Thread: Are they Ivory???

I assure you that those are celluloid.

Hmm, yeah hard to tell but I think right above the head I saw some wood ring looking lines. I wasn't convinced to begin with from the picture because I do have Ivory jewelry and they get rather shiny from handling it. I would assume that daily shaving would add oil to it and polish it nicely but I cannot see any distinct shine on the handle at all. I go with the "french ivory" thing!

definitely celluloid. No soft color changes or pattern on the inside of the scales, the pattern on the outside is to smooth with no grain to be ivory.

Maybe French Ivory

Also, I noted this in the ad

I haven't checked to see if the company is still inbusiness,but if it is
...
"The problem is that while the warranty card is included and is in great shape which by he way adds even more value to this fine razor, the company -J.R. Torrey, doesn't exist any longer- that's the funny part-ya see?"

???
Seller doesn't know if the company is still in business, but knows it doesn't exist - what the...? So yeah I guess that IS the funny part

Sorry Neil, I do stand corrected - what I should have said was that 'I have never seen any bonded ivory scales' I still think the relief looks too deep for the real thing, though.

Originally Posted by Neil Miller

I hate to disagree with blueprinciple, but I have had an old one-piece ivory scaled razor with no bottom pin, but it had cracked at the bottom, so I had to pin it anyway.

It was much thicker than normal - thick enough to take a bit of relief carving (not that it had any, just a bit of scrimshaw) and was definitely ivory - it had the roughly parallel lines acros the length, the (often not that evident) v-section grain at right angles to the long lines, and it didn't melt.

Those scales on the Torrey don't look that convincing to me, though. Probably synthetic.

Regards,
Neil

In his reply to the question about whether the scales are ivory or celluloid, he makes a big deal about how he's been dealing with all these different types of ivory for 35 years so he can tell instantly that they are definitely elephant ivory but if you look in his other listings, there's a mask which he can't tell whether it's ivory or bone - not so certain after all!

With his (or her) 100% feedback rating, and paypal's guarantee,
I don't think one could go wrong to buy and see for themselves what the handle material is.
Here is another reply from the seller:

Hmmmm- Have you seen the ther ivory items in my store. I probably have over 450 ivory items in all. So, the question isn't my expeience with ivory- I have it and can tell which is elephant, boar's tusk, walrus, even vegetable ivory (did you know that there is such a thing?) It's just a question of convincing you. You know that you can return the item by contacting me within 7 days of receiving it, and I will waive in writing the re-stocking charge (which we seldom employ, but we seldom, if ever have returns).
If you give me your email address I can re-send the photos to you-they're actually quite large, but eBay takes them down in resolution to post them. You could then zoom-in to get a better look. Youll have to send your e-mail address back tome.
Beyond these ideas, I'm at a loss.....but surely, thee thigs could help. by the way, I have several antique razors with ivory scales
hanging around, and some others with cellulose handles. I will warrant this razor to be ivory. It's also one of the nicest ones I have, if not THE nicest.Ane a very good deal. If all those things and my reading my feedback don't convince you, then I fear that you just can't be convinced and will be paralyzed as far as decidig about this particular item, if not similar items.
And, by the way, I don't find the pictures to be plastic-looking. Respectfully,
Harris

I'm 100% certain that the scales are celluloid, but I'm not going to get in the way of someone who wants to take their chances, anyway. Have fun.

Originally Posted by PapaBull

I'm 100% certain that the scales are celluloid, but I'm not going to get in the way of someone who wants to take their chances, anyway. Have fun.

+1 I looked at some of the items this seller is selling and it all looked like overpriced,and the scales are not ivory , look them up in the standard guide to straight razors if you need a more authoritative/documented opinion!

Look at the last picture and see how thick they seem to be
Ivory scales are very thin these look like Celluloid

2 other things bother me with that seller

His bulls..t yarn.

At the price he's selling, he does not have to pad shipping cost.
Priority at Post Office is 4.80
Priority by internet is 4.75
PO furnishes box or enveloppes for free when using Priority.
He wants 8.75 shipping. That's $4.00 just for dropping the package in the corner mailbox.