Wade & Butcher Hallmarks

Seems to me there are plenty of Wade & Butcher blades floating around out there. Does anyone know if the hallmark (Bow, arrow + cross, sheffield, etc...) relate to a particular year range?

I know that there was a law of some sort in England passed in the late 1800's where the location of manufacture had to be stamped on the blade ... hence a mile marker.

Do these maker's marks relate to, for example, a time period or a quality level/ grade ?


I find it hard to believe that this manufacturer made so many razors and such little is really known about these marks. Well, from what I can find on the internet(s) anyways...



Cheers !

IIRC the word England was added in the 1890's because it was required for imported items in either Canada or the US.
I think this applied to all makers though.
I wonder what Welsh cutlers put on their wares?:D

Thanks for the clarity ... I was not very clear on how that bit was working.


I have no idea about the Welsh .. lol.

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Originally Posted by littlesilverbladefromwale

IIRC the word England was added in the 1890's because it was required for imported items in either Canada or the US.
I think this applied to all makers though.
I wonder what Welsh cutlers put on their wares?:D

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Ah, LSBFW, do not tempt me! What indeed? Incidentally, I do hear that W&B's Maltese Cross was put on because it was easy to identify and also used by the company's founder Robert Wade. The circle 'B' is for Butcher and the arrow points towards where the safe bit of the razor is (just joking!).

I do believe Wade and Butcher used the arrow and cross as a patented trademark, but I think this hallmark was used late in production.

Recently, I purchased a W&B with just a bow used as a mark where the arrow and cross usually reside. The blade has an inscription defining the makers and such. Anyone know about the bow ?

The bow was used on several W&B razors, usuaully with the inscription (sometimes just on the box, hence the puzzle as boxes do tend to go AWOL) 'The original and genuine Bow razor' or words very near that. In use as early as 1852. The 'B arrow cross' trademark (not hallmark, that's for precious metals only) was in use in 1819 with some variants, notably the 'XCD' and 'Special'.

I've got what I believe may be an older Wade and Butcher that is marked only with a bow, no other marking as all. Can anyone tell me if I'm on the right and what the time frame of manufacture might be. From the above post I'm guessing it is pre 1890.

Thanks

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Originally Posted by ShotgunLuckey

I've got what I believe may be an older Wade and Butcher that is marked only with a bow, no other marking as all. Can anyone tell me if I'm on the right and what the time frame of manufacture might be. From the above post I'm guessing it is pre 1890.

Thanks

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The British long bow was a potent symbol and that is what the only and original bow razor was taking advantage of. If it doesn't have Made in England on it then it is pre 1880 or 90. Here is a later example of the W&B trademark.
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p...at2/1wade2.jpg

Here is an interesting scan JMS posted in the Butcher Shop awhile back. I wish I could find the original Maker's Mark thread he mentioned - maybe it was a server crash victim? :shrug:

http://straightrazorpalace.com/attac...rade-marks.jpg

I just went back to my blade to see what exactly was on it.

It states:
' The Original and Only Genuine Bow Razor
Manufactured Solely by
Wade & Butcher'

The only other identifying mark on it is a bow.


I'm gonna pot-shot the manufacture date between 1850's and 1890's.


I'm pretty sure this is a common razor. I just like to be able to date an old item.

To me, it's part of the fun.

Thanks for the input !!

I have another question. There is something I don't understand:
Most of you know the page Straight Razor Manufacturers and Dates of Operation

It says:
WADE & BUTCHER
Successor to Robert Wade; succeeded by Butcher, Brown & Butcher
Sheffield
1818-1890 ("Old Sheffield Razors" by Lummus. Antiques, December 1922 p.261-267)

and

WILLIAM & SAMUEL BUTCHER
WADE & BUTCHER
Eyre Lane, Sheffield.
circa 1845 to at least 1919
1830 - ? ("More Old Razors" by Lummus. Antiques, May 1927 p.372-374)

So, did W&B produce razors till 1890 or till 1919?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Antares

I have another question. There is something I don't understand:
Most of you know the page Straight Razor Manufacturers and Dates of Operation

It says:
WADE & BUTCHER
Successor to Robert Wade; succeeded by Butcher, Brown & Butcher
Sheffield
1818-1890 ("Old Sheffield Razors" by Lummus. Antiques, December 1922 p.261-267)

and

WILLIAM & SAMUEL BUTCHER
WADE & BUTCHER
Eyre Lane, Sheffield.
circa 1845 to at least 1919
1830 - ? ("More Old Razors" by Lummus. Antiques, May 1927 p.372-374)

So, did W&B produce razors till 1890 or till 1919?

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I would say it had to be at least 1919 if not beyond that. The photo of the DE in the post above would indicate that. The razor resembles a Gillette and they weren't in production until 1903. :shrug: I have seen a W&B pocket knife on the bay that was of a style that looked like it would have been made in the '20s or '30s.

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Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I would say it had to be at least 1919 if not beyond that. The photo of the DE in the post above would indicate that. The razor resembles a Gillette and they weren't in production until 1903. :shrug: I have seen a W&B pocket knife on the bay that was of a style that looked like it would have been made in the '20s or '30s.

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Yeah, that's exactly what I thought. I saw an old ad on ebay today that was also post 1900. Guess I have to read that Lummus article sometime.

Where do the encircled 'B' and the iron cross come from?

X

I own a Wade & Butcher Bowie Knife with the encircled b + arrow + maltess cross.....

I found this interesting because i thought Wade & Butcher only made Razors

A picture of this knife can be found on:

Knife; Bowie, Wade & Butcher, Sheffield, Antler Grip, Clipped End Blade, Sheath. [p4a.com, ltd.]

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Originally Posted by florence

I own a Wade & Butcher Bowie Knife with the encircled b + arrow + maltess cross.....

I found this interesting because i thought Wade & Butcher only made Razors

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No, they made pocket knives too and safety razors later on. I don't know exactly when they went out of business. Your knife looks like an 1850s vintage to me but I am no expert. :shrug:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by littlesilverbladefromwale

IIRC the word England was added in the 1890's because it was required for imported items in either Canada or the US.
I think this applied to all makers though.
I wonder what Welsh cutlers put on their wares?:D

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Did someone say Welsh :D

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z...007/razcoc.jpg

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Originally Posted by Jason01

Did someone say Welsh :D

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:OT Nice ! Here is a set of four. Circa ? A.W. Stamiforth Cutler, Cardiff . Good shavers all.

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Originally Posted by blueprinciple

.........the company's founder Robert Wade.....

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Robert Wade was not the company's founder, he was the head of W. & S. Butcher's New York office.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Antares

I have another question. There is something I don't understand:
Most of you know the page Straight Razor Manufacturers and Dates of Operation

It says:
WADE & BUTCHER
Successor to Robert Wade; succeeded by Butcher, Brown & Butcher
Sheffield
1818-1890 ("Old Sheffield Razors" by Lummus. Antiques, December 1922 p.261-267)

and

WILLIAM & SAMUEL BUTCHER
WADE & BUTCHER
Eyre Lane, Sheffield.
circa 1845 to at least 1919
1830 - ? ("More Old Razors" by Lummus. Antiques, May 1927 p.372-374)

So, did W&B produce razors till 1890 or till 1919?

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W. & S. Butcher continued in cutlery production until 1959. When their razor production ended I do not know, but I am sure it would have been rather later than 1919 - there was still a significant (but reducing) demand for open razors.

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Originally Posted by hoglahoo

Here is an interesting scan JMS posted in the Butcher Shop awhile back. I wish I could find the original Maker's Mark thread he mentioned - maybe it was a server crash victim? :shrug:

http://straightrazorpalace.com/attac...rade-marks.jpg

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Hi, I can't seem to find any years for the bow makers mark, does anyone know ?

IIFRC, the "Bow" was made from 1830 to 1919.

Most of these razors went to Africa and SE Asia.

I am shaving with one tomorrow and will post in SOTD. It has the same blade etch as Whiskers.

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Originally Posted by rolodave

IIFRC, the "Bow" was made from 1830 to 1919.

Most of these razors went to Africa and SE Asia.

I am shaving with one tomorrow and will post in SOTD. It has the same blade etch as Whiskers.

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Africa and Asia, I did not know that...thanks!

I have one with, "Keen Shaver" stamped underneath the Wade and Butcher makers mark...had it for quite awhile, it's going to be my next honing victim....:p

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Originally Posted by whoever

Hi, I can't seem to find any years for the bow makers mark, does anyone know ?

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You will have to search the archives for the thread, but try using 'makers mark' or 'corporate mark' in your searches - those are the correct terms. Only jewellers stamp metals (and then again, only precious metals) with hallmars - it is a part of the assay system.

Here are some more marks to add to your collection - cannot help with dates, though:

Attachment 195597
Attachment 195598
Attachment 195599
Attachment 195600

Regards,
Neil

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rolodave

IIFRC, the "Bow" was made from 1830 to 1919.

Most of these razors went to Africa and SE Asia.

I am shaving with one tomorrow and will post in SOTD. It has the same blade etch as Whiskers.

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Do you have a source for the info ? can the date range be narrowed down ?
Thanks

That's it...haha...famous Keen Shaving...that's the one I have stamped...first time I've seen it actually referenced.

I have a razor with that fouled Anchor, only it is stamped with the infamous I.Barber...interesting again Neil, thanks.