Thread: Gray & Dudley

Hello,

I found a Gray and Dudely Hardware Co razor at an antique store. It's a "Bob Dudley's Barber Model", made in Germany. I've searched the forums but can't find any information on it. Does anyone know anything about these razors?

Thanks,

Would you be able to post a pic

Here are some pictures. I haven't done much to it other than just clean it. Needs a bit of polishing.

About all I can find is that they were located in Tennessee between late 1800 and early 1900.

The etching is quite similar to some bengal's

Well... if it was made in the US that long ago, and of germany steel, you can be pretty sure its a quality razor no matter the company. I don't know anything about the particular history of this one though.

Your razor was "jobbed out" to some German manufacturer who stamped the name of the hardware company on the tang and when they had filled the order, changed the dies and stamped another distributor's name on the next order, etc., etc. There are hundreds of hardware stores, cutlery shops, barber suppliers, etc., who had their razors made by some wholesaler whose name will probably never be known. And don't assume that having Germany stamped on the razor is an assurance of high quality. Solingen - yes. Germany - not necessarily. In the early 1900s the market was flooded with inexpensive German razors often made with inferior materials. This is not meant to diminish your enthusiasm for your razor. I have several very good razors stamped Germany. But, I don't think you will be able to learn its history beyond who sold it in this country.

Regards - Walt

I think that must have happened a lot wherever you went.
Probably the case with this razor..



The cutler in question then just stamped his own initials on a blank and pressed his name into a plain box - job done.

It seems to take a pretty nice edge, and I do like the shaves that I get with it, so I'm pretty happy with it. I got it for next to nothing, so that's even better! Thanks to all who replied.

I've got a 4/8 Keith & Simmons Hardware co. with the exact same stamp on the spine. They were situated in Tennessee between 1904 and 1906. Bob Dudley Barbers model.