Thread: A pair of Wostys

Picked up on the Bay. I liked the etchings, they look better in person but do need some work







My guess from what I've been able to find is late 1800's ??

Nice couple of George Wostenholm razors! I have several and like them all very much. The Washington Works was in business from 1848-1890, so that puts a fairly narrow date on one of them. The Friendship razor, I don't know about. Is the manufacturing location marked on it? The Rockingham Works preceded the Washington Works, and was in business from 1832-1848. Information is from Goin's Encyclopedia of Cutlery Markings.

Originally Posted by Croaker

Nice couple of George Wostenholm razors! I have several and like them all very much. The Washington Works was in business from 1848-1890, so that puts a fairly narrow date on one of them. The Friendship razor, I don't know about. Is the manufacturing location marked on it? The Rockingham Works preceded the Washington Works, and was in business from 1832-1848. Information is from Goin's Encyclopedia of Cutlery Markings.

The friendship razor is marked Sheffield Eng. for manuf location.

No idea about the age, but I have a celebrated too (acquired from the venerable hoglahoo and polished to a shine since taking this picture):

It was quite easy to hone, and shaves very well. Congratulations on the buy!

Originally Posted by BeBerlin

No idea about the age, but I have a celebrated too (acquired from the venerable hoglahoo and polished to a shine since taking this picture):

It was quite easy to hone, and shaves very well. Congratulations on the buy!

Glad to hear it, I shined mine up today, looks great, will be sending it out to be honed later this week. Looking forward to shaving with it.

Originally Posted by Croaker

Nice couple of George Wostenholm razors! I have several and like them all very much. The Washington Works was in business from 1848-1890, so that puts a fairly narrow date on one of them. The Friendship razor, I don't know about. Is the manufacturing location marked on it? The Rockingham Works preceded the Washington Works, and was in business from 1832-1848. Information is from Goin's Encyclopedia of Cutlery Markings.

Hi Croaker,
Is there any information in Goin's of Hermann Mehl of Bremerhaven?
I think we both have the same blade in different scales on a different thread.

No information in Goin's but I contacted a dealer in Germany about Hermann Mehl razor and sent him a photo. He told me that they were made in Solingen, not Bremerhaven, and that the coat of arms on them is the Solingen coat of arms. No info on dates of manufacture. He also said that Solingen was the brand name as well as the city...hmmm. He is a world class expert and dealer. That's all we are probably ever going to know, sadly.

Hey!! I just picked up one of those "Friendship" blades on Ebay too!!

From what I've read, the Washington Works was still in production until after the 1950's.

Also, I've read that they didn't start stamping them with "England" until 1891 or 1897 when the Americans added an import law that required clearly labeled country of origin. The way I read it, they were marked simply "Sheffield" until then, and "Sheffield England" afterwards.

I'm sure somebody around here has a link, cuz I can't seem to find it at the moment...

Originally Posted by the wanderer

Hey!! I just picked up one of those "Friendship" blades on Ebay too!!

Me three! Its a nice wedge, should make a great shaver.

Originally Posted by the wanderer

Hey!! I just picked up one of those "Friendship" blades on Ebay too!!

Mine cleaned up very well, just needed a couple rounds of Mother's and one trip on the Dremel at a very low speed. A little mark here and there but I didn't want to mess with the etching. Haven't sent it out for honing yet, but it's going soon.

When I can get out of my own way I'll post some updated pics.