Need info on a "Drennen & Co" Razor please (PIC HEAVY)

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06-21-2011, 03:51 PM
knitepoet

Need info on a "Drennen & Co" Razor please (PIC HEAVY)
I was given an old straight razor from my late grandparent's estate recently. My mother isn't sure if it was my granddad's or great grandpa's. As you can see, the box's only markings are "Drennen & Co" and "Made in Germany"
My main questions are:
1. Have any of you ever heard of the company? I haven't been able to find any reference to them on here, or anywhere else google could take me.
2. Any guess as to an approximate age? From the handles being cellulose, my uneducated guess is mid 40's to mid 50's. Though that IS just a SWAG
3. From the pictures, can you tell me if it's "salvageable"? By that I mean, would it be possible to get it back into usable condition?
And NO, I am not interested in a monetary value. Because of its sentimental value, Bill Gates couldn't buy it from me.

Without further ado, here are the pics...
Its box
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...r/DSC_0646.jpg

Tag on the inside of the box
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...r/DSC_0647.jpg

One side
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...r/DSC_0649.jpg

Other side
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...r/DSC_0648.jpg

Tang markings
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...r/DSC_0650.jpg

Any information would be greatly appreciated!
Paul
06-21-2011, 04:00 PM
knitepoet

If pictures from a different perspective would help, please let me know and I'll do my best to accommodate you.
Also, I just measured it, and the best I can tell it's a 5/8

edited to add: In chatting with BrianH he asked what the grind was and gave me a link to the graphic showing the different grinds. It appears to be a "Full Hollow" grind
06-21-2011, 08:55 PM
knitepoet

Got the majority of the rust off the blade. Found some etching on the blade I had previously missed.
It's rather faint, and difficult to photograph, so I experimented with my editing software trying my make it easier to see, so not all of the pics are true color
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2.../DSC_06521.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2.../DSC_06531.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2.../DSC_06533.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2.../DSC_06532.jpg
06-22-2011, 02:36 AM
sharptonn

If you are younger, it was probably your greatgrandpa's. I were you, I would get some Maas and rub it until I thought it was cool and frame it! Lots of better shaving candidates/razors can be had for little. It is nice to preserve an heirloom like that with a little patina! JMHO!
06-22-2011, 03:14 AM
knitepoet

Quote:

Originally Posted by sharptonn

If you are younger, it was probably your greatgrandpa's. I were you, I would get some Maas and rub it until I thought it was cool and frame it! Lots of better shaving candidates/razors can be had for little. It is nice to preserve an heirloom like that with a little patina! JMHO!

Depends on what you call "younger" If he was still alive, my grandfather would turn 105 later this year.
I know that my grandmother worked at Woolworth's dept store back in the mid 40-50's and I suspect that's where this razor came from.
This razor will never be a daily shaver for me. Luckily my job doesn't require shaving every day. But for sentimental reasons, it's important to me to get it back in shaving condition and use it at least once. After that use, it will more than likely be relugated to a safe place until it's passed down to one of my 5 grandkids.
Paul