Thread: Huge Gervais

hope this works.

hope this works

Whoever made these razors knew what they were doing and also not too many of them made, very rare indeed!

Originally Posted by ruday555

Whoever made these razors knew what they were doing and also not too many of them made, very rare indeed!

Most definitely true, Ruday. The family from which these pieces sprung were craftsmen in the highest order. Most certainly, the materials from which they were made are as well. In all 3 examples, the grinding appears exemplary.
This thread may well be the authority on Gervias razors as most info may be lost to time. A trip to Antwerp might yield more.
Thanks, Gentlemen, for the pictures and descriptions!
Regards,
Tom

Hi Gents,

ok this will be my next goal a trip to Antwerpen lets find out where to go..
Longue rue de L'Hopital no:6. and Rue de Tournon 29. do not appear in Antwerpen on google maps.... they are in France... or where these streets distroyed in the War???

rue de l'h?pital - Traduction anglaise – Linguee for more info go to work now lets get it on :-)

Well Rolf, In my correspondence with Neil Miller on this, I suppose I may include his words on Gervias' location.
I quote Neil:

"Hi Tom,

I remember the thread now. There were a number of people with the surname Gervais in Antwerp. One (Emmanuel) we know was solely concerned with guns and munitions, whereas two - Jules and Nicolas were both cutlers and arms makers. In the thread we did not deal with Nicolas.

In the Commercial Address Book for Antwerp dated 1840, we only find five cutlers. One of whom was "C. Gilson" who occupied a premises in the curiously named "Marche Au Lait" street.

In the same guide, dated 1878 - 1888 we find both Jules and Nicolas Gervais. Nicolas is situated at - guess where?! - March au Lait.

Just a bit more food for thought...

Neil "

Best I can do to help! Looks like March au Lait is the ticket?
Tom

new info!!!!

Hi Tom found out the following item, March au Laut, the translation in Dutch is Melk Markt and this street is an existing street in Antwerpen. Melk markt no 18 is constructed around 1888 see https://inventaris.onroerenderfgoed.be/dibe/relict/4351 ok build in 1888 so I will see where i can go from here.....

Originally Posted by RolfdeHaan

new info!!!!

Hi Tom found out the following item, March au Laut, the translation in Dutch is Melk Markt and this street is an existing street in Antwerpen. Melk markt no 18 is constructed around 1888 see https://inventaris.onroerenderfgoed.be/dibe/relict/4351 ok build in 1888 so I will see where i can go from here.....

The "Marché au lait" was not really a street but more a square on a street, its translation is Milk Market, the city of Antwerp was full of these markets all over for shoes, clothing,etc. RolfdeHaan im not sure the one you found is the same place seems i find in the old books that refer to the "marché au lait" was well before 1888.

It's the name of a street. No doubt its origins lie in a milk market on a square - many places are named like that - Marche aux Cochons et Lait (pigs and milk market) for instance. Marché simply means a market - a place where 'marchands' (merchants) sell their goods.

From the Universal Exposition of Antwerp, 1885 we have this entry from the diamonds/jewellers, etc category, complete with the number of the premises:



This postcard from 1895 shows it to be just a very wide street, where a market could be erected and dismantled on market days:



Unfortunately the germans did not think much of it, as witness this pc from 1915 (you can still see the church form the photo postcard above:



There is also a list of soldiers to be picked up from Belgium, who were residing with belgian residents at the end of WW1, amongst which there were many entries for people living in Marche au Lait, Antwerp. Seems like it was a definite enough street for the British Army to find its soldiers on...

Regards,
Neil

Jules gervais-courtellemont (1863-1931), paysages, jardins, intérieurs, c.1910, 14 autochromes d'époque., étiquette avec la mention du photographe sur une des plaques., 9 x 12 cm. (3.5 x 4.7 in.)

could this be Jules Gervais........