Thread: John Barber Rarity?

I was recently out bid on a nice John Barber in good condition. I think it would be cool to have a 200 year old razor but I've just started looking. My question is how rare are they? Is it something that pops up every month or could I be waiting a year for another one? Thanks for the info.

Welcome to SRP.
This information would be help.
I can't say that J.Barber's razors very rare. But they are old and good shavers.

It seems to me that John Barber, even if active only between 1810 and 1834, really made a huge number of blades. Great shavers and refined razors inspired by good taste. Since the manufacturer is well known and appreciated, there are lot of people who are ready to buy his razors to shave with or collect, thanks also to the "masonic" mark that with no reason calls tons of entusiasts. The big production assures that you will find one or two auctions per week marked "square and compasses".

EDIT: here a nice review.

i'm not quite sure about the 1-2/week, even though there are such weeks. I'd say the average is 1-2/month. Not very rare, but certainly takes persistence.

Welcome to SRP. If you want a John Barber in particular you might have to wait to see one or you may get lucky and have one pop up tomorrow. You never know with collectibles. Here is a lovely seven day set that one SRP member posted a photo of, and here is another individual example.

I found those photos doing a search in the Razor Clubs sub forum here. There is also the SRP Wiki here with the Razor Data Base. There are a couple of John Barbers in there. I'll leave it to you to check that out. Scroll down page past the first menu that for some reason has 0 next to all of the listings. The active examples are down page.

I ran across on in an antique store acouple days ago wasn't worth what the guy was wanting for it and wouldn't budge on that price so I passed does anyone know if he was a freemason or just used the masonic emblem?

Originally Posted by wheelz74401

… does anyone know if he was a freemason or just used the masonic emblem?

I've wondered the same thing.

Originally Posted by wheelz74401

does anyone know if he was a freemason or just used the masonic emblem?

I ran across this post earlier today:

Originally Posted by Yorkshireman

"John Barber" razors were made by Allen & Son. The company was founded circa 1818. By 1870 it was located in the Granville Works, Granville Street, Sheffield. Robert Allen, who managed the company in the late nineteenth century, died in 1898. In 1902 the company was bought up by Joseph Elliot & Sons. The trademark of Allen & Son was the Square & Compasses. I do not know if Mr. Allen was a freemason, but it certainly seems likely.

Lovely razor restoration, by the way - you can be proud of that one.

Duncan.

Originally Posted by mrshish2

I was recently out bid on a nice John Barber in good condition. I think it would be cool to have a 200 year old razor but I've just started looking. My question is how rare are they? Is it something that pops up every month or could I be waiting a year for another one? Thanks for the info.

I don't know how much you want one, but you may want to try contacting Gary / Traveller to see if this one is still available. He has not been around much lately.

6930 John Barber 7/8 Square&Compasses American Eagle Custom Scales

FWIW, and only IMHO, if someone wants a John Barber specifically it is hard to say when the next one will come to market. OTOH, if you want one from that era but not necessarily from that specific maker there were many makers and they come up often.