Thread: Need razor ID.

Originally Posted by Voidmonster

I hope I wasn't giving the impression that John Barber made the I. Barber razors, because the conclusion I'd come to is exactly the one you did (though with far less data. )

I did not know that John Barber was the originator of the Old English razors, that explains some things.

Goodness me, no! I didn't have you in mind at all, just several others that have propound this mistake and other erroneous threads on the subject.

Regards,
Neil

Gentlemen,
I've analyzed some forum threads, my books and online info, and got the following result:
I believe, the confusion began since well-known book "Goins' Encyclopedia". The mistake is on page 15.
I've found many inaccuracies in this book before.
Isaac Barber, James Barber, John Barber are different people.
Isaac Barber was Isaac Barber with trademark "I.Barber" and died in 1854, aged 66.
James Barber died in 1859, aged 40.
By 1845, Isaac and James Barber were making spring knives in Broad Lane.

John Barber died in 1834, aged 52.



P.S. And don't forget about Edward Barber, who was a pen and pocket knife cutler in Scotland Street and then Rockingham Street. He died on 30 April 1834, aged 58.

So today I was trying to dig up information on I. P. Cutts razors and I came across this neat old Walking Tour of Sheffield(circa 1874), narrated by a handful of esteemed gentlemen, talking about the Good Old Days.

There's quite a lot about cutlery and razors, of course. But I found this bit about one Mr. Barber, cutler. None of the Barber cutlers I'm familiar with quite match the description I'm including, but the anecdote is so rich and fun I just had to share. I repeat, this is probably not referencing either James Barber or Isaac Barber. I think it's worth sharing all the same.

WRAGG : Talking of apprentices, there was a man in Allen street who had sixteen. He was a cutler of the name of Barber, and he belonged to the property opposite Radford street. Oat-cake was then the constant fare, and people with apprentices always had a batch beforehand, that the lads might eat less. It is not therefore, specially surprising, that when they had an opportunity they snatched a cake from the bakestone. One lad was known to put an oat-cake in a coal basket, with ' the coal over it, while another concealed one under his shirt, and though instantly missed it was devoured before recovery was possible. On one occasion they had brewis or brewes for dinner. One of the lads, thought to be somewhat deficient in intellect, was seen to be pulling off his jacket. When asked what he was going to do he replied, " I'm going to jump into the pancheon to fetch that big piece of cake out on the other side." Barber, with all his parsimony, died in the Workhouse.

LEONARD: What is brewis ?

WRAGG: Oat-cakes, mixed with dripping and hot water poured on, seasoned with salt and pepper.

EVERARD: It is the traditional dish when the Cutlers' Company lunch together before the annual swearing in of the Master Cutler. It is an old Saxon dish. In " Gareth and Lynette" we read: " He had not beef and brewis enow."

Another thing that just came to mind is that for a long time there were great inconsistencies in spelling. Both I and J could signify J. I remeber seeing a razor on Ebay by 'Iohn Marsh'.