National MFG Co, Union City, GA ?

Hi folks,

This is my first post, and I am a beginner to the straight razor shave. I decided I was tired of paying outrageous prices for razors and after a stop in Vegas, had my first straight razor shave and was interested in getting one but alas "crapped out"..

Anyway I spoke to my mother who is a licensed Cosmotologist AND Barber, in North Carolina and it turns out that apparantly my Great Great Grandfather was a barber as well. My mother was given one of his straight razors by my late Grandfather before he died in 99'. My mom apparantly had it cleaned up and used it in her shop for some time before the State no longer allowed straight razor shaves in "Salons" (as my mother has). So its been sitting in a drawer, until I finally told my mom I was interested in straight razor shaving. She dug it out and sent it to me.

It came with a really old box, the box is not in very good condition. It has National MFG CO Union City GA stamped on the tang, w/ Black Scales. The pins are Brass with a Steel center and there is an Ivory spacer between the scales.

I was looking for any information I can find concerning this razor. It is serviceable, and while I need a little more practice in my technique, This razor does need a good honing, and I'll be picking up a strop soon for regular use. I hope someone knows anything about this.

I tried to take a pic to post but the stamping comes up un readable every time.

Unfortunately reasonable pics would be needed to give any idea as to it's usability. You could also send it to a Honemiester listed in the services area and they can tell you what you have.

If it was being use recently chances are that you will have no trouble getting it serviceable :)


Welcome to SRP :)

There's no issue at all as far as serviceablility. I used it yesterday after giving it a quick honing and stropping @ the barbershop down the street. Worked great.. I just need to work on my technique.. (practice makes perfect).

I am mostly interested in the history.

As before.. The only markings on it are stamped "National MFG CO. Union City, GA" on the tang. The stamping is very small and does not show up in any of the pics I have taken.

I just recently sold a razor that came from the Union Razor Cutlery Co. , in Union City , GA. I wonder if it's any relation ?

I seen several posts and information regarding "Dixie Razor Co Union City, GA" and the Same for Union. I can't help but wonder if National is the same but only alot older.

Spoke to my mother today, she told me that it was her dad's Great-Great Grandfathers! Now I am fortunate to have access to my entire family tree.. Out of all 4 of those relatives, the last one died in 1895! So this razor is at least Pre-1895..

Since growing up metro Atlanta, before carpetbaggers....err transplants came in, many of the old ironworks building were still downtown and surrounding metro Atl. Dixie Manufacturing was located in Union City Georgia (South of Atlanta still in Fulton County) and was more or less a manufacturing plant for farm implements. The company did produce razors under Dixie MFG and Dixie Razor in 5/8 and 6/8 (round and square) and various names (Dixie Queen, Dixie Blue Steel, Dixie Barber, Dixie Master Barber). Scales were mostly black, green, or blue celluloid. I am surmising the later colors were after 1900. I do know for a fact they were in full swing with razor production before 1900 because I have an original postcard soliciting their razors for 1.95 in 1898. I believe they continued making until the early 1940s and their emphasis shifted. The company was bought and sold several times and is now called Estex Manufacturing. I am trying to research any relation to Union Razor Cutlery/Union Cutlery Union City Georgia and Dixie. What is interesting is about 25 miles up the road was the Atlanta Stove and Iron Works which smelted and produced a lot of steel used for railroads, plows, cast iron stoves and pans, and it would be interesting to find if either of the companies had their blanks manufactured at ASIW facilities or if the steel was shipped to Union City and formed there. Sadly, as with progress, most remnants of these mighty plants were bulldozed and just an obscure name in history. Either of these razors are fantastic shavers.

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Originally Posted by leveraction

I am trying to research any relation to Union Razor Cutlery/Union Cutlery Union City Georgia and Dixie. What is interesting is about 25 miles up the road was the Atlanta Stove and Iron Works which smelted and produced a lot of steel used for railroads, plows, cast iron stoves and pans, and it would be interesting to find if either of the companies had their blanks manufactured at ASIW facilities or if the steel was shipped to Union City and formed there. Sadly, as with progress, most remnants of these mighty plants were bulldozed and just an obscure name in history. Either of these razors are fantastic shavers.

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Great info ! Thanks ! Based on your research , I would speculate that they were all part of Dixie Mfg. All made in the same plant , with different names stamped on the tangs . I would also guess that the blanks would have been made by Dixie from steel supplied by ASIW . But I'm just guessing :shrug: I'll be looking forward to any more info you can find .

I think it has mostly been said already, but I have a Dixie from Union City that is a fantastic shaver and I am holding a badly chipped out Union razor from Union City that I found years ago in our basement.

Union city is still there and as Leveraction stated Atlanta Stove Works and several others could have produced the steel as there were several foundries in and around Atlanta, that I remember as a kid. In fact I was in the old Atlanta Stove Works yesterday visiting with a friend of mine that now owns it.

It no longer has anything to do with steel or iron, just office space and such, but an historic place none the less and really neat to wander around in.

Hone that razor up and enjoy it.

Will N.

Thanks Dave5225. It is indicative of the times... The demographics have changed all around those areas and most of the old-timers who worked there are gone or who knew anything about it hard to find. I was hoping the Union City had a historical society, sort of one, but things of this nature people aren't interested in. I've sent one of the owners of Estex an email asking some historical questions about the company, but as of yet not reply. I also believe a portion of the Atlanta Stove Works Building has been converted to offices, but I haven't been downtown Atlanta in a while to see what is left. I just remember seeing the Works in its entirety and pretty much the building was gutted with just remnants of smelting, and broken ovens and scraps of steel all around the place but that was over 25 years ago. When I compile a little more, I'll post a short synopsis

Could be that after the Civil War, Union razors were shipped north and Dixie razors were shipped south.

National could have come later.... combining the two lines.

Pure speculation on my part, though. Take my 2 cants for what it's worth.

Dixie Manufacturing was not in existence during the Civil War. They didn't come into play until the mid late 1890s. I am trying to find out a little more about Union Razor Cutlery because I believe this company was after Dixie, when Dixie Manufacturing diverted more into producing other goods. I believe National Razor from all accounts came later on, after Dixie and Union Razor/Union Cutlery. It will be interesting to find out the relationship between all three companies. But with a little more time and research, I should be able to get a bit more information and try to put the pieces together.

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Originally Posted by leveraction

But with a little more time and research, I should be able to get a bit more information and try to put the pieces together.

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Until then , please enjoy this free razor porn . The fist 2 pics are of the razor I sold , Union Razor Cutlery Co. , Union City Ga. . The last 2 are of my Union Cutlery Co. , Olean N.Y. . It's a 9/16 near-wedge , and is one of my best shavers .

Ok, I got my steel on!!!! Beautimous razors. Wish I was around when you sold the Southern Queen. I have a few Soligen blades, but in all honesty, I like the shave quality of my Dixie/Union blades the best. The Union-Oleans is very nice. Wood complements the razor very well. I don't like razors below half-hollow. It just bends a wee too much on my face. But thanks for the picts. They are wonderful looking razors :)

The scales look like wood , but they're actually celluloid .

Funny thing. That Improved Southern Queen looks just like my J. Cumberbirch, Germany, Queen Razor 6/8.

I sure would like to know more about that wood box in the pics.

I am sure there was some reverse engineering to a degree. Back in the day, straight razors were pretty much the same. Perhaps tempering and grinds were different than American ones. To me many of the American made ones, particularly in the South, were utilitarian. Heck, the Dixie plan jane razors were selling for $1.95 back in 1898. Would be close to $70 in todays market.

Living in metro Atlanta, this is especially fascinating for me. I get down to Union City periodically and had no idea. I did know that there was iron mining and forging in the Cartersville area, but that was during the Civil War era.

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Originally Posted by Jaymo

I sure would like to know more about that wood box in the pics.

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No problem . It's a box strop I got from Tony Miller , whose strops are well renowned . It was one of the last box strops he sold before he discontinued them . It came as a kit , but all I needed to do was glue the pre-cut leather pieces to the box . The box came already assembled and finished . I've had it for about 2 years . The leather on the top is horse hide , and on the bottom is red latigo . I use the horse hide side as a finishing strop . After I use my regular strop I give the razor 20 strokes on the horse hide . Here are some quick pics .