Thread: Razor ID and Info PLEASE!

So the wife and I hit up some antique shops in the area and I brought home this beauty. It was tagged at $3, and I found a strop lying next to it tagged at $10. I paid $10 for the pair, so either I got this free or for a buck. Either way it's something for me to play with. Unfortunately I don't know anything about the brand. I'd love any info you guys can give me on this.

So far this is what I know:
J. Wostenholm & Sons
+ E B R O +
Perserverance Work
5/8 Wedge Square Point
Broken Tortoise Scales (Will have to replace, and probably won't be able to afford tortoise...no make that WON'T be able to afford tortoise)

And the pics.

Thanks for any info you guys can give me on this. My other razors are off to Utopian for honing, so this was a very needed razor fix today. P.S. I haven't torn into it at all yet...didn't even wipe it with a cloth before the pics. Will probably spend much of tomorrow afternoon with it though.

There's some speculation in the Pipe razor club that Joseph Wolstenholm was cashing in on the reputation of George. Whether or not that's true, and I'm sceptical, I think you got a nice little deal there. What a shame about the scales, even if you could afford it, I'm not sure tortoiseshell can be legally sourced anyway.

Originally Posted by AlanII

...even if you could afford it, I'm not sure tortoiseshell can be legally sourced anyway.

Yeah, I don't know about the legality issue. I suppose it depends on where the tortoise shell is coming from. These are genuine for sure, but way beyond redemption. Still not sure where I'd source a pair of faux tortoise shell scales, which would be kind of nice to have. I'd need a wedge too since that's long gone.

see http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...tml#post217115

the scales aren't tortoise though, just horn dyed to look similar

Originally Posted by gugi

see http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...tml#post217115

the scales aren't tortoise though, just horn dyed to look similar

Holy Buckets! Way to go Gugi! That info thread is great! If I read that right J Wostenholm & Sons went out of business in 1867? More info than I've been able to get on any of my other razors.

And yeah, I did some more research and checking and they are dyed horn. I knew they were natural when I picked them up, but the colors don't go all the way through. Now I'm trying to find some scales that will look good.

Would love any leads on where to look for unique scales (I found some in an old thread here, but no idea if I can get a hold of the material now).

Thanks again Gugi.

I haven't actually tried this, but can you epoxy brass shim stock to the inside of the scales to both hold them together and provide the brass thrust washer? Then maybe fill any voids in the visible sides of the scales with tinted epoxy, or maybe even wax, and just polish the bejabbers out of them? (And getting really fiddly here, add german silver bolsters to help cover the crack at the pins as well as add some more holding power?)

Probably not much more work than making new scales (unless, of course, it DOESN'T work. In which case it becomes TWICE as much work) and keeps a more original/authentic look.

Just A Thought.

Originally Posted by KimFella

I haven't actually tried this, but can you epoxy brass shim stock to the inside of the scales to both hold them together and provide the brass thrust washer? Then maybe fill any voids in the visible sides of the scales with tinted epoxy, or maybe even wax, and just polish the bejabbers out of them? (And getting really fiddly here, add german silver bolsters to help cover the crack at the pins as well as add some more holding power?)

Probably not much more work than making new scales (unless, of course, it DOESN'T work. In which case it becomes TWICE as much work) and keeps a more original/authentic look.

Just A Thought.

That sounds pretty cool unfortunately I don't think there's enough there for me to salvage. The end of the scales is broken off at the end of the blade, no wedge or anything in the box with them. See below:

you're welcome.
i'm not quite sure about replacement scales. i read somewhere about dying the horn if you want to try it yourself. check with randy, he most likely has a link probably in one of these old books with recipes for almost anything, or you can search on google books as a lot of them are there.
i think the inks were something that's not used anymore, don't remember the details, but i want to say they are reproducible from the recipe.

other than that there's always the path of cannibalizing another razor with worse blade and better scales. unfortunately most scales that old have fallen victims of insects at some point, other than that the horn is extremely durable material. i had a fantastic set on an old bengall, but that's more of an exception.