Two new wedges

I payed visit to a near by antique store and I found these two. The first one is a wedge with what looks like black celluliod scales. It has a lead wedge spacer. The stamp on the tang says
D. Miller & Son
Eldon Works
Broom

And underneath that is a picture of a broom.


The other razor is a wedge in what looks like it might have once been imitation tortise shell. it is semi translucent in some places. This one also has a lead wedge spacer.
The only stamp on the tang of this razor is
Warranted.

If anyone can tell me anything about these razors I would be very greatfull.
Thanks in advance.

Woo hoo! Those are real old timers. I have an Eldon similar to the horn handled one you got, and it honed up into a nice shaver. The other one is tortoise. There was no imitation tortoise around in those days. Clean it up (both of them) and polish the scales, and you will be surprised how "purty" they look! I am jealous, frankly. Too bad about the chip, but I am 100% sure the second one is genuine tortoise. Congratulations on a nice double find.

I really like the "Warranted". This is one old razor. Very straight scales, almost no tang, VERY NICE!! You scored:bow

That old sheffield is about 200 years of age by now.
Please please please do not super polish it.:bow

I have also have a D.Miller & Son razor. If you anyone could tell me anything about it i would be very grateful.Attachment 83399Attachment 83400

I can't tell you anything more than has already been said . All I can say is SWEEEET ! I have a thing for old Sheffield's . I don't shave with them , but I do collect them .

[David Miller is listed in the Genuki Sheffield Directory for 1852 with the following entry. Others probably have more information. This was a really old post you resurrected!


Miller David & Son, merchants & razor & spring knife manufacturers, 7 Eldon street

And this is why I continue to wander the antique malls and flea markets long after everyone else has gone. Someday I will find the elusive 160 year old razor! You give me hope of finding my centerpiece! Thanks!

Maybe "manah" is able to give you detailled information.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by dave5225

I can't tell you anything more than has already been said . All I can say is SWEEEET ! I have a thing for old Sheffield's . I don't shave with them , but I do collect them .

---

All I have to say is - Why Not?....hehehe
Send some to me and I'll give them a run once in a while....:angel:


And I LOVE that warranted blade - geez I want one - great work

David Miller didn't always make razors... in 1829-33 he was an ironmonger and table knife maker with premises in Orchard Street; then he moved to Fargate and operated a warehouse. In 1852 he set up as D. Miller & Son (Joseph) at the Eldon Works in Eldon Street.

The makers mark was a broom, but this was acquired by T. H. Blake after D. Miller & Son ceased operating, then by Castle & Turton.

David died in 1870 and Joseph in 1880. The firm seems to have continued - in 1883 it was situated at the Premier Works in Wentworth Street. Although it is said to have finished operations in 1893 another company of the same name is recorded as being in operation in Carver Street from 1911 until sometime in the 1920's.

Regards,
Neil

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Havachat45

All I have to say is - Why Not?....hehehe
Send some to me and I'll give them a run once in a while....:angel:


And I LOVE that warranted blade - geez I want one - great work

---

Ha ha , keep praying :D . When I say old , I mean pre-1850 . I have 4 not so old Sheffield's I do shave with .

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by regularjoe

And this is why I continue to wander the antique malls and flea markets long after everyone else has gone. Someday I will find the elusive 160 year old razor! You give me hope of finding my centerpiece! Thanks!

---

Here's one I found at a flea market , around 1985 . I think I paid 4 bucks for it . It's a Colley , and they were only in business from 1834-1844 .Attachment 83511

Quote:

---

It's a Colley

---

Which one?
There were several Colley companies.
Is it possible to see the stamp?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by manah

Which one?
There were several Colley companies.
Is it possible to see the stamp?

---

No problem , Manah . I didn't know there was more than one , but my info is limited . I will be grateful for anything you can tell me about this razor .
Attachment 83519

Dave - more than one? - look here :)
Note the many scissor makers. The makers mark on yours is interesting - looks like it could have something to do with the earlier scissor making and merchant company of Sharrow, Colley and Co, 1797, based in Eyre Street. I expect they were a lot of family ties - many of them were quakers - one even went to America to spread the word!

Regards,
Neil

dave5225, you have very interesting blade! Congrats!:)
First, in 1892 the owner of this stamp was Francis Arnold Colley from Ranmoor near Sheffield. Probably, he was connected with Thomas Colley, who was listed in 1774 as a table knife manufacturer in Campo Lane. But it's only my sumption.
http://www.strazors.com/uploads/gall...ley_logo_1.jpg
And the second. Your blade has the same symbols as Joseph Rodgers razors. It's very interesting fact.

http://www.strazors.com/uploads/gallery/j_rodgers_3.jpg
http://www.strazors.com/uploads/gall...ers_symb_1.jpg

If I am not mistaken your beautiful Warranted razor is a stub tail.
It has straight scales and the tail of the tang looks short and stumpy.
You may have your pass into that select gallery (see razor clubs) but check with others who actually have one.
I´m in the que with the other members waitng our turn ;)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by manah

dave5225, you have very interesting blade! Congrats!:)
First, in 1892 the owner of this stamp was Francis Arnold Colley from Ranmoor near Sheffield. Probably, he was connected with Thomas Colley, who was listed in 1774 as a table knife manufacturer in Campo Lane. But it's only my sumption.
http://www.strazors.com/uploads/gall...ley_logo_1.jpg
And the second. Your blade has the same symbols as Joseph Rodgers razors. It's very interesting fact.

http://www.strazors.com/uploads/gallery/j_rodgers_3.jpg
http://www.strazors.com/uploads/gall...ers_symb_1.jpg

---

Great work Manah as usual :tu:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Neil Miller

David Miller didn't always make razors... in 1829-33 he was an ironmonger and table knife maker with premises in Orchard Street; then he moved to Fargate and operated a warehouse. In 1852 he set up as D. Miller & Son (Joseph) at the Eldon Works in Eldon Street.

The makers mark was a broom, but this was acquired by T. H. Blake after D. Miller & Son ceased operating, then by Castle & Turton.

David died in 1870 and Joseph in 1880. The firm seems to have continued - in 1883 it was situated at the Premier Works in Wentworth Street. Although it is said to have finished operations in 1893 another company of the same name is recorded as being in operation in Carver Street from 1911 until sometime in the 1920's.

Regards,
Neil

---

Awesome history lesson Neil!
Its inspiring to see how these great cutlery companies came about.
:tu:

Thank you Neil , and Manah . The fellow who sold it to me , told me it's a Chinese razor . I didn't believe him , since I could plainly see that the razor was made in Sheffield . But now I wonder if England may have been exporting razors to China or if maybe China was exporting the blades to England , for the different cutlers to sell under their own brand , and the characters on the blades were the mark of the manufacturer in China . That could explain why razors from 2 different cutlers have the same characters stamped on the blades .

I see that Colley & Co. had moved from 98 Arundel St. to 9 Eyre La. , by 1841 . That would date my razor to sometime between 1834 , and 1841 .

It's not Chinese alphabet, it's symbols/ornament, looks like the part of the Chinese language.
W & B made razors with very similar symbols:

http://www.strazors.com/uploads/gallery/wb_chine_1.jpg
"This "Chinese Razor" was probably made for Chinese-American immigrant market during the 1850s. The symbols on the blade are not part of the Chinese language".
Standart Guide to Razors.

P.S. About two years ago, we discussed such razors on the forum.

Hi guys: even though I'm a fan of full hollow grind, these look really nice.

Thanks for sharing pics.

Regards, Jazor.

hier is my Colley in best for 10 Euro
Attachment 92698Attachment 92699Attachment 92700

Hi Strawinski,
is the stamp on the tang 2 pipes crossing each other?
Would these be stub tail razors?
Thanks for sharing your wonderful find.

Attachment 101651
Attachment 101652
Attachment 101653


This gorgeous specimen went through eBay a little while back. I was outbid, but nabbed the pictures from the auction page before they died of bit rot.

The blade says 'Manufactured for Richard Plummer Baltimore'.

Richard Plummer of Baltimore was a successful business man and prominent Quaker. Whether this was a trade model used to sell more Colley razors, or made specifically for Richard Plummer's use, I do not know. I've been unable to find anything about what sort of business Mr. Plummer did (though I do know he sold books). He was related to Johns Hopkins. The razor was probably made at some point between 1830 and 1840 which seems to be about when Mr. Plummer first came to prominence, though he lived into the 1870's.

His wife, Elizabeth Hicks, was the daughter of the American folk painter Edward Hicks, another famous Quaker.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Voidmonster

Attachment 101651
Attachment 101652
Attachment 101653


This gorgeous specimen went through eBay a little while back. I was outbid, but nabbed the pictures from the auction page before they died of bit rot.

The blade says 'Manufactured for Richard Plummer Baltimore'.

Richard Plummer of Baltimore was a successful business man and prominent Quaker. Whether this was a trade model used to sell more Colley razors, or made specifically for Richard Plummer's use, I do not know. I've been unable to find anything about what sort of business Mr. Plummer did (though I do know he sold books). He was related to Johns Hopkins. The razor was probably made at some point between 1830 and 1840 which seems to be about when Mr. Plummer first came to prominence, though he lived into the 1870's.

His wife, Elizabeth Hicks, was the daughter of the American folk painter Edward Hicks, another famous Quaker.

---

Gorgeous razor Voidmonster,
thanks for sharing and the background history.
I would love one of those one day.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bonitomio

Gorgeous razor Voidmonster,
thanks for sharing and the background history.
I would love one of those one day.

---

Me too! I really wish I'd had more money to spend on that auction.

However, I did get a pretty good consolation prize which I'll be posting about as soon as it's in my hands. :)

Very nice, I am on the hunt for a nice 17-early 1800's razor.