Thread: Attempting to identify new razor

Howdy folks,

Just recently got into the hobby and picked up a used straight from a local antique shop after looking around for a bit. Was fairly clean when I picked it up but the scales were plastic and cracking so I decided to take it apart and make it shine. Right now my plan is to snag some blanks of curly maple and carve up my own scales. At the current time I am attempting to find out more information as I have searched the web in vain. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Dennis

Nice find. The blade looks to be in very good condition from looking at your pic's.
Perhaps The Shipwrights was/is an Inn near Coventry and furnished or sold straights to their guests?
Just guessing on my part from a brief search. I am sure several of our members will have much more exacting information
for you. Welcome to the forum. Where do you live?

Howdy,

That does sound like a plausible explanation but I still wonder if it has any specific link to a manufacturer. The blade was pretty straight and only required minor fine grit sanding to take most of the uglier stains/scratches out. With a little elbow grease it shined right up. As far as location goes I just moved to Midland Texas.

Thanks for the response and I am sure ill be coming up with plenty of additional questions

Dennis

Nothing to do with Coventry, I'm afraid!

Shipwrights was in London - at 17 Coventry Street. They were barbers/hairdressers in the West End - hence the 'W' after 'St.' run by W. Shipwright.

The reference on the other side of the tang is to 'The Universities Toilet & Hat Club' A 'Toilet Club" was a barber's shop which offered reduced charges to clients who paid a regular quarterly or yearly subscription, presumably they offered a deal on hats, too! The club was run by Shipwrights from 17 Coventry Street (they had premises at 6 Glasshouse Street, as well).

They issued a calender in 1888. However, they are listed in a London Directory of 1932 as "Shipwright's and the Universities Toilet Club and Hat Company Ltd."

The Club was said to have the most erudite graffiti in London on the walls! Incidentally, the % Glasshouse Street address had a most illustrious neighbour - one Charles Jaschke, the royal-appointed Court Barber, who arrived in London from Bohemia with just £2 in his pocket - but that's a story for another day!

As for the maker of the razor - we will probably never know!

Regards,
Neil

Thanks Neil. Now that is a very interesting piece of history.

Indeed, Neil is quite versed on the subject. Quite an interesting thread here: http://straightrazorpalace.com/works...-you-ever.html, as he explained this to me!

That sir, is an awesome explanation! In all reality my search for a manufacturer was more an intrest in history and your answer more than suffices for "history".

Thanks again!

Dennis