Thread: A.M. Gardner Hardware Co.

I got this razor in today. I like the way that they abbreviated the word hardware. H'DW'E. Of course I did the obligatory search and didn't find anything posted about razors for them. I did find out that A.M. Gardener himself was kind of a big shot in the hardware business in the Northeast and was on some boards in the hardware association back in like 1915.


It's obviously a contract razor. I'm pretty sure that's a 67 at the top although the 6 isn't all there. I did a search for that and didn't come up with much either but it looks like an ERN to me. They did a lot of contract grinding and it has a very hollow grind for the period like many of the ERNs do.


It's in pretty good shape and doesn't seem to have much wear. A lot of the blade left to work with. I'm hopeful after some cleaning and some other love It will turn out to be in the "no name and pleasant surprises" category.

Any thoughts???????

I was just thinking it was odd that there was no production country stamped on the blade like there is in so many of the contract razors and then with some four aught steel wool and WD-40 I uncovered this.

So at the very least it is made in Germany as I thought.

I agree the shape looks like Ern. The Hardware store razors are so hard to trace. I have a bunch of them. Its just cool to think that a man needed to buy a razor and went to the corner hardware stone to buy one. Congrats on the find.

Originally Posted by Gasman

I agree the shape looks like Ern. The Hardware store razors are so hard to trace. I have a bunch of them. Its just cool to think that a man needed to buy a razor and went to the corner hardware stone to buy one. Congrats on the find.

I wish you could hold this thing in your hand. It is so thin at the edge that you can lean your thumbnail into it and watch it flex from the other side. That's a very ERN type trait for the age that this thing probably is.

About an hour or two of sanding and 30 minutes of polishing and it looks like this[:
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I might shave with this one tomorrow.

Originally Posted by Gasman

I agree the shape looks like Ern. The Hardware store razors are so hard to trace. I have a bunch of them. Its just cool to think that a man needed to buy a razor and went to the corner hardware stone to buy one. Congrats on the find.

Will Rogers used to say, "Things ain't what they used to be, and probably never was." or as Billy Joel put it, "You know the good ole days weren't always good and tomorrow ain't as bad as it seems." We tend to remember the past for the good and not the bad but there were some things that are worth reminiscing about. Hardware stores used to be much cooler than they are now. I remember back in the 60s when my dad was working in the locksmith section of a hardware store (I own a 3 generation locksmith business) I used to go and hang out there. What a magical place! Two things I really remember vividly were the carousel of bins with nails and the display case with the knives in it. Case sticks out but they also had Barlow and Kabar among others. Strangely I don't remember razors but I'm sure they had some. What great memories. It makes me a little misty thinking about it.

Enjoy the sing of that extra hollow.

Mom and pop hardware stores have mostly faded away.
The one my dad and I used to stop in on the way to Great Grandfathers farm was just such a place.
Two dogs usually laying somewhere near the entrance. Bins of loose nails, screws and such. Shelves to the ceiling. And some things hanging from the rafters.
Tools of every trade. Farm implements. Hunting and fishing supplies. Tobacco products.
The best part was the cast of characters that worked in and frequented it.
The kind of men that got it done. Knew stuff and didn't take crap from man or beast.
Today they wouldn't fit in. No PC, safe spaces. Or identity issues.
Men that lived through the depression. Won WW2 and were pissed the politicians didn't let us win in Korea.
Guys that you could listen to. Respect and emulate. At least I try to .
Miss guys like that.
Gone but not forgotten. I suppose.
My $.02 Ken