Don't see much of this Sheffeild maker... Middleton 8/8 FBU

[karlej]

There are not many references to this maker in the forums so I thought I'd post this razor. A wonderful heavy 8/8 FBU 1/4 hollow to wedge grind with a sovereign mark. Top and bottom jimps on the tang too. Outstanding condition considering the age. It has seen little time on a hone. The brown horn scales with lead wedge have only 1 small bug bite. Alas one of the brass domed collars is missing on the back face scale. The steel reinforcement is there thought or maybe it's one of those steel collars so frequently seen on other Sheffields. If you look close you can see the indentation from the original collar. The collars are huge with a diameter of .358. I've never seen another quite like these. I wish I still had access to a lathe to make a punch set. I'll have to figure something out.
Middleton, Newton & Middleton is listed in Tweedale's Directory with William Middleton Sr. passing in 1841 and the partnership dissolving one year later. I'm guessing William Jr. carried on the business under the Middleton name. That would date the blade to sometime between 1842 and 1890 but based on the scales and collars I'd say it's on the earlier side.