Thread: Trying to identify

Hi Everyone,
We have recently been given some razors that belonged to my husband's grandpa. Three of them have been opened and may or may not be in the correct boxes. The 4th razor has never been opened. I would like to know if anyone can help identifying the three and give any idea as to the 4th, should I open it to inspect or just leave as is.
Please take a look at them and let me know.
#1
Red box.
Razor has G. Nazor and Royal Exchange
Really neat alligator on the blade.
6" closed
9 7/16" open
3" x 1/2" blade
3 pictures
101 Wheel Exchange Razors1

#2
Carl Monkhouse box. Solingen - Germany 5/8" Hollow ground written on box.
Razor has Bessemer Sheffield on one side. Crescent moon & star on the other side. Saw a posting with Theo A. Koch Co. that has this same crescent moon & star, but not sure if this is the same. Would be cool though as we have a Koch barber chair.
6 1/8" closed
9 3/8" open
2 13/16" x 9/16" blade
2 pictures
101 Wheel Exchange Razors2

#3
Otto Deutsch & Sohne Box
C.S.P.K. trademark
? (maybe a letter) F. Giardina
Danbury, Conn. Distr.
No other markings
6 1/4" closed
9 1/2" open
2 7/8" x 5/8" blade
3 pictures
101 Wheel Exchange Razors3

#4
Otto Deutsch (crown between Otto & Deutsch)
Reg. U.S. Pat. Off.
HANS
9/16"
This has never been opened, so curious as to what is looks like but I HATE to open it.
1 picture
101 Wheel Exchange Razors4

All measurements are approximate.
Any help you can give me would really be appreciated.

Thanks in advance, I am so glad I found your forum.

Karen

You may be getting privet messeges on values as we tend to be users here more than pure collecters. The unopened box is a good name and popular so you may have something interesting there. Me personally, I'd want to see the razor vs having an unopened box. But I know collecters go nuts for that kind of thing...

Nice set of razors. The boxes do not go with the razors though except for the one that wasn't opened. You may be receiving PM's on that one.

To all: remember, no sales talk or appraisals in open forum posts. Thanks.

Hi Guys,
Just wondering if you know who makes any of the razors I have? I would like to research them if you know where I go head for that online. Thanks for your replies
Karen

I can try to supply some historical information if that's what you're after, I have a few reference books. Others may pipe in as well.

The first razor is marked G. Nazer, 31 Royal Exchange (apparently, across the street from the Bank of England in London). Goins' Encyclopedia of Cutlery mentions this trademark as a London-based maker of cutlery and bowie knives, but gives no dates. I did stumble upon a reference book here on Google Books called "Illustrated London" from 1893 that has good information about George Nazer Cutlery at 31 Royal Exchange. It was founded by George Nazer in 1867. So they were in business at least between 1867 - 1893, and were doing quite well in 1893.

I would guess by the features of that razor that it's late 19th century, and the handles appear to me to be ivory. (I wouldn't get overly excited about that, as ivory was a common material for razors at that time.)

The second razor, I have no idea. The handles appear to be bone. "Bessemer" is a steel making process rather than a company name. I can find no star and crescent trademark in my references, but maybe as a pure guess, this razor was exported to Ottoman Turkey before WWI?

The third razor marked C.S.P.K., I have no idea. I've seen razors from several brands that use this trademark.

The fourth razor, as DwarvenChef said, is a well-known and popular brand from pre-WWII Solingen, Germany.

Karen, welcome to SRP. I can understand your reluctance to open the last razor but collectors or users, of which I am both, will want to be assured that the razor in the box is correct and what the condition is. Being in an unopened box is no guarantee that the dreaded cell rot hasn't reared it's ugly head.