Thread: Help: Wostenholm "ERBO"

I've got this razor, but I've never seen "ERBO" stamped on a Wostenholm before. I've also never seen scales/washers like this before, though I'm thinking they might have been crude replacements. Does anyone have any info or ideas?

Click the pics for big ones.

Crude? Naw, it's antique. I suppose you're right but I like the look--it seems age appropriate. It also looks like it needs a new bevel.

Yep, aftermarket scales... They look like they are made of wood. Wostenholm of that era would mostly have horn scales, or later ebonite ones...

Nenad

Originally Posted by Utopian

Crude? Naw, it's antique. I suppose you're right but I like the look--it seems age appropriate. It also looks like it needs a new bevel.

Originally Posted by superfly

Yep, aftermarket scales... They look like they are made of wood. Wostenholm of that era would mostly have horn scales, or later ebonite ones...

Nenad

The scales are indeed wood. I also like their rough look, though the blade is a bit blade-heavy; the wood is not very dense. I've begun to work on setting the bevel, but there is a ways to go. The middle of the front side (with the stampings) is, as you can see, is the reason it's going to need a fair bit of work.

Has anyone seen ERBO or the crosses on a Wosty before? Those are the bits that are puzzling me.

There was an "EBRO" wostenholm on the bay within the last week or two, I think I set a snipe on it...lemme see if I can find it...

Big ups to Cheech; we'd been PMing about the blade and he pointed me here:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...ostenholm.html

Very enlightening.

In summery, ERBO's are by a Joseph Wostenholm, also out of Sheffield, 1854-67.

The scales are indeed replacements, crudely but effectively pinned . The word 'EBRO' (not 'ERBO') was a Wostenholm trademark used as seen with twin Maltese crosses between about 1854 - 1867. At the same time and in the same place (Sheffield) George Wostenholm was also working at Rockingham Works, just to confuse things! Oddly enough the word 'EBRO' was also used by A. Kastor & Bros, USA, working from C. 1876 - 1947. They came to the USA from Germany I believe C. 1870. One of the brothers later returned to Germany and opened the Germania Cutlery Works, siezed by the NAzis in 1939.

Originally Posted by blueprinciple

The word 'EBRO' (not 'ERBO')

That's really funny. I guess I must have had the spelling ERBO so strong in my mind that I have consistently been misreading and mistyping it. Oh, the power of the mind.

Thanks for the additional information as well.

Interesting! I just learned two things,one,something new about a razor and two,Holli cant read!

Originally Posted by Blackstangal

Holli cant read!

I blame school for taking all my energy; I've just started up again full time, and the first two days saw me in classes (student teaching and taking classes) for something like 20 hours.