Hi all,
I am new to the forum and it looks like you may be able to help me with this razor...i need some help on when it was made and if it was mass produced ect...is it a collectable one?
any info would me please
trekky
Printable View
Hi all,
I am new to the forum and it looks like you may be able to help me with this razor...i need some help on when it was made and if it was mass produced ect...is it a collectable one?
any info would me please
trekky
at first look ... pre-1890 what does the etching on the tang read... cannot make it out in the picture
The tang reads: MARSH BROTHERS & CO, POND WORKS, SHEFFIELD. Picture of a 'W' on its side with an arrow in middle? a 'y' and a cross like on the blade...
sorry has ENGLAND on back of tang....
Ahh.. the England ... then i have to change my date... most likely made AFTER 1890. although uniceletica lists them as :
MARCH BROS & CO
Pond Works, Sheffield until 1852
Navigation Works, Sheffield ca. 1853 - 1920
collectiblity is subjective... all the marshes that i have had or seen have been very worthwhile shavers. polish it a bit with maas... hone it up and enjoy... look like the new pattern is a hollow ground razor
Not much desire or value then?
I have a number of the non Wade and butcher Sheffield's, they all shave as well and most better than a WB but since many fewer were made or are still in existence they are not widely known or collected...
the real value is in the way the razor shaves some highly sought after blades are not all that great at shaving... butthey sure are pretty
Jim, I thought I'd wait for your post on the matter as you have a lot more experience.
My thought when I saw it was that it's a late 19c regrind and I don't see what would prevent the company that reground it to put the England stamp on the back, just like they engraved the blade.
Can we have a picture of the reverse?
The pictures are bad, but from the way the shank goes it seems to me that it was originally a nice thick wedge.
I doubt that. Doesn't look like it would have been anything but made exactly how it looks now. I know when you think of Marsh Bros. razors you think of older wedges and all, but they were in business until at least 1920 and I'm sure their designs must have evolved to these types of razors. This is just my hypothesis though- I doubt any of us REALLY know besides what we can piece together from bits of history.Quote:
Originally Posted by gugi
Yeah, I don't see anything about that blade that indicates that it was reground!
Wait a second, I just noticed that its a pond works razor which would put it at 1852 or earlier, the England stamp would put it at 1890 or so and later!
We have mystery or gugi is right on the money!
i say a mystery, perhaps uniceletica is is not always correct on their dates, what i have against the regrind is that they would need to reduce the thickness of the tang which would remove the original etching...
Pond works puts it post-1851. The blade etching has been in use by Marsh family members since about 1733. The W & Y are also common Marsh touch-marks. The word 'England' on the tang suggests post-1890 (though some makers put country of origin on prior to this date. I would date it 1900-1910. Nice razor!Quote:
Originally Posted by pigletntrekky
I have a marsh brothers razor that I have been using and it is easy to hone, easy to keep sharp by strop, and is an overall good shaver.
Mine is a Roxo also. I woul dnot hesitate to pickup another if it came my way.
On the collectible end, If you like it keep it and it is a collectible, if you don't like it send it on it's way to another who will make it a collectible for them.
Thank you all for the info...I know nothing about razors but it does look like new, so i don't think it has been reground...looks like it been shapened once or twice, it is very shrp still and has a very clean edge...no dents or chips...so have we established that the date of it is 1920's? or ealier? I am not looking to keep the item, would i be better off offering it here for sale or on somewhere like ebay? Any offers guys?? and what would someone pay for it?
Thanks again for all the info..
Trekky