Did JOSEPH ROGERS & SONS evolve into De-pew?

Hey Guys,
I have two De-Pew razors and on one of them it is stamped NON-IXL. I thought this was a bit odd as I havent seen it anywhere else on any photos of De-Pews. I do need to say that I have only seen a handful of them at the most. Im just wanting to understand why the NON-IXL stamp is on one of mine. I also just saw an auction on ebay for a JOSEPH ROGERS & SONS razor that looks a lot like a De-Pew razor. Could it have started with Joseph Rodgers & Sons and at some point become De-Pew? I also thought De-Pew was an american made razor until I got mine and both were made in england. I would love to know what IXL and Non-IXL as suppose to represent. Here is the link to the razor on ebay and no its not a listing of mine or anyone I know. VINTAGE JOSEPH ROGERS & SONS STRAIGHT RAZOR L@@K - eBay (item 270720627175 end time Mar-22-11 13:14:00 PDT)

Keith

There are a few makers of razors similar to the DePew, though DePew seems to be the most abundant or perhaps just the best known.

IXL is the G Wostenholm mark; I believe a play on "I excel." Non-XLL (I believe that is it), is Joseph Allen's mark; no idea what that means. Rodgers, I believe, used a star and an iron cross and perhaps another symbol. I have never seen NON-IXL on a razor, as far as I can recall.

It would not surprise me if DePews were Sheffield made, as mine feels like Sheffield steel. De Pew is a town here near me, which also puts it close to Little Valley, which was razor central, USA. They may have been made in Sheffield and imported to the US for sale. No idea on that part, or if the razors are related to De Pew, NY.

I thought they are completely different companies. Uniclectica gives

DEPEW
New York City
Used "THE PERFECT RAZOR" trademark
ca. 1882

I doubt Joseph Rodgers would've just given up on their brand either - it's always been worth a lot.

I also have a Depew marked England and Non XL as yours. Perhaps he imported some.

manah could probably help. He seems to know a lot about the history of different companies.

Non XL is a play on "none excel"