Thread: Drew & Sons Picadilly Circus Straight Razors

I recently bought a 7-day set of straight razors at an antique mall. The razors show a manufacturer, Drew & Sons Picadilly Circus. I don't know anything about the razors, but they are English in a leather case. The card in the display case said they are English, Ca. 1900. Does anyone have any specific information about these razors? They are hollow ground and appear to be made from quality steel.

they were a vendor, if there are no maker's stamps you're likely never find out who made them.

I attached some pictures of the set of razors I purchased. There may be enough information on the razor to identify the maker. If you know who made these razors please let me know.

Gugi is right, they were the vendors. I found this info on them:

Samuel Summers Drew founded his firm around 1844. The company was better known for their bags, cases, trunks and other leather goods.

First entered a silver mark January 27, 1887 in London. In 1900 Samuel Summers Drew and Ernest Drew ( I think one of his sons ) were listed as gold and silver workers. Located at 33 Piccadilly Circus, London, W and 156 Leadenhall Street, London, EC.
Listed as Drew & Sons in 1903.

Samuel Summers Drew either retired or died by January 15, 1914. This is when Ernest and John Summers Drew entered their own mark without him.

The firm became Ltd. in 1928. In business at least into the mid 1930's.

Regards,
Neil

May I correct some misinformation that has been republished in this correspondence. Drew & Sons was founded by my Gt Gt Grandfather John Drew, he married a lady called Mary Summers and one of their sons was Samuel Summers Drew, so he was the son of the founder not the founder. I think the reason for this misunderstanding is because if the firm started in 1844 John Drew would only have been 20, and thus not of age under British law at that time. It seems likely, therefore, that he got his father who was a glover in Maidenhead (although born in Iron Acton, Somerset), to be the legal founder of the business. His name was Samuel Drew.

John Drew apprenticed as a display cabinet maker and according to one of my Gt Aunts, who lived into her hundreds and remembered him well, he used to bang his head on the pillow four times so he would wake up at 4 am. He used the time to make cabinets on his own account and so had enough money to start his business when his apprenticeship was over.

The British business was sold in the 1930's, the last vestiges of it as a business was on the door of a silversmiths in Upper Audley Street, Mayfair which had the words "Incorporating Drew and Sons" but that disappeared a few years ago. Now their goods have become very collectable, particularly their picnic sets - but also it seems their razors!

For those interested in silver and collectibles Samuel Drew's eldest son, Henry migrated via Tasmania to New Zealand, and with his son, another Samuel Drew (who came back to the UK to train with his uncle in London), founded the Silver and Jewelry business that is still running in Wanganui and still in the ownership of my distant cousins.

Thank you Martin!

Maybe it's silly, but I want to find one of those. I miss London so much it's stupid. My Gmail theme is set to reflect the time of day and weather in London. I can't hear certain songs or I go all sad and mushy.

I think I'd probably get too heartbroken to actually *use* a razor branded "Picadilly Circus," should I even find one.

Well, seems my RAD is coming right along...

Sorry Martin, but the only error I can see is that some sources have the legal founder listed as "Samuel Summers Drew" rather than "Samuel Drew" which has led to the two being further confused elsewhere - the other info all seems to tally, doesn't it?

Regards,
Neil

Neil, yes the main problem was the confusion of the generations, and that dates back at least two years when I noticed it in a thread on a silver collectors group. Since then it has been repeated and so I was just trying to set the record straight. No criticism was intended. I have seen stuff from the company appearing on the Antiques Road Show and more and more at auction, which is great as it shows they produced quality stuff, but the credit should go to John Drew rather than Samuel Summers Drew.

Welcome to SRP Martin. Thanks for the clarification and history. Do you have any of your antecedents razors and do you shave with them ? Labhoncho, great set ! Should clean up nicely and make some great shavers.

Originally Posted by MartinDrew

I have seen stuff from the company appearing on the Antiques Road Show and more and more at auction, which is great as it shows they produced quality stuff.

Good information, but the original question is still on the table: Did Drew & Sons manufacture the razors in Labhoncho's set, or were they jobbed out to some other razor company who stamped the Drew & Sons logo on the tang for resale?

Regards - Walt