Thread: Aberdeen cutler?

I recently aqcuired this razor on e-bay for a few pounds. I`m curious about it because it appears to have come from my home town Aberdeen, and as far as I know there never was any history of razors/cutlery manufactured here.
As you can see it is a fairly ordinary looking item , the only engravings on read : "James Vessie cutler Aberdeen", and "Fine Surgical Steel".
It`s in good condition, a 5/8 blade with what appears to be very little wear and a slight smile.
As I said, I`ve never heard of cutlery from Aberdeen, Scotland, so this made me wonder if it came from the US. Google came up with nothing.
Is it worth restoring? Any of the UK restorers willing to take on the job for me?

It can be restored in my opinion.

For my personal shaving taste, the shape of the blade and especially the rounded tip should make for a wonderful shaver.

The razor was probably made in Sheffield and stamped with the cutlery stores logo. Quite a common practice back in those days. Many USA razors are stamped with the distributors name along with Solingen. Hoffritz for Cutlery is another example of the same thing. I have a blade marked William Landell, Glasgow that was probably made in Sheffield.

Just looking at it I wouldn't think it needs more than polishing with some metal polish and a paper towel and then hone to shave ready. In the UK Neil Miller here or Steve Dempster here could take care of it.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

The razor was probably made in Sheffield and stamped with the cutlery stores logo. Quite a common practice back in those days. Many USA razors are stamped with the distributors name along with Solingen. Hoffritz for Cutlery is another example of the same thing. I have a blade marked William Landell, Glasgow that was probably made in Sheffield.

Just looking at it I wouldn't think it needs more than polishing with some metal polish and a paper towel and then hone to shave ready. In the UK Neil Miller here or Steve Dempster here could take care of it.

Thanks Jimmy.

I couldn't find James Vessie in the list of Masters Cutler of Sheffield.

There were many Sheffield-made razors made for cutlers around the country - the term means retailers as well as makers, This looks ripe for restoration. PM me if interested!

Within the last year I have seen a straight labelled from Aberdeen in a local collectables shop; I cannot remember the name. For nostalgic reasons I was tempted to buy as I had a fellowship at the University in the '70s. Maybe next time I check the shop I'll buy it..straights tend to stick around for years in shops round here..