Thread: American Knife Co. Plymouth Hollow, Conn.

I have some straights I can't seem to find but they're here. I can't find the W&B with B.S. & Co. on it along with a couple others.
That is really cool Tom in post 91 about the patent on the Felt Pad razor.

Originally Posted by sharptonn

Back to R. Heinisch, An interesting story in the link I gave above about him and Wiss in NJ.

http://jwissandsons.com/bios/EarlyTo...ersChapter.pdf

I found an article with this picture. That scissor-handled razor was to die for, I thought! Old stuff!

Attachment 216399

So anyway, I have come across one. Seems to be a smaller model than the one pictured in the article.
Not a big razor, measures about 6.5 inches total, 6/8 blade width at widest point. Original box. The hard, black original paint is still stuck to it in places. A scissormaker's razor! Feels good in the hand. Someday, I will restore and shave with it.

It was not an Ariel. I am sorry that I cannot lay a hand on it at this time. I held it back at the meet because it was marked Duluth on the tang with a better bridge etching than the Ariel. Too many things packed since the move.
~Richard

Being a history teacher, this kind of thread just blows me away. I love when you guys get to poking around at the old small cutlers.

Originally Posted by MrZ

Being a history teacher, this kind of thread just blows me away. I love when you guys get to poking around at the old small cutlers.

Yes, a fun thread and a great reference. I like to put it back up as I can.
Hopefully others will add to it! Since you are local to lots of this history, please add to it.
I think we have scratched the surface. Lots more to learn!

This is an awesome thread. It one that I return to often and learn something new each time I reread back through. I love the early American razors, the northeast, especially Connecticut. I'll add a few pictures to the pile here. Following up the Heinisch half-scissor razor up there ^ is a Heinisch I found in New Hampshire and restored. I love the scissors stamped on the reverse side of the tang.


Here's my only American Knife Co. razor


And my collection of Northfield razors missing a few that I've collected since taking the picture.

For more about Northfield razors I started a thread a while ago here http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...rthfields.html which in hind sight probably could have just been added to this thread instead of on it's own. But such as it is, I add the link if anyone is curious about the info provided there.

Also, I have an Empire Knife Company razor on the way, I'll share it here when I get it.

Nice American Pile, Tuzi! That Heinisch is a real rare beauty!
I seem to remember that the consummate razor man Joseph Turner(formerly of Wostenholm) was brought from England by Heinisch and had a short tenure there before moving on to Turner and Colishaw, then Joseph Turner, and on to run Torrey.
Turner likely had a hand on that one!

I do believe you are correct about Turner and the Heinisch. Martin found that Heinisch brought Turner over in 1870 to be foreman and he stayed there for 2 years before he founded Turner & Cowlishaw in Meriden Connecticut. That would place this razor inside that 2-year window (1870-1872) which is a pretty narrow window as far as razor dating goes it would seem. It is a magnificent shaver as you would expect.

Man, you HAD to say Empire...Here is one I have had in the pile for a while.
An Empire razor in remarkable condition.
A link to Beardsley and Alvord way back in this thread; http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...ml#post1052557

Likely one of the last of them. The box and horn scales are old-school, yet the blade looks almost modern?

Wow, that's a fantastic old razor! Right, the blade looks modern-ish but the scales and box are the old style. A transitional time? Can we attempt to date it by the tang stamp? The one I have on the way has a different stamp that reads "Empire Knife Co. West Winstead, Conn." It's not in nearly as nice of condition as your amazing example there.

Does that say "Centennial"? So 1876?