Thread: W.B. Hilliard & Son Gasglow any info?

Gents,
I acquired this on ebay the it is a true shame about the #7 the scales are ivory and i plan on stablizing the wedge pin cracks (#6 & 7) with some CA.
the blades read "the douglas" "special steel" the shank is "W.B. Hilliard & Son Glasgow" They are 6/8 full hollow, round points, jimped both top and bottom with almost no hone wear.

so far i have only cleaned them with a toothbrush and detergent followed by a good drying and then Maas and a cloth i think all they need is another MAASing and then the stones.

So has anybody ever come across these? i tried searching hear and in the unceletica (sp?) list found throught the links to no avail.

thanks

Hi - my best guess, having seen similar in the past, is that this is a 'made-for' set, Hilliards probably being a Glasgow retailer of gentlemen's goods. I've had razors before that said 'so-and-so, Strand, London' on the tang or similar wording. These were probably made in Sheffield by someone like Wade & Butcher or maybe even a smaller specialist maker who produced strictly for the retail trade. Don't let this put you off - these 'made-for' pieces are usually very high quality as they were generally sold by top (read expensive) high street shops. I think you got an absolute bargain.

Yes, they are "sheffield hollow ground"... and do seem to be of a decent quality level. I had not considered the retail market items
All that being said...Has anyone else caome across a set of these or information about the possible maker and time frame? there is no country markings that i have been able to find, just the bit about sheffied and glasgow.

Hilliard mostly seemed to produce medical and surgical instruments and, according to this - http://www.phisick.com/a3cs5.htm, were established in the 1830's.
There's a nice advert here - http://www.sensationpress.com/victor...iciallimbs.htm but nothing about razors; I would presume that they were made by another company and rebranded. Certainly a lovely looking set though.

I have a matched set. Ivory handles with initials. They are in a allegator box with purple velvet lining. "The Douglas". Bought them at a yard sale for 13.00.

I have a Hilliard (5/8", notched, half-hollow with buffalo horn scales, c.1900) it's a great shaver and has been in my weekly rotation for a couple of years.

The info. I have is that they were established in 1834 and were still operating at least into the 1920's. They seem to be a company of some repute andI believe supplied instruments to Joseph Lister. I'm not sure what they actually made and what was commisioned and retailed by them but I assume their razors would have enjoyed the same reputation as their surgical equipment.

They also had an Edinburgh shop - can't find any details on this but my own razor is marked Edinburgh rather than Glasgow (I've seen absolutely identical razors marked for both locations).