Thread: Henry Sears & Son swastika emblem razor

I think so...

"Henry Sears & Co. Prussia - c 1865-1879
Henry Sears & Son Prussia c 1883-1897

Founded in 1865 as Henry Sears & Company in Rockford, Illinois.
The business became the Henry Sears manufacturing company in 1879, and in 1883 the name became Henry Sears & Son.

From 1879 to 1881, the Henry Sears Manufacturing Company operated a factory in Middlebury, Conneticut. This factory was either moved to Illinois or closed by 1881. The business was moved in 1885 to Chicago, but Henry Sears retained a residence in Rockford. In 1897, the company was sold to Farwell-Ozmun-Kirk & Company Hardware of St.Paul, Minnesota."

According to Goins' Encyclopedia of Cutlery Markings

I suppose many of these old "Germany" razors we own were produced in a factory during the Nazi years.

Originally Posted by dancraig

Anything associated with Germany bearing the swastika could bring a premium price, even if the markings predated the Nazis.

Also, you would think the fact that it was manufactured in a country that no longer exhists would make it very unique.

The swastika has nothing to do with Germans or Hitler or Nazis.. It is a very very old Hindu symbol.

The word swastika is derived from the Sanskrit word svastika (in Devanagari स्वस्तिक), meaning any lucky or auspicious object, and in particular a mark made on persons and things to denote good luck.

The Swastika is essentially an Indian philosophical thought that Hitler wanted to associate with since he idealized the Aryan ideology. Aryan culture has been in India for more than 5000 years, with origins yet unknown & unproven.


Swastika - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Originally Posted by MisterA

"Henry Sears & Co. Prussia - c 1865-1879
Henry Sears & Son Prussia c 1883-1897

Founded in 1865 as Henry Sears & Company in Rockford, Illinois.
The business became the Henry Sears manufacturing company in 1879, and in 1883 the name became Henry Sears & Son.

From 1879 to 1881, the Henry Sears Manufacturing Company operated a factory in Middlebury, Conneticut. This factory was either moved to Illinois or closed by 1881. The business was moved in 1885 to Chicago, but Henry Sears retained a residence in Rockford. In 1897, the company was sold to Farwell-Ozmun-Kirk & Company Hardware of St.Paul, Minnesota."

According to Goins' Encyclopedia of Cutlery Markings

Case closed...

Originally Posted by JohnyBlueEyes500

Also, you would think the fact that it was manufactured in a country that no longer exhists would make it very unique.

I am certainly not an expert on this. It could possilbly be that, because of regional/ethnic pride, "Prussia" could have been put on products made there even after Prussia became part of Germany.

Originally Posted by MisterA

The swastika has nothing to do with Germans or Hitler or Nazis.. It is a very very old Hindu symbol.

The word swastika is derived from the Sanskrit word svastika (in Devanagari स्वस्तिक), meaning any lucky or auspicious object, and in particular a mark made on persons and things to denote good luck.

The Swastika is essentially an Indian philosophical thought that Hitler wanted to associate with since he idealized the Aryan ideology. Aryan culture has been in India for more than 5000 years, with origins yet unknown & unproven.


Swastika - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

floor tiles,,,always wondered why they didn't remove them but nonetheless it was never a "bad" image until Hitler.

Regards, Ted

Originally Posted by MisterA

The swastika has nothing to do with Germans or Hitler or Nazis.. It is a very very old Hindu symbol.

The word swastika is derived from the Sanskrit word svastika (in Devanagari स्वस्तिक), meaning any lucky or auspicious object, and in particular a mark made on persons and things to denote good luck.

The Swastika is essentially an Indian philosophical thought that Hitler wanted to associate with since he idealized the Aryan ideology. Aryan culture has been in India for more than 5000 years, with origins yet unknown & unproven.


Swastika - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I think it's an extremely interesting piece because it does predate the association of the swastika with the Nazi's by so many years.

It was fashionable in the early 20th century in America as well wasn't it?

Originally Posted by JohnyBlueEyes500

It was fashionable in the early 20th century in America as well wasn't it?

It seems it was.. at least with the native Americans.

Native American Basketball team 1909




Boy Scouts at the prewar (1937) national Scout jamboree in Washington, D.C., using swastikas as part of their Native American portrayal



I think the Philadelphia museum of Art still has swastika decorations on the ground outside the museum. ( maybe that is what TMK is referring to? I am not American so I can't be certain but PA is Philadelphia right?)