Thread: Can you help me please? Part 1

Hi everybody!

I realise this is my first post, but please allow me to make up my profile and make an introductory post in your new member section without my being flamed? I am going to complete this task. Having just stumble upon your site, I thought you would be intersted in my razor - that is why i have opted to do things this way?


I have a Thomas Turner straight razor, in it's case still, and i have only just stumbled across this site - looks wonderful, by the way - and very interesting!

My razor is a Conqueror, and has gold emblem on the one side of the blade, it has what appears to me (being unaccustomed to the terminologies you may be using) to be either a bakelite or ebony handle, and has various lettering and stamps on it - please see attached photo's.

A little history: The razor you will see belonged to a long standing and close family friend - it originally belonged to her father. When she died some 12 years ago now, she bequeathed it to me - knowing i would take good care of it.

Now, at the time our friend died, her father had already been dead some 70+ years - and as this razor belonged to him (i am assuming he would have bought it brand new) I have only a rough idea as to it's age, but absolutely no idea of it's worth. I am considering putting it on our house insurance maybe, but they would want to know the value of it?

Anyway folks - enjoy the pictures please, and i welcome any information which you could provide to me.












Many thanks,
Terry.

Hi there,

This is the part 2 of my original post - i had to split it up unfortunately.

Please enjoy and comment on the rest of the razor photo's?












All the best,
Terry.

Well that razor does look gorgeous. You can find some information on Thomas Turner in our wiki here:
Turner, Thomas & Co - Straight Razor Place Wiki

There's also an external site with some information about English metalworkers here:
Museums Sheffield | Metalwork - Search Results

We don't talk about prices and appraisals, but I think that would make an excellent shaver should you decide to go that route. Looks to be in great shape already if you want to check out our Member Services and contact someone about sharpening it for use.

Hi Terry, welcome to SRP. Nice razor but it needs some TLC from a pro who knows how to hone. See the SRP classifieds for members who advertise that service. We don't do appraisals on SRP, it is against forum rules. If you do a search in the shaving section of ebay for 'Thomas Turner straight razor" you will eventually get an idea of value. You can look at the menu on the left of the page and click 'completed listings' for more examples. Turner was a well thought of Sheffield brand and they come up on ebay from time to time. Check out the SRP beginner's guide here to get started shaving with it once it is ready.

Welcome to SRP. As far as the age, Thomas Turner operated between 1802 - 1932, according to Ritchie & Stewart's Standard Guide To Razors, 3rd ed.

As far as appraising the value, that is against our Forum policies.

Thank you guys.

I wasn't looking for a price per se, as I am not interested in selling it - sentimental value to me. My enquirey was more of an indication of worth, as i know nothing of it in that respect, and was looking for insurance purposes. I can fully understand your rulings on this though, and am sorry if I have caused offence to the board owners. I will do as you recommend.

Can anyone provide me with any information on say, the age of this razor, or if the number (344) means a low or early production razor? Anything like that would be most welcome to me, as I really do not know much at all about it?


Again, many thanks,
Terry

If you want a value that would have any significance for something like insurance, you would probably have to either have it valued by an antique appraiser that the insurance company approves of or else find the value of that razor in a reference book.

Regardless of your purposes, appraisals are not allowed here on SRP in the open forum.

the number looks like a model number.
it's in rather nice condition, the main problem is the pitting along the edge - it has to be honed out before the razor can be used again.
the pitting on the shank doesn't affect function and i'll probably leave it alone so that the stamps remain as deep as they are.
it's quite likely excellent razor to use, it's certainly not junk. but as you said the sentimental value of it is probably most important to you.
btw scales look like celluloid.

Hi guys,

I think I have managed to work on the 'pitting' a bit by simply carefully polishing the blade with toothpaste - came up really well. The 'pitting' seemed to be just dirt and crud that had settled over time on the blade, I am glad to say!


I think I know what you are thinking right now "Toothpaste!? . . . ." Toothpaste, believe it or not, leaves a fine, fine finish on a surface (much better than metal polish) - almost mirror finish. It is what i use to polish my trigger sear faces on my air rifle and shotguns.

Anyway, please have a look at the Conqueror now, and please do give me your opinions on it so far?








Cheers folks,
Terry.

Originally Posted by Conqueror

Hi guys,

I think I have managed to work on the 'pitting' a bit by simply carefully polishing the blade with toothpaste - came up really well. The 'pitting' seemed to be just dirt and crud that had settled over time on the blade, I am glad to say!


I think I know what you are thinking right now "Toothpaste!? . . . ." Toothpaste, believe it or not, leaves a fine, fine finish on a surface (much better than metal polish) - almost mirror finish. It is what i use to polish my trigger sear faces on my air rifle and shotguns.

Thanks for that tip. It looks like the toothpaste did a good job I may try that with some razors I just purchased. Welcome to SRP and btw that is very nice razor!