Thread: Meier Century Razor - need info

I am not a user or collector of razors. but someone asked me if I could find information on this razor. It looks interesting. It was her grandfather's, who was a barber in the 1920's.

The blade is clearly marked but I could not find any reference of a "Meier Germany Century" razor. The blade seems more detailed than the others she has. It has an etched (?) design of flowers. Also, is it possible to tell what the scale is made of? Is bone a common material used?

I appreciate any info you can give me.

Thanks so much!

Rene

Good photos! The Century trademark is listed on p54 of Goins' Encyclopedia of Cutlery Markings as follows: Century Trademark (inside a diamond)g1920-1940. Specialty Trading Company Germany is stamped on the back of the tang. Since yours is not stamped that way on the tang, my guess is that they made razors for other importers as well. Goins' also had a reference to Meier on p180. E.W.F. Meier St. Louis England. "Monogram" is stamped on the bolster. There were lots of razor and cutlery importers. Not a definitive answer, but maybe all the info there is, unless someone has another reference.

Thanks so much! Any guesses about the scale material?

scale material is a synthetic. faux bamboo were very popular for a while and many makers used it on their razors. I had a set just like that on a Thistle Cut razor.

Red

Thanks! What about the vertical lines that can be seen? Was that done intentionally to look like faux ivory?

The "Bamboo" pattern scales are celluloid and pressed in a mold that gives them whatever figure they have. What puzzles me about them is that I have never seen an original razor with "Bamboo" scales. My theory is that they were sold as replacement scales only. I have seen ancient pre-1870 Sheffield wedges wearing celluloid scales that could not have been original, because celluloid was invented in 1868. I never purchase a razor with "Bamboo" scales, for that reason, right or wrong.

That's very interesting! Good to know! Thank you.