Thread: H. G. Long & Co, Sheffield probably ivory scales and a few questions

I got this razor recently and have a few questions related mainly to scales and how to restore them.

Pictures of the razor.



Crack on scales and pins without washers.



Look how thin the are (and dirty).


And how rusty blade is in some places.


The pattern (lines) changes as light hits scales at different angles (about 90 degrees difference).



Am I correctly suspecting they are real ivory?
I did some research and I am pretty sure they are real ivory just looking for confirmation or maybe I am wrong?

I would like to remove pins, clean everything and put everything together but that crack on one scale bothers me. How careful should I be during that process. Is it doable or better just leave pins as they are?
Please share your experiences.

Yes, I think you are correct, they are ivory scales. Pixe is an expert on here and will chine in shortly on your scales. If I understood him correctly when I had a similar question, the lines you are seeing are called Schreger lines and suggest a high grade of ivory. Unless I really knew what I was doing I would not attempt to unpin and repin those scales. I would clean inside the scales as best I could and live with that.

There is not much you can do about the cracks from what I have read. I just live with the cracks on the ones I have that do have cracks. Those cracks are fairly common in ivory scales. Try not to flex the scales when handling them.

Bob

That is a lovely find!
Pipe cleaners work to clean inside cramped spaces like between brittle scales.
~Richard

I am aware they are brittle and already cracked. That's why I am asking first.

Those Schreger lines are more prominent on one side of scales (that one on photos) the other side looks more plain. Anyway they looks really nice.

As about pipe cleaners are you referring to chemicals used to clean pipes or special shape brushes?

That's not a probably. Nice ivory scales. Cracks can often be stabilized with cyanoacrylate (super glue). The thin stuff works well, it can be capillary flowed into the crack, and bonds quite nicely with the ivory.

Beautifull Ivory scales,warm water, some dish soap
some pipe cleaners as above, a toothbrush,just clean them, rub some mineral oil into them,would not worry about the crack as it is on the wedge end.With Ivory, less is more,IME

That is a lovely straight razor! You are correct, they look like Ivory to me. Ivory scales are normally thin. Pipe cleaners are thin pieces of wire with fuzzy little things on them for cleaning pipes people use for smoking from. I would not unpin it if I were you due to the fact it might crack more or break the scales. Just go to your local drug store or smoke shop & buy some pipe cleaners to clean between the scales with.
H.G. Long & Co. go back as far as 1768 & the firm had several different names but became H.G. Long & Co. Ltd in 1901. There is about a page of their history in my Tweedale's book.

Nice find!

One point on cleaning ivory: absolutely don't soak the scales in water, as that can lead to warping. You can get the scales wet - rinse them, use a damp cloth on them, whatever - as long as you don't submerge and soak.

Thanks for enlightening me on those pipe cleaners. I don't smoke so that territory is very foreign to me.

Manufacturer's name is written in two lines exactly:
H. G. LONG & Co.
SHEFFIELD
So could you guess what period of time that name indicate?

It happens I have a bottle of camelia oil at home, can I use this oil instead of mineral on scales?

Another good tip about not soaking them in water.

Many thanks guys

I'll wait a little more before do anything with this nice item as I want to restore it right.

No, use mineral oil,cheap at any drugstore.