Thread: Dating razors: British Hallmarks & sovereigns

Originally Posted by CraigJ

When I saw the title Dating Razors I thought "That dude really likes his razors. I just shave with mine"

Same here! Got me curious!

..you, guys..

eheheh!

Success! I found the missing element: the sovereign's mark GR, indicating George IV, 1820-1830. Even better: it comes from a Wade&Butcher razor (in not very good conditions..). Also, note that there is an error in the first post of this thread: William IV was king between 1830 and 1837.



Now it could be interesting to give a look to the change of tastes between 1820's and 1850's. Look at the tails of three different W&B's: GR (1820, 1830), WR (1830-1837), VR (1837-1901).

Originally Posted by clavichord

Success! I found the missing element: the sovereign's mark GR, indicating George IV, 1820-1830. Even better: it comes from a Wade&Butcher razor (in not very good conditions..). Also, note that there is an error in the first post of this thread: William IV was king between 1830 and 1837.



Now it could be interesting to give a look to the change of tastes between 1820's and 1850's. Look at the tails of three different W&B's: GR (1820, 1830), WR (1830-1837), VR (1837-1901).

Your years were about ten off. William IV ruled from 1830-1837, only seven years.

Why is it that only SOME razors have hallmarks & dutymarks? And some makers mark some razors but not all (ie - ive a Joseph Elliot with VR stamp, but have seen heaps of others without)?

Interesting to know (yes, interesting! source):

Interestingly the Sheffield [crown] & Birmingham [anchor] hallmarks were derived from their partitioning for respective assay offices after they were ommitted by accident from official documents. They used to meet at a pub called the crown & anchor during this time.

Silver hallmarks were originally introduced in 1300 by a Statute of Edward I, which became necessary because precious metals are not used in their pure form, but rather have other metals added to them. [...] Duty marks were added in 1784 as a tax to pay for the war with America. The tax lasted until 1890!

Please remember that the above notes refers to silver hallmarks. However it seems to me that razor manufacturers, sometimes working with silver too (manufacturing forks, knives, etc.), borrowed some elements from this practice.

I've got two Marshes & Shepherd razors with "WR" stamped -- This info in this thread is great! Heres a pic of a nice clear WR on one of them!

[QUOTE=0livia;374971] Same here! Got me curious![/]

I had the exact same thought. I don't think my wife woud mind too much either as long as I spent less time honing them.