Thread: Anyone know anything about this razor?

Originally Posted by Martin103

Quite the find indeed! unusual if I may say so, we have seen many razor with "Acier Fondu" made by English makers, but very unusual to have the "veritable" that is quite common amongst French makers.

Agreed. It's the first I've seen. I expected veritable to be part of the manufacturer's mark, but Brammall's was simply "CALVIN".

What does the word veritable mean?
Razor wise

Originally Posted by Hoover2014

What does the word veritable mean?
Razor wise

It means genuine or true -- very similar meaning in both English and French.

As for razors, it's like Johnmrson said -- 'real cast steel' (as in 'VERITABLE ACIER FONDU'). It's marketing language from the late 1700's.

Originally Posted by Voidmonster

It means genuine or true -- very similar meaning in both English and French.

As for razors, it's like Johnmrson said -- 'real cast steel' (as in 'VERITABLE ACIER FONDU'). It's marketing language from the late 1700's.

I have never seen "veritable acier fondu" usually Veritable is used on French razors after the makers name as genuine.

Originally Posted by Martin103

I have never seen "veritable acier fondu" usually Veritable is used on French razors after the makers name as genuine.

Yes, you must be right. The stamp dies have 'CALVIN / VERITABLE' and 'ACIER / FONDU'. Clearly two different strikes.

This really does bolster the argument that Huntsman's steel came back to Sheffield by way of the French market (and marketing).

so since it says "veritable acier fondu" does that mean it's a unusual or rare razor?

It's allready rare to begin with.

You have a razor most dream of so yes sir its rare. I usually dont like the word rare because it gets used loosely but in this case it applies

Originally Posted by Hoover2014

so since it says "veritable acier fondu" does that mean it's a unusual or rare razor?

That's a complicated question.

It is undoubtedly rare because it's the only Nicholas Brammall razor I've seen.

Did he produce many razors? We don't really have any way of knowing. Having never seen another of his, we don't know if they were all marked that way. So was it rare in his day? Maybe? Maybe not?

If he had an average production capacity for a small manufacturer in the late 1700's and he operated for, let's say 10 years, he most likely produced thousands of razors. Maybe 10+ thousand.

Without a lot more samples of his work, it's impossible to say how representative this one is.

It is, essentially, a razor made by a manufacturer who had no lasting fame at all. It's also neat because it fills in a little bit of information about the period.

Not only is it a rare find but it is a rare find in fantastic condition, so it is a home run. I have to say bravo. I was impressed before Voidmonster and Martin brought out all the historical facts.