Thread: Antique razor

I just won a antique razor on Ebay. It is a J & W Ragg prototype straight razor from 1825. The blade is made of silver steel which was just being used back in 1825. The scales are pressed buffalo horn. It is my intention to have it totally restored to as close as it's original condition as possible. My question is, is there such a place like a straight razor museum I could donate this razor to? It is such a shame that people just starting to take up straight razor shaving don't have a place to go to to see what was done lone ago and through the ages. The craftsmanship and technology that has transpired over the years. When the razor arrives, I will hone it and shave with it before I send it out because I would really like to feel the blade and see how it takes an edge as well as how it shaves.. When it comes back, I would again like to shave with it. Then it will be preserved. I am very lucky I can afford such luxury and to be able to share it with my fellow straight razor enthusiasts. Pictures will be taken before and after the restoration process.

There actually is a museum that takes old straight razors like this one. I just happen to be the curator and would gladly put it in the museum. Would you like my address?

Nice find and glad you were able to get it!

Originally Posted by jkatzman

I just won a antique razor on Ebay. It is a J & W Ragg prototype straight razor from 1825. The blade is made of silver steel which was just being used back in 1825. The scales are pressed buffalo horn. It is my intention to have it totally restored to as close as it's original condition as possible. My question is, is there such a place like a straight razor museum I could donate this razor to? It is such a shame that people just starting to take up straight razor shaving don't have a place to go to to see what was done lone ago and through the ages. The craftsmanship and technology that has transpired over the years. When the razor arrives, I will hone it and shave with it before I send it out because I would really like to feel the blade and see how it takes an edge as well as how it shaves.. When it comes back, I would again like to shave with it. Then it will be preserved. I am very lucky I can afford such luxury and to be able to share it with my fellow straight razor enthusiasts. Pictures will be taken before and after the restoration process.

That is incredibly noble and generous of you! I dont think there is an actual museum, but I;m pretty sure there was a shave shop that had created its own full on display of antique razors.

As for your particular razor, I was under the impression that those blades already WERE all original, and needed no restoration work

Sent Lynn an email that perhaps this would be an interesting part of this web page to post under Antiques pictures of vintage razors as an ongoing tab or part of this or a section of the library.

Shellburn Vermont, has a shaving museum or shaving display in it's museum, there is some others out there but I cannot find anything on them just yet. It seems to me that there have been a few members that have done threads on having visited museums here and there. One of which started out as a persons collection that became a museum after their death.

if you do a site search using the word museum several threads with specific information pop up. There is a very large museum in Sheffield England that has razor et in it.

I have been to the Shelburne Museum twice. The collection was donated by Henry Lummus.
http://straightrazorpalace.com/gener...on-unreal.html
It is truly magnificent to see in person!

I honestly think the best kind of museum is online, as that reaches the most people. (also I have my doubts that that razor was any sort of prototype and I think more likely was just unbranded, like many other examples of that type, but that's for another day).

I'm assuming your talking about the "Old English","Silver Steel" unbranded razor. Apparently a prototype from J.W. Ragg. Not to take anything about this fine razor or your generosity but its a pretty common razor, with ordinary scales, from this time period. If this was mine I would hone it and enjoy shaving with it, it is an incredible experience to shave with a close to 200 years old razor.