Thread: ScienceGuy's Collection

Good god it's been a long time since I updated this. Here are a few more interesting ones.

Kingsbury, which I think is Benjamin Kingsbury, a cutler who published a number of pamphlets with pretty dense information on razors in the early 1800s (and some underhanded punches at Savigny.)



Speaking of, here's a later Savigny, with tortoise scales and flush pinning (the pins have been peened down and then sanded and polished flush with the scales so you can't feel them - quite slick).



The razor is advertised as being made with peat charcoal, which was actually a thing. See below, from "Facts for the kind-hearted of England! as to the wretchedness of the Irish peasantry, and the means for their regeneration" in 1847 (when book titles really didn't have word limits).



Next up, an L.W. Libley. I have yet to really research this one so can't say much about it. But then again this is precisely why I wanted it.



And finally a Cardheilac razor in rather unfortunate shape (some grinding, and both scales are repaired) but still impressive anyway. The plates are enamel and gold and set into the pearl. Cardheilac was a prominent distributor of fine goods (think gilded silver settings for the dining tables of the bourgeoisie).

Nice ones!

Interesting on the Kingsbury. I have one of those.
It was said it is too late to be from the old royal barber? I think it was Zak....

I will get a pic-on if you wish.

I would love a pic! I don't know dates for Kingsbury well enough, I'll have to do some reading.

Here it is....Lotsa pitting.

Thanks! The scales certainly look later 1800s but it could always have been rescaled. Mine lacks the border around Kingsbury. I'm curious but don't have a whole lot to base solid ground off of on either as far as dates.

It has definitely been rescaled. Will be interested in your findings.

You have some special blades.
Nice to see.
Thanks for sharing..

Originally Posted by sharptonn

Nice ones!

Interesting on the Kingsbury. I have one of those.
It was said it is too late to be from the old royal barber? I think it was Zak....

I will get a pic-on if you wish.

Maybe I weighed in on that before?

Well, I'm doing it now with actual data!

Benjamin Kingsbury, son of Richard & Ann, born in 1768 died 1835.

Here he is in a London directory from 1830:



I was hoping to find his indenture records, but as a London cutler, they were probably lost in WWII (though I did find a record of him apprenticing one 'William Nunn' in 1802).

Given an operation date from 1790's to 1835, I'd say both these Kingsbury razors were made by him. The name-in-cartouche thing is very early 1830.

Sweet Mother Of Razors!!!
You had to have started collecting before straight razors became popular again, and had to have known what and where to look for.
Simply amazing collection!
Thank you for sharing.