Thread: Need some help with new purchase

Gentlemen,
I picked up a 5/8 wedge with spanish point that is marked G. Morrell 60 & 61 Burlington Arcade. All I can find on it is that it appears to be a street address in England. I can't find anything on Morrell though. Has anyone heard of him before?

At a guess, it sounds like a blade marked by a retailer. Where in England is the address, London? Pictures would be useful.

Burlington arcade opened in 1819 - it was (and probably still is - at least it was in the 1980s) a high-class shopping area in London where the top jewellers, outfitters, etc had establishments.

As AlanII says, G Morrell was most likely a shop-owner who comissioned the razors to be stamped with his name. BTW, Morrells was a toyshop in 1876! This was at number 50 in the shopping arcade, though. There was a jewellers/cutlers premises at no. 60 though - Randall & Freeman - partnership dissolved in 1831.

Regards,
Neil

Originally Posted by Neil Miller

Burlington arcade opened in 1819 - it was (and probably still is - at least it was in the 1980s) a high-class shopping area in London where the top jewellers, outfitters, etc had establishments.

As AlanII says, G Morrell was most likely a shop-owner who comissioned the razors to be stamped with his name. BTW, Morrells was a toyshop in 1876!

Regards,
Neil

Thank you Neil! That makes sense. The only thing I could find was a reference to a Tonsor at the 60 & 61 Burlington Arcade. She's a cute thing and I will post pics as soon as we are united, as I am in Iraq and she is headed to Georgia.

Looking forward to the pics!

As a point of interest, the jewellers/cutlers shop at no 61 was acquired by George Morrell - the registers of the Sun Fire Insurance company list him as: 'George Morrell, 61 Burlington Arcade, dealer in foreign and family merchandise, perfumery, stationery, turnery and cabinet work' in February 1834.

So either Morrells branched out into another line (they had a shop in Oxford Street, too) or there was someone of the same name just a few shops down the Arcade.

Regards,
Neil

Thanks again Neil. I am a huge history buff, especially English stuff as my beautiful wife was born and bred in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk. You've been a big help.

v/r
Kenneth