Straight razor Original owner stories

Yesterday while looking at and admiring a few old razors in my collection I got to day dreaming about their long lives. I have an old greaves stubby and a Tillotson's chopper that are have been around for a long, long time. Each razor was purchased on eBay, and neither seller could tell me anything about them... Where they came from, who they belonged to, how they made it over the past 200 years.... Undoubtedly these razors have been through a lot. I have a fair collection of serviceable razors at this point but only one came with a story, and even that razor's story was no more then a few lines long..

The razor I speak of is one of the younger members of my collection... It's a 5/8 hollow ground etched wade and butcher that I can easily date to the late 1880's- just pre 1890.

The story only said it was found in the house of a farmer who worked a large corn field who passed away in the 1930's on the Indiana-Ohio river boader.
The time line makes sense, as if the farmer passed old, lets say 80, that would mean he would have been born in the 1850's and would have been 40 or so years old give or take when the razor was made.

I would love to see this thread turn in to a commemoration to the original owners of our prized razors- I would Also like to see pictures of the razors to bring the story to life... I can't wait to hear what some of our razors have to say!!

Attachment 134712

I only have one razor with a story.Is a Japanese western given to me by a very old friend of my wifes.
Was her fathers,(she also gave me his hone) I belive the hone to be a nakayama Kiita.
At any rate her father and brother were killed in the final attack on Hiroshima,(the bodys were never found) but the razor inc the orig box and the hone did.Re-scaled the blade in Ivory and it is a great shaver.
I know the rulz.see if I can find a pic.

The Razor.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b3...econe/step.jpg

The stone.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b3...ne/naka001.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by pixelfixed

I only have one razor with a story.Is a Japanese western given to me by a very old friend of my wifes.
Was her fathers,(she also gave me his hone) I belive the hone to be a nakayama Kiita.
At any rate her father and brother were killed in the final attack on Hiroshima,(the bodys were never found) but the razor inc the orig box and the hone did.Re-scaled the blade in Ivory and it is a great shaver.
I know the rulz.see if I can find a pic.

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Bill
Is there any need to check these items with a gieger counter?

That's an awesome story and an incredible razor pixel!

I've had a few with at least partial histories. One, a Wade & Butcher, belonged to the eBay seller's grandfather. That one I resold to a member here.

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5196/...6abb9740_z.jpg

Before anybody gets judgmental about someone that'd sell their grandfather's razor: I've spent the last month cleaning out my mother's house, I'm here to tell you it's entirely possible for a close relative to have so much stuff that something like a razor doesn't represent a drop in the ocean.

Another I've got with a history is a French razor I got from France. Communicating with the seller through internet translation was a very special challenge, but I've done some research on my own and his claims are plausible. He said it belonged to a doctor and Rosicrucian in the early 1920's. It's a Rameau, and a fantastic shaver. Also has the nicest name engraving I've ever seen in a set of scales.

http://theshiveringbeggar.com/wp-con...1/IMG_7882.jpg

Ok! A good idea! I think these stories and razors should be documented. This pair of razors (on the right) are smaller Rodgers in ivory. Only pic I can find right now! The box has the initials on the lid as well. A quote from the person I bought them from:
" They belonged to William R P Clark, a San Francisco doctor who was a good friend of my aunt's and also related to her by marriage. I met Dr. Clark only once, in 1947 when my sister and I visited that aunt in SF. They lived in the same apartment tower on Russian Hill that had a great view of the Golden Gate Bridge. He was 78 then and I believe died in the 50's. That's about all I can tell you. If you google him, you'll find a medical paper on tuberculosis that includes a comment from him"

Anyway, a doctor back in the day. Perhaps exceptional, perhaps not! At least I know who he was.


Attachment 134732

A few more pics


Attachment 134733Attachment 134734Attachment 134735

This pair infuriates me.

http://theshiveringbeggar.com/wp-con...8/IMG_7698.jpg

I got them from completely separate vendors, hundreds of miles apart who got them from completely different estate auctions and just happened to put up auctions that ended within 20 minutes of each other. Both razors have an owner's name and town engraved on the pile side.

http://theshiveringbeggar.com/wp-con...2/IMG_7997.jpg

One name is very hard to read, the other is too common to track, despite the very tiny town of Danville, Ohio. (The other appears to be John {something} from Woodstock, Ohio).

My best guess is that they were gifts or commemorative items to members of the Grand Army of the Republic (a veterans organization for Union soldiers), but I can't track them.

The razors themselves were made around or after 1851, as this newspaper ad attests:

http://theshiveringbeggar.com/wp-con...ch-25-1851.gif

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Voidmonster

This pair infuriates me.

http://theshiveringbeggar.com/wp-con...8/IMG_7698.jpg

I got them from completely separate vendors, hundreds of miles apart who got them from completely different estate auctions and just happened to put up auctions that ended within 20 minutes of each other. Both razors have an owner's name and town engraved on the pile side.

http://theshiveringbeggar.com/wp-con...2/IMG_7997.jpg

One name is very hard to read, the other is too common to track, despite the very tiny town of Danville, Ohio. (The other appears to be John {something} from Woodstock, Ohio).

My best guess is that they were gifts or commemorative items to members of the Grand Army of the Republic (a veterans organization for Union soldiers), but I can't track them.

The razors themselves were made around or after 1851, as this newspaper ad attests:

http://theshiveringbeggar.com/wp-con...ch-25-1851.gif

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Wow, that's an incredible pair! Given that names are engraved in the same font I would presume it was the same engraver who did them. Perhaps even an original razor manufacturer?

Great idea for the subject btw! Why don't we start a wiki on it? Have a featured razor story of the week etc?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mrsell63

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Bill
Is there any need to check these items with a gieger counter?

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The razor has a tendancy to cause some razor burn.you may be onto something Jerry:)

I posted a thread about something similar. Have a 5/8" Torrey with a name engraved in the scales of a Canadian soldier. I researched the heck out of it and found a lot of info on him his battalion and family and how they came over from England.

Here's a link to my orginal post. http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...y-w-story.html



Rick

The big Joseph Rodgers that I have posted a photo of in the recent ebay 'deals' thread is one of those "was my grandfather's razor" stories. That was where the buy it now guy lived in my area and we met at a Dunkin Donuts so no shipping involved.

The one other razor I have with a known story is a MK Heljestrand 32 with genuine ivory scales. I bought it from a barber in Madison, NJ in the 1980s when I used to go to the shops to see if any of the old guys had cool razors they would sell. Shaving customers was already dieing on the vine even back then.

Alex Micah was 99 years old and was the oldest barber still working in the USA and probably the world when I went to his shop and bought this for $20.00. It was part of his rotation and he honed on a coticule. I have no idea how many times he would have honed this razor but it must have been many over the decades that he used it. He was written up in newspapers up that way at the time. He passed away at 100 or 101 years old IIRC. He told me that it was no good to live too long but that is for another thread. Here is the Helje ;

Attachment 134841Attachment 134842

Yeah jimmy looks like that barber had that thing very well kept throughout the years... Really neat having a razor from the worlds oldest barber! :-)

What a great thread.

I am sad that I have nothing to contribute. :boohoo:

The razor that got me into this hobby was from my grandfathers. I discovered it in a curio cabinet at my mother's house by luck. The razor was supposed to go to my uncle, Thomas, but he is doing life in a Georgia prison. Since they won't let him have it, it goes to me. ;)

The men are on my mother's side of the family, under the name of "Peebles", from Scotland.
The men are listed below from the beginning of the razor. The razor is a Wade & Butcher.

Abraham Dudley Peebles 6-6-1813 . Abraham started using the razor in the late 1830's. (No photo available, but he lies in this grave in Webster County, Mississippi.

Attachment 134876

It was used by Abraham's son, Dudley Peebles :

Attachment 134877

The razor then went to Dudley Peebles Jr.

Attachment 134878


Dudley Jr. then gave it to Dudley Guilford Peebles III. The man I knew & loved.

Attachment 134879

Here is the razor:

Attachment 134880

Wow talk about a razor with family ties and history! great story!

Much thanks goes to Max Sprecher, who cleaned the blade for me 3 years ago & repaired a small nick in the edge. The razor is all original.

Well I won’t even attempt to top John’s post with all the history and picture! I’m very impressed!!!

My father had a straight razor that he referred to as ‘granddad’s’ my younger brother ended up with it. After I’d discovered the wonderful world of shaving with a straight I asked my brother if he still had it and if he did, could I please have it.

Long story made short, he sent it to me and I sent it to Glen. Originally I was hopeful that the blade could be cleaned up and put back in the original scales but the old horn was de-laminating so Glen made new ones for me.

I do not wish to hijack this thread, however here’s the link to what he did to bring a family heirloom back into service. My son had taken up the art of shaving with a straight at the age of 17. He was the first one to use that razor since at least 1934.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/custo...ered-horn.html

I remember that razor, a beautiful job Glen did on it. It will last another 150 years.

That's a fantastic story! What a privilege to have that heirloom razor! It's great that you included the pics if family too. Thats what this thread is all about!

Here is another one with a story that I forgot I had. My upstairs neighbor is from Quebec. He and his wife come down here and spend 4 or 5 months every year. He is 74 years old and a very vigorous man. Ran marathons when he was younger and still gets up early and jogs every day. So I was wearing my SRP t-shirt and he struck up a conversation with me about razors. I told him that I shave with them daily and hone them as a hobby.

Later that day Viktor knocked on my door and said that he had no use for this razor. It had belonged to his father and he wanted me to have it. Well I was amazed and gratified that he would pass this heirloom on to me. He said it was 'very sharp' and told me to be careful. I assessed the edge and it would cut butter but that was about it. I call this razor 'Viktor' after the gentleman who gave it to me. Honed up nicely and shaves well.

The tang stamp, in script, seems to read "Alcosa" but it is a bit obscure. As you can probably see there are three letters inscribed in front of it around a set of weighing scales, A W S. The same logo is on the mark side scale. Note the stamping on the pile side tang. Illustrates the reputation of Sheffield steel "real hollow ground in Germany" back before WWII. I figure this razor to be 1920s or maybe '30s.

Attachment 134996Attachment 134997

I bet Viktor felt great when he went home, knowing that razor would stay on the line & continue to serve.
Those scales are in perfect condition. A great story & beautiful razor.

It's awesome to see 100 year old gold leafing / wash like that!
Another great story. I agree with his decision to pass it along to you jimmy, these things Belong in the hands of those who appreciate it.
I know when I go I'd rather have my razors go to some one who will love and use them rather than have my family part it out for nickels and dimes. That why I'm looking forward to teaching my kids to appreciate straights and to use them.., so te can stay in the family!
I've got a little time with the till though.... They are only 2 and 1 month old respectively.

Thank god we have the Hirlau conservatory in Florida to donate our razors to when we pass on:)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by pixelfixed

Thank god we have the Hirlau conservatory in Florida to donate our razors to when we pass on:)

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Yes, unless donut-eating zombies take over! We might need to send them sooner! ;)

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,I gotta dig up the guy's business card that's running that place,,,,, Attachment 135048

While as I posted, I only have One actual heirloom razor (my great grandfather’s) I’m blessed with having 6 ‘semi’ heirloom straights!!!

My old Boy Scout Scoutmaster and I keep in touch via email and when I told him that I’d taken up the art of shaving with and maintaining straight razors he asked me to drive back home as he has some to show me.

When I arrived, he went to his bedroom and returned with two boxes. He proudly opened the first and said that they were his father’s, brothers and brother in laws, (there were 7) his had been taken to Marine Corp Boot Camp and had to be sent home and was lost in the mail.

I explained the sizes, styles and where they were made. When I was finished, he put them all back in the box and handed the box to me saying, “I want you to have these”.

I was really taken back!!! I said “What about Steve and Mike”?!? (His two sons). He calmly replied “To them, their just chunks of steel, you’ll put them back in to use”. I was close to tears!

Two of the blades had cracks and couldn’t be salvaged; the other 5 are really nice shavers!! I took a couple back up after I’d just used some Mothers to clean them up and he was so pleased! When he looked at the first one that had etching on the blade, he said “Boy! You can actually read what it says now”!

I also have a very nice Griffin in the original coffin case that an old friend who I’ve known since Boy Scouts had and wanted me to sell for him (I’m sure that it was one of his grandfathers as his mother and father wouldn’t hold onto it with so much care) and reluctantly did, however the guy found that he didn’t have the patience to use a straight so I bought it back and use it regularly!

Anyway, I treasure all the razors that I’ve been very blessed to receive and will honor, treasure and take care of them just as I do with my Great Grandfather’s W&B!!

Great story, it's like Joe said, people want to see their cherished tools continue to serve.