Thread: Unknown brand or not?

Hello good people,

I need your help in regards one of my new purchases. I have purchased few weeks back one razor. From what I can see it called Leaver&Brezze (could be also Leaver&Breeze) but that is all what I found after rust was removed. I could not find too many information’s about this brand and when was established. I think it is British made razor from early 1800. Two things I have found: old watch o auction from 1800 Antique Leaver & Breeze Pocket Watch c.1860s at AANtv.com and note from old newspaper: “Frank Edward LKHVCI-, John William Breeze, Arthur David-'Leaver; and1 Arthur' Breez-, carrying on business as -Wholesale Fancy ••G-iods Warehousemen and Iron- mongers, at '25, 2<V27,.and •' 8, Hounds'iitch, and 1 and 2, and. 48, .Duke-street East, London, under the style or firm of. Leaver and Breeze^ and as Ironmongers at 559 and 561, Battersea Park-road, Battersea, London, under the -style or firm of Lee and Bradley- has been dissolved b>: mutual consent as and from the 31st day of October 1898 so far as regards the said John William Breeze.”
So I`m lost as I really don`t know any history of this blade. One think is clear- I cut myself during restoration. Blade becomes very sharp after hand sanding. Cut was clean, I could say like after passing 1200 hone. Funny but it getting darker when I am using waterproof sand paper. When use normal sand paper this effect is not present. I guess this blade has a lot of carbon… but I might be wrong.

Regards

I LOVE those razors. Not the brand - the "unknown" aspect of these unknown razors. When I come across an old heavy wedge razor like yours with a deep stamp and an unknown maker, I buy it up. IMO, these are very rare razors - either the company did not last long, or they are so old and coveted not many are outside of collections, or there were just so few of them you may never see another one

Below is a list of my "old, rare and coveted" makers.

John Barber (if you find a good example of one, I'll buy it from you - I only have one
William Greaves (not super rare - nice ones are hard to find and expensive)
John C. Cocksmill
Wm Jackson & Co. (not super rare, but not common, either - mines a 1 1/4" half hollow monster)
Marshes & Shephard (not super rare, but not common, and very hard to be had on ebay -still searching for a big old wedge! )

The truth is that there were hundreds (thousands?) of razor manufacturers, and thousands more marketers -- hardware stores, mens' stores, department stores, barbers, novelty shops, you name it. They came and went, went bankrupt, got sold and re-named, family names fell away, forges burned down, business records were discarded .. you name it. What was pretty constant, though, was quality; these were craftsman who cared about what they produced. That explains the incredible of wonderful vintage razors -- like yours -- that continue to show up in the light of day. Get that thing scaled up and honed, it will perform like the day it was made. Have fun.

Nice one. Send a PM to manah and ask him. If anyone has any info on obscure makers he does.

Thank you, I will ask him. I`m still working on this razor. I have to make scale as orginal one was VERY old and snap like "dust" during removal. Just wondering what wood will be best to be used as I don`t know what good hard wood should be used for scale. Naver made one neither...