Document 1908 Wash-stamp practice on razors.

An interesting document about the wash-stamp practice on cutlery mainly knifes and razors.


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I'm sorry, Martin. But seems to me, that you missed a part of the article "TARIFF HEARINGS BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SIXTIETH CONGRESS. 1908".
After words "....Borgfeldt & Co., Washington Square" and before "the same, with their own..." :
"Both in Newark. N. J., and in New York City are workrooms to which importers send German knives and razors to have the wash stamped "Germany" buffed off, and. in some cases, to have the wash stamped name of German maker or importer buffed off and a name similar to that of some reputable American trade-mark steel stamped in lieu thereof. Bleeker and West Eleventh street, New York City, formerly conducted by J. W. Murray, is one place where this work has been and may now be done; 298 Broadway another.
Several importers of German knives and razors have manufacturing plants in this country or close connection with such plants, and also have close connection with manufacturing plants in Germany. The firm of Adolph Kastor & Bros., with a small factory at Camillus. N. Y., and a brother conducting or interested in a large cutlery plant in Solingen. Germany, may be referred to. Hermann Boker & Co., Duane street, New York City, have a knife factory at Newark. N. J., and are closely connected with a large cutlery manufactory in Germany; but this house, with Wiebush and Hilger, of New York City, jealous of the reputation of the goods they import, would be more likely to condemn this "wash stamp " practice than to engage in it.
Several small manufacturers of American knives and razors seek to make profit at the expense of reputation out of this "wash-stamp" practice, and either import direct or through such houses as F. A. Clauberg, 27 Park place. New York City, and Borgfeldt & Co., Washington square, New York City, or others; and removing at their factories the name of the country of origin from foreign product, offer ..."

Here:

Thanks Manah it is now corrected.

Martin! How COULD you? :D

This practice seems to be alluded to "counterfieting". Sort of like the Gucci stuff customs rounds up these days. Still, it was done here, not over there!

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Originally Posted by sharptonn

Martin! How COULD you? :D

This practice seems to be alluded to "counterfieting". Sort of like the Gucci stuff customs rounds up these days. Still, it was done here, not over there!

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It is disappointing for sure , it really doesnt take the quality out of the razors just that it come from the other side.

The real question is which side was making the better razor?

Im thinking that a razor that been wash-stamped would be pretty easy to identify, more then likely it would have an etched stamp rather then a deep punched stamp being the steel is allready been throught the process of hardening. Personally seen many Cattaraugus Cutlery razor with an etched stamp on the tang.

The practice is more like removing the serial numbers off a firearm.