Thread: old razors history

The barbershop where i work was given this as a gift a number of years back.
Done some research; on the blade=wharncliffe razor -joesph rogers and sons cutlers to their majesties no6 norfolk street sheffield.

Captn W.A Dobie 12th Lancers

his portrait does not appear in the Silvy daybooks but judging by the background and props, the sitting almost certainly took place during the period covered by the missing volume of the daybooks, July 1863 to June 1864. This is confirmed by an inscription on the album page, which dates the portrait to 1864. The sitter is identified on the album page, but the inscription is difficult to decipher. It appears to read ‘Captain Dohee’, but this is probably Captain William Alexander Dobie of the 12th Lancers.
There is a portrait of a man identified as ‘Captain Dobie’ in the Silvy daybooks (volume 7, page 46, sitting number 8430) but the sitter is not the same man. There is, however, a marked resemblance, particularly with regard to the shape of the forehead and the hairline, so the two men are quite possibly brothers.

Dobie joined the Army as a Cornet or Ensign on 6 April 1855. He was promoted Lieutenant by purchase on 24 February 1857. When Hart’s Army List for 1859 was published, he was serving in the 1st West India Regiment of Foot. He was promoted Captain, again by purchase, on 29 November 1859. According to the London Gazette (31 January 1860), he had recently transferred from the 1st West Indian Regiment to the 14th Regiment of Foot. According to the United Service Magazine, he transferred from the 14th Foot to the 12th Lancers in 1862. According to the inscription in the album, he died in August 1867.

According to an announcement in the Times (18 April 1929), Mrs Ellen Arabella Caroline Dobie, of New Lodge, St. John’s Park, Ryde, Isle of Wight, ‘widow of Captain William Alexander Dobie, 12th Lancers’, died on 17 November, aged 87.


(AROUND MAY 1867)
RECORD OF MARRAIGE
by special license at tykillen house co,wexford captain dobie ,late 12th royal lancers eldest
son of alex dobie ESQ ,hyde park terrace london, to ellen arabella caroline ,daughter of charles arthur walker esq, vice lieutenant wexford

(this is prob how the razors ended up in wexford......)

nollaig

Also found that ellens father, charles arthur walker was on the council
Of governors of wexford district lunatic asylum,enniscorthy
And his listed address is Tykillen house enniscorthy.where the special
Marraige license was issued.....

Very nice history, and a great gift. if would not nice to see if a UK restoration worker would consider cleaning them up a bit, remone any rust and then polishing by hand with perhaps some renaissance wax or similar product to slow their decline... if they were your personal razors a good cleaning and honing would be in order. 4 day ivory sets are not all that common, especially with known provenance.

enjoy,
jim

Well, from the picture it looks like he enjoyed the razors and they gave a good shave. Put those puppies to hone and get them back to their original duty! Stiff upper lip and what not! Cheerio!

Originally Posted by Wintchase

Well, from the picture it looks like he enjoyed the razors and they gave a good shave. Put those puppies to hone and get them back to their original duty! Stiff upper lip and what not! Cheerio!

Just to say I was in the 17th/21st Lancers " Death or Glory " Boys I left about 30 odd years ago but our No1 Dress is exactly the same as in the old photo Oh happy Days
Below is picture of cap badge which is om my Blazer still can remember my Army No which was 24080484 even after all this time because if you did not say it when you went to get payed you did not get your Money! . sorry forgot this is a shaving forum.