Thread: Basil Shales

Came across a basil shales SR. Are they good shavers? How is edge retention. Oh and where is a goid reference for looking up manufacture info so I don't have to post every time I want to look up history n razors. Thank you in advance.

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Trademarks on based metal Tableware

Thank you very much

Basil B. Shales Sr, born 1869 (from MyHeritage) lived for al least part of his life in Brockton Mass. I don't have a subscription to that site so that is all the information i can gather about him.
I would guess he may have had a hardware store or other business that contracted with H.M. Christensen to have razors stamped/rebranded for his store.

Google search gave the following info:

H.M. Christensen Cutlery Co. was founded by Henry M. Christensen in 1889 and was originally located in Brockton, Massachusetts. In 1900, the company moved to 987 Montello Street, and in 1905, it was sold to Carl A. Bohlin and Carl D. Fhyr. The company was later renamed to H.M.C. Cutlery in 1916 and moved to New Bedford, Massachusetts, where it operated until it went out of business in 1956-1957.

The company is known for producing high-quality razors, often featuring a whale logo on the tang. These razors are generally considered to be very good shavers, especially when honed properly.
H.M. Christensen razors can be identified by the legend "H.M.Christensen Co, Brockton, Mass." on the front side of the tang and "Warranted" on the reverse.

I really like the older Brockton razors. Wish those had a whale too!

Just a little thread hijack.

There are 2 HMC (in a heart) marked Bowdin's Wedges listed on eBay right now. I could swear I've recently seen a Bowdin's that was marked HMC and had the New Bedford whale scale. Bowdin must have contracted with them for at least a little while.

Originally Posted by Cattleman02

Came across a basil shales SR. Are they good shavers? How is edge retention. Oh and where is a goid reference for looking up manufacture info so I don't have to post every time I want to look up history n razors. Thank you in advance.

There's also...German tool and blade makers. Cutlers marks

Archiving Industries. Com

Anyway, Basil lived 91 years!
Saw this blade on auction site. Dead ringer for a Brockton HMC.

I always dug H M Christensens especially the Ole whale stamping and the hammer with "Hand Made", however all the HMC badging is unique.
The Bossing wedge has an arrow on the front side on the rear is the "Hand Made with an anvil.
Heres these are in my collection

I have a chase smith I picked up not to long ago with and anvil stamped on the tang.