Thread: Anyone familiar with "P (heart image) Ford razors?

Hey folks, anyone familiar with this brand?

HI Joe,

Funnily enough, that was once my razor! (see here)

There is very little information on who Ford was. Curiously enough, there is also next to no information on who the Ford in the well-respected Ford & Medley company of razor manufacturers was - perhaps the same person? There is a theory that a certain Esther P Ford was in Eccleshall Bierlow Union Workhouse at the same time as a certain John Medley - 1881 to be precise. Esther was a domestic servant and John was a spring knife cutter. The theory goes that during their time in the workhouse John taught Esther about cutlery and when they got out they started a company. It's an attractive theory, but founders in the cold light of day, as the company history of Ford & Medley records no John Medley and the firm was supposedly in existence before 1881 although their articles of incorporation are dated 1903. The fact remains, that although the history of the Medley's in the company is pretty comprehensive, there is no mention of who Ford could have been.

Regards,
Neil

Oh well, after a bit more research both of those attractive theories have been laid to waste! What a shame...

A directory listing of 1787 shows the mark to belong to a Jonathan Pitchford (not a 'Ford' after all!) of Stumperly. Another listing of 1797 records him as 'razorsmith'. Stumperly is in the district of Upper Hallam, a parish of Sheffield. The first listing shows his mark - a 'P' on its side with a dash then 'FORD' - under the dash is shown a heart, so undoubtedly this is the maker.

In 1782 he is known as renting the Rowell Bridge Wheel (water turned wheel used to power grinding troughs).

A directory listing of 1841 shows J. J. Pitchford, razor manufacturers (note the plural) at 56 Eldon Street. Possibly Jonathan and John?

A directory listing of 1846 shows a John Pitchford, razor manufacturer, residing at 65 Eldon Street.

In the year of the Great Sheffield Flood (1864), a John Pitchford filed a claim for loss of property. He is recorded as being a razor manufacturer in Eldon Street. The claim was in regard to damage to the Rowell Bridge Wheel and amounted to £220 exactly - the sum was agreed in 1865.

An 1871 listing records a Jonathan and William Pitchford, razor manufacturers, residing at 8 Eldon Street.

Another directory listing of 1905 shows J & W Pitchford, razor manufacturers, located at No. 8 Eldon Street.

So, by hiding his surname and making us think he was called Ford, Jonathan Pitchford hid quite a dynasty of razor makers!

Regards,
Neil

Holy cow, Neil, that's some amazing detective work you've done there! I had "borrowed" your photo above, as I recently came across another Pitchford razor and could find really nothing on the mark, other than your previous post. It's no doubt that Pitchford languishes in obscurity, after so effectively hiding his name. Now I'm trying to make sense out of the mark. Perhaps the "P" was for Pitchford, the "Ford" was the tail end of the name, and there's some synonym for heart that sounds like "itch"? The mystery grows deeper...
Thanks much for the help, Neil!

Wow! I had wondered about the name! I have a nice one. Untouched! A beautiful razor in spite of my crappy photos! Great Thread!

Wild grind on that thing! She's a beauty!

Originally Posted by JoeBass

Wild grind on that thing! She's a beauty!

Thank you and many thanks to Neil for the interesting info!

Originally Posted by JoeBass

Now I'm trying to make sense out of the mark. Perhaps the "P" was for Pitchford, the "Ford" was the tail end of the name, and there's some synonym for heart that sounds like "itch"? The mystery grows deeper...
Thanks much for the help, Neil!

Maybe the heart (love) means to get "hitched" aka married.

It could be something along those lines, perhaps, although the heart symbol is used in many makers marks. Interestingly enough, Pitchford rented part of the Rowell Bridge Wheel along with another knife maker - Luke Oates, whose trademark also had a heart in it:



There is some speculation about whether the letter is a "p", a "b" or a "q" - they used different orientations, usually left to right in a line rather than upright as shown in the illustration.

As far as the Pitchford company is concerned, they had a great deal of interest abroad, and their products were bought by Birmingham and Sheffield dealers who exported it. In 1907 the business moved to Shude Lane and Thomas Pitchford was the senior partner until 1925. In the 1930s the business was being run by Joseph and George Pitchford, but they ceased trading by 1945.

Regards,
Neil

Hmm..so it looks like the p or q or b, as well as the heart, had no relation to the maker's actual name. How odd. I wonder if there's anyone still living that would remember the reasons for the specific symbols, or if they were perhaps just chosen randomly as a sort of design trademark...