Originally Posted by
Neil Miller
I don't think I misread it - it was the significance of the late 1800s early 1900s that grabbed my attention, that and the mention of restrictions. Both of which I think are irrelevant to making wedges for razors. I don't think that website you linked to is accurate either - far from it. People still installed lead pipes regularly. Lead based paint was around for an enormous time after that article says it wasn't - my grandfather was a painter and used it, my father used it, and when I was younger I used it. Best paint with the highest opacity you could get! I don't really recall it getting hard to get until the early 1970s.
Lead in petrol had a late demise. But petrol/paint/air pollution has nothing to do with lead razor wedges. No doubt people were aware of the dangers and there were probably headlines, but that is far from 'restricting' the use of lead. Old properties over here (UK) still have lead pipes - mine did until 6 months ago, yet no-one forces us to get rid of them. It's a bit like smoking - everyone knows the dangers, few care.
Besides, it is an American based/concerned article and we are concerned primarily with use in Sheffield razors in the UK in the case of this particular razor. I can't see them asking questions about lead razor wedges in Parliament!
In short, a razor having a lead spacer cannot be dated by use of any notional restrictions on the use of lead. The only broad indicator would have been trend and fashion.
Regards,
Neil