Thread: id help

i wonder id "Gold Metal" was something they just said on them or was there acuatually some sort of competition? something like wine??

Originally Posted by Noswad

Your Fontenille is marked Medaille d'Or which means gold medal. That manufacturer won a gold medal for its product at one time from somewhere.

Myself, I would like to know the award history of the various razors and how long they were allowed to put it on the razor. Was it the World Exposition competition or something else entirely.

The Expositions (Exhibitions) were both an event for showing the best a country could produce and a chance to be best in category. They were very frequent and some have gone down in history, like the Crystal Palace Exhibition of 1851.

Here's a full report of the International Exhibition of 1876, in which the judging criteria and various categories are discussed, then details of what each country showed - C. V. Heljestrand of Eskilstuna exhibited razors made from bessemer steel:

"...
After a general survey of the cutlery exhibition, we are forced to
give to America the first place for table-cutlery.

For pocket- and fine cutlery the pre-eminence of Sheffield vi^as
maintained by Wostenholm and Brooks & Crookes. France did
scarcely justice to herself in the exhibits sent to Philadelphia.

The display of Germany in pocket-cutlery was no doubt equal to
any from the United States, showing great beauty and high excel-
lence of finish...[...]...
F. W. Soderen, Eskilstufia, exhibited a selection of shears and
scissors of great merit; the examples shown were of superior quality
and meritorious.

The exhibit of The Sanovikens Iron & Steel Company, Gefle,
contained a number of razors, knives, and scissors. The whole of the
examples were said to be manufactured out of Bessemer steel made
by the company. From the workmanship and finish shown on the
goods the specialty of the steel would appear to be of a superior
kind. It opens a new (though probably not the most suitable) use
for this cheap quality of steel.

There was a fine exhibit of razors from C. V. Heljestrand, Eskil-
stuna. The blades were of the finest steel ; the handles were mostly
of ivory, tastefully engraved. The examples shown were executed in
a most superior manner..."

Once a medal was awarded, it was for good - you often see the awards that a company won emblazoned on their products.

Regards,
Neil