Thread: Can you id this Wade & Butcher

Originally Posted by karlej

Magnum Bonum. Common phase of the time. Nice razor you have there. Latin 'a great good'.

No wonder i couldn't figure out an english phrase.
thank you Karlej. That should help me gather more info

Yup, "Magnum Bonum", very common on many razors of the time, "Great Good" in Latin.

Here's another....I have at least two I think.

""Yup, "Magnum Bonum", very common on many razors of the time, "Great Good" in Latin.""


So what would the aprox time be of my new acquisition with regular size tang?

Originally Posted by Raol

""Yup, "Magnum Bonum", very common on many razors of the time, "Great Good" in Latin.""


So what would the aprox time be of my new acquisition with regular size tang?

Think around 1860's, newer, the acid wash on the blade face being the indicator, do a search, think theres a few threads on the MB razors, very nice to grab one in good condition, super nice score for you...etching is in ok condition like mine, hard to see on a photo....congrats.

Thanks for the feedback my Canadian Bro'. Can't wait to hone it up,.........You make me feel really good about making this purchase.

Originally Posted by Raol

Thanks for the feedback my Canadian Bro'. Can't wait to hone it up,.........You make me feel really good about making this purchase.

A W&B, "Magnum Bonum" is always a superb purchase, large "branded" razor from an epic time, I would've grabbed it faster than a fat kid on a smarty.

Only thing that bugs me about the later ones with this acid wash, is you really can lose the etch, if you look closely at the one I posted, you can just see the start of the same etch your's has.

Here's another "version", similar marketing type thing, big blade, and something you don't see, a Frederick Reynolds, but instead of the fantastic deep etching, you've got this acid wash technique.

Big difference between the W&B version and this Frederick Reynolds, "The Celebrated Hollow Ground Razor For Barbers Use", you can barely see the etching, while on a W&B, they're usually dark and deep. Look closely and you can see the etching. But it's all but gone now, whereas on any of my W&B's, the engraving stands out loud and proud.

I see Karl and Phrank have you covered on what the phrase is! Here's a little background on its use.

The earliest verifiable date I can find is from August 9th, 1810, in an ad that ran in the American Citizen newspaper from NYC.



Next we have a 'Magnum Bonum' etched razor and strop case illustrated in Smith's Key (1816)




In practice, these looked a little different, with the etching on top of the spine. From the examples I've seen, it looks like these early 'Magnum Bonum' razors were made from blank patterns purchased from a common source (with some variations).

By the mid 1820's, the etching was on the blade face and there wasn't any particular style associated with the slogan.

Yours dates to between 1830ish and 1850ish, with the middle being most likely.

Enjoy!

Originally Posted by Voidmonster

I see Karl and Phrank have you covered on what the phrase is! Here's a little background on its use.

The earliest verifiable date I can find is from August 9th, 1810, in an ad that ran in the American Citizen newspaper from NYC.



Next we have a 'Magnum Bonum' etched razor and strop case illustrated in Smith's Key (1816)




In practice, these looked a little different, with the etching on top of the spine. From the examples I've seen, it looks like these early 'Magnum Bonum' razors were made from blank patterns purchased from a common source (with some variations).

By the mid 1820's, the etching was on the blade face and there wasn't any particular style associated with the slogan.

Yours dates to between 1830ish and 1850ish, with the middle being most likely.

Enjoy!

Was waiting for you Zak!!! I couldn't exactly remember the period, so they're earlier in fact.

What's with the acid wash (if I have that correct) versus what looks like the stamped etchings?

Can barely see the MB on mine as well, have another two, that unless you tilt it at just the right angle, you wouldn't even be able to tell that the blade face had an etching on it?

Here is my Magnum Bonum - based on the earlier version of the Robert Wade mark (right?) this should date to perhaps 1820 give or take a few years.



-Mickey

Originally Posted by cwomg

Here is my Magnum Bonum - based on the earlier version of the Robert Wade mark (right?) this should date to perhaps 1820 give or take a few years.



-Mickey

That's gorgeous, trade you mine for that one.....LOL.

That one might even be 1790-1810? The scales on that are original aren't they? Spectacular.....