John Watts frameback

Found this one in the wild. I’ve not heard of the manufacturer and the only markings are “John Watts - Sheffield”.

It’d my first frameback and I’d appreciate any info folks might be able to provide about its origin.

I will try to clean it up and make it shave ready. I believe you hone this grind pretty much the same way you hone any razor, so that’s how I’ll proceed unless I hear different.

The scales feel quite flexible and the wedge appears to be of the same material. I have no idea what that material is, but it feels a bit like leather and is in quite good condition.
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I think the scales are cardboard if memory serves.

Hone as normal but your gonna have to get through to some decent steel.

:)

They seem like cardboard but I believe they are boiled leather. I have a set on a Hunter razor at home. Richard spotted them as boiled leather. They look the same as the ones on your frame back.

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Originally Posted by RezDog

They seem like cardboard but I believe they are boiled leather. I have a set on a Hunter razor at home. Richard spotted them as boiled leather. They look the same as the ones on your frame back.

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I have no idea what the scales would have looked like originally. If they are leather, can I use a leather treatment to bring some shine/protection to them or is that going to take away from the heritage look? I’m thinking about mink oil or Dubbin.

That I do not know. There are likely some threads about them somewhere around here. I cannot do a site search from this device or I would help you look.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RezDog

They seem like cardboard but I believe they are boiled leather. I have a set on a Hunter razor at home. Richard spotted them as boiled leather. They look the same as the ones on your frame back.

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I remember, yes..
I have one somewhere.

Found this https://sharprazorpalace.com/worksho...Leather+scales

Glen seems to think simple shoe polish ought to be enough.

Apparently John Watts framebacks aren’t so rare. There a few mentions in fora on SRP.

Did a web search and found this reference to the company: John Watts Ltd.

They were in business until 1999, but I’m pretty sure my razor pre-dates that.