Thread: Can someone give me approximate Date/History of this W&B

I just picked up this W&B 7/8 The Celeberated Hollow Ground...Its in great shape, no rust, pictures show glare, that looks like rust...All Ive been able to find so far, is being that it has the "Sheffield, England" Stamp on the tang, it is post 1891.....Other than that, Ive received mixed opinions...a friend told me the scales aren't original, that the razor was made before W&B changed the etching, and at that time they used only horn and these are celluloid...Someone else who restores razors said, the Scales are all original Bakelite, which make sense for that model/time etc.....2 different takes altogether....So, Im trying to get a concensus here, as to its approx age, and if its original......My gut says theyre original..Most rescales Ive seen, look a heck of alot fresher, and newer than this...And the seller wasnt really a razor guy, just an antique vendor....Anyhow, Id love to know more about this razor..Im excited to have it..Ive wanted one for a while, and finally found one that called my name...Regards, BP

are you sure they are celluloid? that looks like a lead wedge... not very common on celluloid. dyed horn that has not been that abused still can look great after 100 years. maybe 1891-1910 range.

Doing a google search for bakelite I find it was invented in 1905 and began being commercially produced in 1910. A factory opened in England in 1926. It is possible that the blade was not stamped with the country of origin because it was meant for the home market. OTOH, it is also possible that it is pre 1891 and that it was rescaled from horn to bakelite many many years ago. I have a W&B Bow in Bakelite and also a Wosty, for barbers. Nice razor you've got there.

Bakelite - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Originally Posted by syslight

are you sure they are celluloid? that looks like a lead wedge... not very common on celluloid. dyed horn that has not been that abused still can look great after 100 years. maybe 1891-1910 range.

Thanks! We will see..I just bought it...Its in the mail..Horn would be great!!!!! Im totally new so bare with me here..Im only going by what people are seeing in these photos, and what I look up on these sites..Allot of the original horn scales I see are set with the Bullseye style pins no? And thanks for the time reference!!! Ill post back when I get it.....Also, Im in NYC, but have a Hunting Cabin, and land up in Delaware, County(New Kingston)...And my cousins have a bunch of land in Schoharie, that I used to hunt on...Matter of fact, I found my late uncles old Puma knife collection, hidden in that cabin, not too long ago...!

Regards,
BP

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Doing a google search for bakelite I find it was invented in 1905 and began being commercially produced in 1910. A factory opened in England in 1926. It is possible that the blade was not stamped with the country of origin because it was meant for the home market. OTOH, it is also possible that it is pre 1891 and that it was rescaled from horn to bakelite many many years ago. I have a W&B Bow in Bakelite and also a Wosty, for barbers. Nice razor you've got there.

Bakelite - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Thanks for the info....Ill post back when I get it in the mail...My first big Sheffield! So far Ive only shaved with my Red Imps 5/8 and 6/8 1/4 hollow, and a 5/8 Wester bros...Im looking forward to this Chunky piece of history

Thanks again

If it only says "Sheffield" it is pre 1891 (if I remember right), after they had to by law add the country also.

It looks great!!

I can say with 90% certainty that the scales are not horn, celluloid or bakelite. They're vulcanite/xylonite/gutta percha. Basically vulcanized rubber. It was a very popular material for a while and it's been manufactured since about 1850. Since your razor is stamped with "SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND", that pretty reliably dates it to turn of the century +/- 9 years. Barring documentation it's very hard to be more precise.

It should be a fantastic razor to shave with, and vulcanite scales can be fairly attractive when polished. Personally, I dislike them because they smell bad.

Originally Posted by rodb

If it only says "Sheffield" it is pre 1891 (if I remember right), after they had to by law add the country also.

It looks great!!

That applied to items made for export to the US.

That being said, it is still a pretty good way to determine a point a time.

Well, it came today...I am friggin speechless....It hasnt a mark on it..Never honed..No rust, No marks, Perfect scales, Unbelievable!!! The pictures above are from the seller on ebay, and they looked like there may be some rust on the blade, not only is there not any rust, it looks as though it was manufactured yesterday April 27 2012!!! I dont mean to gloat, Im just more than pleasantly surprised, and baffled, as to how this razor stayed in such condition for over 100 years!!! The seller said it was found wrapped in an old late 1800's era backpack...Anyway, Im hesitant to even hone it up..I know I may be making a big thing out of nothing, but DAMN!!!

more