London Razor Co. World's Fair Razor 1899 - insight and comments please

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Can anyone provide any insight or information on this razor. I would like to clean it up and if brave enough, try it out. It was my fathers but he passed away before I asked him about where he got it and if it is really from 1899 or some type of reproduction. As you can see, it says "World's Fair" with 1899 in the globe. Just out of view it reads "London Razor Co." "Germany". Did they put out a quality razor? Is this a restamp blade from another manufacturer? Type of metal? Any insight is appreciated for this newbie.

Welcome to SRP.

Nice looking old razor and the fact that it is a family heirloom makes it that much sweeter.

The Germans had a booming razor industry at that point in time and it was not uncommon for them to manufacture razors with anyone's name on them that wanted to pay them to build it. In fact, that was actually a quite common. THe AMericans were having razors made in Germany, England, and America.

I'm not familiar with THE LONDON RAZOR Co, but from what I can see, that ought to be a good shaver if you have it honed properly. YOu can tell by looking at it that it has been up and down a hone on more than a few occasions and that implies to me that Grand Dad probably used it "back in the day".

Get 'er honed by one on the gents here that does that sort of thing and give shaving with it a whirl. Never know, you just might get hooked like the rest of us. ;)

Willie

Thanks Willie. The best I can tell my dad used it as an apprentice in a barber shop back in the 60's when he was in high school so it got plenty of use. Seems a shame not to continue its tradition!! I am looking at some of the restoration pics on this site and you guys are amazing with your skill and knowledge. A big thank you for everyone who posts on the board so us new guys (I'm 40 so new, not young, haha) can learn.

Welcome to SRP. Wullie gave you some good advice already. Check out the SRP library here for info on beginning straight razor shaving and other stuff. Our classifieds has a 'member services' where guys hone razors for a nominal fee. :gl: