takes on that green brown color you see. Once the process starts it will continue. Steel wool and MAAS will probably not be aggressive enough to bring the scales back to their original black color but it will polish them up.
Interesting blade. Nice find.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BeJay

Those scales look to be some form of Bakelite. Light sanding and poilishing will clean up the brown oxidation. The blade looks like it could be made into a decent shaver. I wouldn't recommend sending it out for a full on restoration because when all is said and done it wouldn't be worth the money that you would have to spend on it. The blade shows a good deal hone wear but should still take a nice edge and make a good shaver. I'd recommend cleaning up the blade and scales on your own and sending a out for honinig.

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Yeah, when I get one that has that brownish look to them, I will first try to polish the scales with some Mothers or Maas. It usually works well & the rag will be brown from all that came off but getting around the pins is the main problem with polishing them. I have also disassembled one & just sanded them down, polished & reassembled the razor & it will look great! A few I have been successful in polishing the scales w/o having to disassemble the razor.
Good luck & nice find!

I have a Robeson that I'm not sure of as to its place in the company's history. They made the "Sure Edge" with the slogan "The Razor That Fits Your Face" and advertised how their various razors fit not just with one's face, but with one's temperament. One, for example, is for the "nervous" shaver!

At some point they shifted their product a bit and produced a razor, shown below, with the phrase "New Science Concave" etched on the blade, and it is a double-hollow ground. Mine is a stupendous shaver, I must say.

I post it here for your enjoyment, and in hopes someone knows where this razor fits in the company history.

I love the Robey's and collect them.

I've got two "NEW SCIENCE Concave" razors. One's a square point 5/8, the other is a round point 5/8.

They are good shavers indeed.