Thread: Ooops....

I may have just bought a razor on ebay.
nice cut throat razor.the invicta..DICKINSON SHEFFIELD on eBay (end time 16-Mar-10 22:00:16 GMT)

tis pretty

'tis a paltry price that you paid, indeed, if those pretty scales are made of ivory, as they appear! Don't see much honewear, the blade looks nice and heavy with no damage seen in the photos. IMO, you made a killing on that deal.

Yea I thought this would be a great first vintage razor.
Could some one confirm that the hone wear may be a little heavy on the toe? and so create a little smile.
will wait and see what state it comes in but i`m hoping with a little polishing and a good hone it should come right.

want it here now!

Originally Posted by Croaker

'tis a paltry price that you paid, indeed, if those pretty scales are made of ivory, as they appear!

How does one tell if the scales are made from ivory?

and how does one care for ivory scales?

Originally Posted by BigIan

How does one tell if the scales are made from ivory?

I got this advice from one of the members here:
"If there are small pores, especially at the ends, the scales are bone.
If there are no pores, the scales are thin, have a fine grain and feel slick to the touch, they are ivory."

That is a lovely-looking razor. I found out a little about the maker on the net:

"E.M. Dickinson

Edwin Dickinson appears to have begun his career as an agent for the
merchant Alfred Field & Co on Westfield Terrace. By 1880, he had
launched his own firm at the Murray Works on Cambridge Street. He
manufactured pen-, pocket-, and sportingknives, Bowies and daggers,
and a range of tradeknives for butchers and farriers. The Murray Works
changed its location several times: in 1888 it was in Division Street;
in 1896 Rockingham Street; and in 1910 Arundel Street. Little is known
about the founder, but Bernard Kaye (who died

in 1929, aged sixty-one) was associated with Dickinson from about 1890
and became a director of the company.

After the First World War, Dickinson's added the manufacture of
electroplate to its product-line, but at the end of the 1930s the
Arundel Street factory ceased trading. Its marks-the words 'Invicta'
and 'El Dorado', and a striking picture of a screwwere acquired by
Needham, Yeall & Tyzack at the Eye Witness Works in Milton Street."

Not sure about the scales being ivory - the design of the ends is a bit different and they usually (not always) have a lead spacer. The 'ivorine' material they used to make the faux-ivory scales has a distinct longitudinal grain, like thin lighter coloured lines, whilst real ivory has a quite complex grain pattern (not always visible) with a cross-wise grain. There are tests - notably the 'hot-pin' test: heat the end of a pin to red-hot and touch an inconspicuous area of the scales (eg inner surface) with it - real ivory will not melt as synthetics do.

Regards,
Neil.

Now you need to fine a honemeister to make it shave ready. I am sure you can fine one in the UK.

BTW - great find, that piece is beautiful.

Originally Posted by Neil Miller

That is a lovely-looking razor. I found out a little about the maker on the net:

"E.M. Dickinson

Edwin Dickinson appears to have begun his career as an agent for the
merchant Alfred Field & Co on Westfield Terrace. By 1880, he had
launched his own firm at the Murray Works on Cambridge Street. He
manufactured pen-, pocket-, and sportingknives, Bowies and daggers,
and a range of tradeknives for butchers and farriers. The Murray Works
changed its location several times: in 1888 it was in Division Street;
in 1896 Rockingham Street; and in 1910 Arundel Street. Little is known
about the founder, but Bernard Kaye (who died

in 1929, aged sixty-one) was associated with Dickinson from about 1890
and became a director of the company.

After the First World War, Dickinson's added the manufacture of
electroplate to its product-line, but at the end of the 1930s the
Arundel Street factory ceased trading. Its marks-the words 'Invicta'
and 'El Dorado', and a striking picture of a screwwere acquired by
Needham, Yeall & Tyzack at the Eye Witness Works in Milton Street."

Not sure about the scales being ivory - the design of the ends is a bit different and they usually (not always) have a lead spacer. The 'ivorine' material they used to make the faux-ivory scales has a distinct longitudinal grain, like thin lighter coloured lines, whilst real ivory has a quite complex grain pattern (not always visible) with a cross-wise grain. There are tests - notably the 'hot-pin' test: heat the end of a pin to red-hot and touch an inconspicuous area of the scales (eg inner surface) with it - real ivory will not melt as synthetics do.

Regards,
Neil.

Thanks for that Mr Miller.
does any one have any idea how i could get a date on the razor?

It arrived today. Hone wear is quite heavy especially on the toe.blade depth is roughly 18mm the blade also has a slight smile at the toe.
and a little rust near the pivot. but the scales are fine, have a very uniform grain to them, no pores and are 2mm thick with a lead spacer and brass pins.

the pins appear to be quite old as they are well worn