Thread: R.M. & CO Fine India steel - id help

Looking at the tangs and the tang stamps I wonder if the two razors weren't made in different decades ? The bone scaled example being the older one. I'm thinking that because of the difference in the fonts, styles of stampings, and the way the tangs are shaped. I'd have to go through my razors but some of the letters in the earlier stamp look familiar to me. I'm thinking the font is distinctive enough to ID if I have another razor with same lettering design. I'm wondering if RM & Co didn't have the razors made with their logo stamped on the tang ?

In viewing Traskom's SOTD Yesterday, I have an R M & Co razor as well. Indeed, I had contacted Neil and the maker seems an enigma still. In my quest, I have discovered Ralph Martindale & Co Crocodile Works may be a possibility.

Some history here; Aston Brook Through Aston Manor - Preserving the History of Aston

They are still in business, making machetes and other tools. However, I do wonder if these razors were not made between the beginning in 1869 and the time Ralph Matindale sold out to a consortium in 1874.

I have sent an email to the company, along with a picture of the razor, in hopes they may have a historian on board who may know. As of a week, I have not heard back. Anyway, Here is mine, definitely scaled in ivory;

Tom,
I turned over a couple of stones and, not surprisingly, came up with nothing. Well, not quite. This is a quote from COUNTRY GENTLEMAN 1889 p. 156. I tried a screen grab but the text was too blurred.

A Farmer's Pocket-Knife
I have owned a number of pocket-knives,
but was never able to find one that had su-
perior steel until I extemporized the best knife
I ever owned by employing the blade of my
father's old razor. My paternal ancestors came
from Scotland, and one of them brought with
him this razor, the handle of which consisted
of two slabs sawed from buck's horn. On
one of the concave sides of the blade there
are beautiful figures and flourishes, and the
words "Fine India Steel," as legible to-day
as if recently executed.

To continue this fascinating tale see: https://books.google.com/books?id=zl...0razor&f=false
It give one answer to the question, 'what happened to all those old razors?' Look for title of clip on right side of page 156.

Quite a good tale. A resourceful use of an heirloom, no doubt. Still, many makers used that moniker and some were not even stamped with a maker. 'Fine India Steel' was apparently enough for some to conclude quality.

These razors seem to have good workmanship in them so I cannot help but think R M and co is a maker.
However, as Neil suggested, it may be an importer. All I can think of is to look at the R's and the M's and hope.

I see the firm of Rahaim and Malhami from 1898-1901. Arab immigrants in New York who imported. Also Rahaim and Moshey, but The razors I see are German-made and elaborately-stamped. These razors are much older than that, I think.

These seem to be of Sheffield origin although they may well turn out to be American, possibly.
Oh well, keep digging, I suppose!

OhhhhTay. I may need some help here, but I think I may be on the right track.
R M & Co has stumped us all. This is the best I can come up with, but it makes sense in a way.

These razors are quality. Let's assume they are imported from Sheffield a LONG time ago to an American seller who also sold other fine things. This may have happened in Haverhill, Mass and that is all I think I know.

( Note: Reading about Haverhill is quite interesting. VERY! JG Whittier is from there and buried there. I actually attended John Greenleaf Whittier Elementary School!)

So, A fellow named Robert Macy began a dry good store there sometime before 1848 or so. His brother, Rowland (of Macy's fame) worked for him for a short stint after a few failed enterprises before chasing the gold rush in 1849 and then returning to Haverhill to be a partner with Robert in 1851. I am assuming Robert was the elder.

Keep in mind that Haverhill was a destination for shoes, hats, and obviously, other fine goods. The 'Slipper' City!
A lot of industry in those days. Lot's of money. I figure they sold high end goods.

So....A long story short, Rowland left in 1858 to NYC and named his new store R H M (Rowland Hussey Macy) and Co as that was his name.
The rest of Macy's Dept Store is well-known from there. My contention/suspicion is that these razors, and below scissors, are from Robert Macy's establishment in Haverhill. I also think he seemed successful and continued on for a period after Rowland left. Put us in the timeframe for these razors by their looks. Either that, or the name Rowland was on the store.

It seems to make sense that Rowland possibly took his brother's name and added his middle initial to set him apart from his brother as he began in New York, yet used a proven and successful way to instill and promote the name.
I have found these silver scissors, borrowed from an auction site, made in Germany. Is this not our R M & Co?



I am really just throwing this out there. Tell me I am wrong? I still cannot find the name of Robert Macy's establishment in Haverhill. These may be from Rowland's first, failed try there as well I figure it was either Rowland or Robert Macy & Co. Interestingly, my razor and the scissors are in the U.S., yet Traskom's is in Russia? Maybe someone can find out. I am tired!

Perhaps someone who is subscribed to Ancestry or similar can do a search of business directories from Haverhill?

Originally Posted by Traskrom

Possible but unlikely. It is really thin, other bone scales that i have is much much thicker.

I just saw this because Tom posted to it & it is near the top of the list again. I made some very thin bleached white horn scales for a Wade & Butcher here:

http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...ml#post1422154

Originally Posted by engine46

I just saw this because Tom posted to it & it is near the top of the list again. I made some very thin bleached white horn scales for a Wade & Butcher here:

http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...ml#post1422154

I posted it up top as I was enlisting help in finding out the maker/dealer of the razors. There is no country, nor address upon them, so I am thinking an American retailer and possibly Macy in the old days.

The scale material was sorted back in 2010, Steve!

Originally Posted by sharptonn

I posted it up top as I was enlisting help in finding out the maker/dealer of the razors. There is no country, nor address upon them, so I am thinking an American retailer and possibly Macy in the old days.

The scale material was sorted back in 2010, Steve!

Thank's Tom. I have done a little research on it myself but I'm sure we have the same references, in fact, you might have more than I do. I found R&M NY, in one of my editions of Standard Guide To Razors by Roy Ritchie & Ron Stewart but I don't think there is a connection but I'll keep searching.

What did the guide say, Steve? I had thought about looking at R&M's, but I think it might be two initials as there is no '&' between the R and the M.. If the guide was referencing Rahaim and Moshey / Malhami, I think these razors are too old for them, as mentioned above.