Thread: Razor Reviews in 1867 Paris Exhibition

I found some very entertaining and informative reading about razors and cutlery, in the
Full text of "Reports of artisans selected by a committee appointed by the council of the Society of Arts to visit the Paris Universal exhibition, 1867"

Here is the link to the full document, which is very long, but entertaining and informative about not only arts and technology, but labor practices in different countries in 1867. I hope some of you enjoy it!

Full text of "Reports of artisans selected by a committee appointed by the council of the Society of Arts to visit the Paris Universal exhibition, 1867"

Here is an excerpt: my favorite quote would be:
The British exhibitors exhibit no trash in this department. (razors and cutlery)


In the quantity of cutlery in the French Exhibition, England compares
disadvantagcously with the French. Such a result is not unexpected.
Great Britain has only eight exhibitors in cutlery, while France has more
than fifty. Besides the paucity of numbers, there is an absence of the
largest Sheffield manufacturers. Mr. George Wostenholm, being one of
the jurors, did not exhibit, and yet there are few trade-marks better
known than the I.X.L. The celebrated firm of Rodgers and Sons, whose
corporate mark has been granted more than a century, was conspicuous
by its absence. This is more to be regretted when we remember the
display made by them in the Exhibitions of 1851 and 18G2 in London,
as well as that of Paris in 1855 ; besides, no firm has done perhaps so
much to extend the fame of Sheffield for its staple productions. The
principal exhibitors are Mappin and Webb, London and Sheffield ; Davis,
London ; G. and L. Morton, London ; and Brooks and Crookes, Atlantic
Works, Sheffield. The last-named have a splendid assortment of
scissors, razors, and knives ; they are tastefully arranged, and the credit
of Sheffield is worthily sustained by this young and enterprising firm.
The jurors award them the "Gold Medal," and I fully endorse their
verdict. Mappin and Webb have a good assortment of cutlery ; I doubt,
however, if, in the grinding department of their best specimens, they
equal those made by the old firm of " Arundel and Mappin," or the
subsequent one of Mappin Brothers. Morton's case is one of wiucb any-
one might be proud. Some of their razors are elaborate specimen* of
workmanship, both blades and handles. The aim of an exhibitor
be, while not despising ornamentation, to keep to the tiseful and cheap.
The scissors in this case are good and elegant, and though bearing the
impress " Morton," I think that they, as well as the ra/ors, arc made in
Sheffield : I should guess the makers to be J. and Win. Ragg. The
British exhibitors exhibit no trash in this department.