W. Howcroft and Sons razor of Moss and Gambles Celebrated Steel

I have been cleaning up this old blade and checking into it's history a bit. Have found some things about it, but not much. It seems that W.Hawcroft of Hawcroft and Pearson (1837-1844) went on his own after and was listed in a Sheffield directory in 1852 at 64 Fitzwilliam St as W. Hawcroft and Sons.
Moss and Gamble was begun in 1853 at the Franklin Works on Russell St. by Joshua Moss and Joseph Gamble along with a brother of Gamble's and were listed as steelmakers/filemakers.
I also saw where a Joseph Gamble was Lord Mayor of Sheffield in 1891. Possibly a son of Joseph Gamble?
Moss and Gamble still seem to be around, but I cannot find and end date for W.Hawcroft and Sons. I wonder if the Logo/Renown on the tang might help to date it, as well as the use of Moss and Gamble steel. Any info would be appreciated!



Attachment 126999Attachment 127000Attachment 127001


Interestingly, A Moss and Gamble logo from an old saw states "Protected by The Cutlers Company"


Attachment 127002

That is one sweet looking blade! That shoulderless raised spine looks pratically unused.
Attachment 127004

Here's what I've got on Hawcroft & Pearson.

Hawcroft & Pearson.

Sorry I can't help, but just admiring the blade; definitely sweet looking steel.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Voidmonster

Here's what I've got on Hawcroft & Pearson.

Hawcroft & Pearson.

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Indeed interesting. So old Hawcroft was killed by a bull in 1868 and apparantly, the sons took over until 1874.
Also, I have a Homer blade which is mentioned there. The words of Revitt are cool !
I have been saving this blade for some "special" scales . It looks like it will predate them!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sharptonn

Indeed interesting. So old Hawcroft was killed by a bull in 1868 and apparantly, the sons took over until 1874.
Also, I have a Homer blade which is mentioned there. The words of Revitt are cool !
I have been saving this blade for some "special" scales . It looks like it will predate them!

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Got pictures of the HOMER? I haven't seen many, but I *think* the Revitt clan kept producing the more primitive styles into the 1810's... And I've got a VIRGIL stamped Revitt & Hull that dates to the mid 1830's.

I think I'll do my next blog post on these guys. :)

The "Homely" Homer! :D

Attachment 127020

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sharptonn

The "Homely" Homer! :D

Attachment 127020

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Yeah, that looks 1800-1815ish to me.

William Hawcroft was the son of Isaac Hawcroft and Sarah Revitt, hence the Revitt connection.

Isaacs son, William J Hawcroft:
William J Hawcroft died in 1922

William J Hawcroft - 'Artist' - is recorded in the 1911 census at 256 Crooksmoor Road living with wife Mary and son Bernard Thomas Hardy Hawcroft, age 19, student.

William J Hawcroft - 'Razor Manufacturer/Cutler' is recorded in the 1901 census at 265 Crookesmoor Rd with wife Mary, daughter Ethel and son Bernard

William J Hawcroft - 'Razor Manufacturer/Cutler' is recorded in the 1891 census at 17 Albany Rd with wife Mary, daughter Ethel and servant Florence Kay.

William J Hawcroft - 'Razor Manufacturer emp. 9 men, 1 girl' is recorded in the 1881 census at 121 Albert Rd with mother Ann, sisters Mary, Sarah and Rosetta, brothers George (Razor Manufacturer) and James. Ann is Head of the household.


William Hawcroft's son Isaac:
Isaac Hawcroft died in 1880

Attachment 127113

Above - Isaac's grave, Norton Cemetery

Isaac Hawcroft - 'Razor Manufacturer employing 20 men' is recorded in the 1871 census at 53 Bath Street with wife Ann, children William J. ('Razor Maker'), Mary, George, Sarah, James, Rosetta, servant Elizabeth Higginbotham

Attachment 127114

Above: advert from an 1871 Trade Directory

Isaac Hawcroft - 'Razor Manufacturer' is recorded in the 1861 census at Bath Works (53 Bath Street) with wife Ann, children William J., Mary and George, servant Louisa Coldwell and apprentice Edwin Turner.

William Hawcroft:
William Hawcroft died in 1868.

William Hawcroft - 'Razor Manufacturer' is recorded in the 1861 census at 149 Albert Road along with wife Ann, son William (also recorded as a 'Razor Manufacturer') and servant Mary Keyworth.

William Hawcroft - 'Razor Maker' is recorded in the 1851 census living at 99 Fitzwilliam Street, children recorded as Isaac, William, George (all 'Razor Makers')and Sarah, along with servant Mary Mills.

William Hawcroft - 'Razor Ma.' is recorded in the 1841 census living in Gell St. with wife Ann and children Isaac, William, George and Sarah.

From the above it is clear that the business (the Isaac and William traded under the same mark) lasted longer than thought - certainly past 1901 when Tweedale says that William J had retired - clearly, according to the census return, he had not.

Regards
Neil

So, does this razor appear to have been made later than 1874, Neil? I wonder if the blade etch would be a clue.
Tom

Its a job to say, Tom. Like you said, Moss & Gamble Bros appear to be still trading. At any event, this pic showing the back of their works was taken in 1905 so they were still going then!

Attachment 127131

I found another Hawcroft razor on the net, this one has W Hawcroft and Sons Renown on one side and Concaved by F Koeller, Boston on the other:

Attachment 127132

Of course, that doesn't tell us much other than F Koeller, son of a Prussian immigrant and cited as a cutlery dealer age 43 in Bostom, Mass. along with his son Arther F. Koeller, 17 in the 1900 census. Arthur was in business - still trading as F Koeller & Son, from 99 Albatross Road, Boston, Mass and called a 'Razor Honer - Own Shop' in the 1920 census.

Attachment 127133 left: from 1922 Attachment 127134 left: from 1934

So F Koeller concaved that Hawcroft razor sometime before 1900 and probably sometime after 1880 or thereabouts, when he would have been 20. Which, as I say, does not give us the age of the razor, just a pleasant diversion!

Regards,
Neil

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Neil Miller

William Hawcroft was the son of Isaac Hawcroft and Sarah Revitt, hence the Revitt connection.

...
From the above it is clear that the business (the Isaac and William traded under the same mark) lasted longer than thought - certainly past 1901 when Tweedale says that William J had retired - clearly, according to the census return, he had not.

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Excellent work Neil! (The only kind I expect from you though, really)

That does indeed explain why Wm. Hawcroft apprenticed to a Revitt.

I'll be amending my bio with both that and the longer date of operation. It also just needs some minor reorganization for clarity, funny how the best proofreading is done only when I imagine other people reading it...