Thread: Several blades I could really use some help identifying.

Hey all. I know I don't post over here much with my addiction to B&B, but I think I'm starting to warm up to SRP too as the sheer number of straights over here is impressive. I feel mesmerized by all of them, almost like they are calling me to step out into traffic....


Err right. At any rate I've picked up several blades over the past several weeks and I'm a bit of a history buff. I love shaving with old blades (and really who doesn't?), and would love to hear some rough guesses as to how old each of my blades are. My apologies for some of the pics, my camera is junk (others are just lifted from the auctions I won the blade in).

Blade #1
Ford & Medley "Arrow" marked Sheffield England
The Arrow is actually an engraving on the face of the blade with an arrow going through it.
Scales are celluloid with a celluloid spacer.
Blade is a 5/8 (maybe half?) hollow with a round point.
If you can tell me anything about the reputation of these blades it would be a major help as I don't know anything about them and this one may need to be sold to pay for the other blades .


Blade #2
George Wostenhom & Son Pipe
The face of the blade is marked:
The original and only genuine pipe razor
manufactured solely by
GEO. Wostenholm & Son
Mark Granted A D 1694
The tang has another pipe on it, and the tang on the reverse side of the blade is marked:
George Wostenholm&Son original &true (pipe logo) razor Sheffield England

The scales are either celluloid or bakelite (can't tell the difference) with a lead spacer. The blade is a 5/8 half hollow with a Spanish point.


Blade #3
Another George Wostenholm & Son Pipe
No printing on face, just the pipe logo on the tang and the following printing on the tang on the reverse side
George Wostenholm & Son
Sole manufacturer of the original & rust spot (pipe logo) razor
Sheffield England
I'm guessing the word true used to be where the rust is now.

Blade is a 6/8 square point, with home made wood scales so no idea of original materials.


Should I be at all worried about the lead spacer on blade #2? My bet is no, enjoy it but I'm not really a fan of lead.

Thanks in advance for the help.

Welcome to SRP. If I'm not mistaken they also used pewter for wedges in those old Sheffields. Wostenholm was one of the largest cutlery mfgs and they made a good shaving razor. I can't say for sure but the pipe razor without the etching on the blade may be an earlier one. They started etching in the 1850s and most pipe razors I've seen have the etching though I have seen a few that didn't. Those were for sure early as they had the stub tail characteristic of that vintage. You might want to check out the member services in the classifieds and send the ones you keep out to be honed to shave ready.

Good to see you here at SRP! THe only blades I know about are your Worstenholmes. They are great shavers and one of my favorites. There was a thread here a while ago that had some history but I don't have the time to so a search for you.

Here's some info from Taylor 1000's site: Information Links

IXL
GEORGE WOSTENHOLM & SON
Rockingham Works ca. 1694 - 1847
Washington Works, Sheffield ca. 1847 - at least 1991

WOSTENHOLM, GEORGE
Sheffield
1797 - 1823 ("Old Sheffield Razors" by Lummus. Antiques, December 1922 p.261-267)

Wostenholm George & Son, merchants, & razor, table, pen, & pocket knife, &c. manufacturers, Washington Works, Wellington street; house: Kenwood, Cherrytree hill From Whites Directory of Sheffield 1852

GEORGE WOSTENHOLM & SON
Successors to George Wostenholm in 1823 ("Old Sheffield Razors" by Lummus. Antiques, December 1922 p.261-267)
Rockingham Works ca. 1694 - 1847
Washington Works, Sheffield ca. 1847 - at least 1991

THE ORIGINAL AND ONLY GENUINE PIPE RAZOR

Thanks guys! Answers came fast! Now I need to wait for my blue magic to come so I can polish em up and start honing. I do hear they are magnificent shavers.

So you guys are thinking that with the stub tail these are pretty early pipes? How badly would I devalue the razor with the celluloid scales if I were to make some new ones for it? The reverse side has a fairly large chip missing right at the pivot pin and the scales are pretty loose... Actually I'm on the fence about replacing the other scales too as they aren't sealed and I want to give them at least an alcohol bath to get rid of the junk, but I hear a lot of those art deco people love these hand made scales.

I also found a British knife forum that talked about Wostenholm knives. I joined up and am going to ask them if they know anything about these blades. http://www.synobyte.com/forums/showthread.php?t=72466

Have you found out anymore? I have a razor very similar to your #3 but with what appear to be original horn scales, and I am hopeful to find out a little more regarding dating it.