Thread: Age of a W&B?

Just got a rehab project off of Ebay, a W&B Diamond Edge Razor with what I think are original etched horn scales. Just wondered about the probable production date and whether or not there is any way (or reason) to rehab the faded gold leaf etched scales.
Thanks for the input!

Wade & Butcher began in 1819 or there abouts and stopped manufacturing straights in the early 1900'S.
All I can tell you is if your razor is stamped Sheffield, it was manufactured before 1890, but if it is stamped Sheffield England, then it was manufactured after 1890!

Wonderful to think that I shave regularly with a blade that's somewhere between 120 and 190 years old.

X

Originally Posted by xman

Wonderful to think that I shave regularly with a blade that's somewhere between 120 and 190 years old.

X

Thats one of the things I love about shaving with a straight!

The Diamond edge model razors that I have are from 1880 to around 1895,they are 1/4 hollow,with a spine ground to a pyramid shape.They have the words Diamond Edge stamped into the blade face on the mark side they are in 6/8 and 7/8 sizes.Some regrinds from the period dont have the stamping they are usually reground to 1/2 hollow.Some of them have a very attractive etch with part of the blade frosted,and the wording in bright letters.They make excellent shavers,and Joe can regrind these into very nice razors if you have one that has had all the goodie honed out.I really like these razors,and so I have quite a few

Best Regards Gary

Originally Posted by xman

Wonderful to think that I shave regularly with a blade that's somewhere between 120 and 190 years old.

X

Originally Posted by JMS

Thats one of the things I love about shaving with a straight!

Me, too! Very cool.

Originally Posted by Traveller

The Diamond edge model razors that I have are from 1880 to around 1895,they are 1/4 hollow,with a spine ground to a pyramid shape.They have the words Diamond Edge stamped into the blade face on the mark side they are in 6/8 and 7/8 sizes.Some regrinds from the period dont have the stamping they are usually reground to 1/2 hollow.Some of them have a very attractive etch with part of the blade frosted,and the wording in bright letters.They make excellent shavers

Best Regards Gary

Thanks for the info, you described the blade very well. Mine looks like it has the frosted blade and pyrmid spine but the lettering is faded quite a lot. Is there any fear of the lettering coming off completely if I use Maas on it? Thanks!

Originally Posted by JMS

Wade & Butcher began in 1819 or there abouts and stopped manufacturing straights in the early 1900'S.
All I can tell you is if your razor is stamped Sheffield, it was manufactured before 1890, but if it is stamped Sheffield England, then it was manufactured after 1890!

Very groovy. I just bought a blade from the 19th century then from JoshEarl Can't wait to get that in my hands when it is totally done and scaled.

Originally Posted by xman

Wonderful to think that I shave regularly with a blade that's somewhere between 120 and 190 years old.

X

It is quite cool when you think about it, is it not?

Originally Posted by xman

Wonderful to think that I shave regularly with a blade that's somewhere between 120 and 190 years old.

X

Wow me too. I just looked at the W&B I got from Vlad and it only says Sheffield. It's an oldie...
Damm I just looked at my W&B wedge that I haven't used in a while -same thing.

Originally Posted by DEwey

Is there any fear of the lettering coming off completely if I use Maas on it? Thanks!

I just won one of these last week, and received it today. What a neat old razor. I took some Maas to it, and I haven't noticed it losing any more of the etching. (But mine is also pretty faded. You can read it, but you have to hold it in the light just right.)