Thread: George Brittain "Acier Fondu" Razor

Originally Posted by Voidmonster

I'd say that one is near the end of their run -- 1835-1840ish. I also just checked my Tweedale directory, and he records that the Brittain and Brownell families parted ways in the late 1830's and that the Brittain family continued producing edge tools under their own name (though the biz was being run by George's son, Verdon).

As for the anchor mark, all there are are guesses and until some period sources turn up, I don't place stock in any of them.

The mark is ancient. Here's an anchor stamped razor from the 15th-16th century, probably made in Germany.

Interesting...So was Wilkinson still involved after the departure of Brownell?

Seems later ones may well be George Brittain razors. (If you can call 1830's 'later'!)

I like Prank's idea of being pushed to sailors on the anchor. Makes perfect sense?

Let's see a 'fouled anchor', Phrank!

So here's the one I have that's like Zaks...Anchor and no maker's mark:



And here is an I. Barber, "Fouled Anchor", notice the Anchor rope wrapped around the anchor?

"It is usually applied to the state of an anchor, which has become hooked on some impediment on the ground, or has its cable wound round the stock or flukes."

An I Barber!
Whose words are you quoting, Phrank? Sounds familiar!
Might that be an 'S' superimposed upon the anchor?

Originally Posted by sharptonn

An I Barber!
Whose words are you quoting, Phrank? Sounds familiar!
Might that be an 'S' superimposed upon the anchor?

It's an old symbol, but here's the link, it's currently used by the United States Navy, and it's not a, "S", it's a rope....

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foul_(nautical)

I see!

Originally Posted by Phrank

It's an old symbol, but here's the link, it's currently used by the United States Navy, and it's not a, "S", it's a rope....

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foul_(nautical)

So by this description could they have been marketed to the Royal Navy?

Yup...there's a few different symbols for a "fouled anchor":



More cut and paste info:

An anchor that is foul of the cable or chain is a symbol found in various Navy crests. No one really knows why the anchor was used as a symbol for the chief petty officer.
Many chiefs believe that it symbolizes the difficulty that they face everyday, but that is just a fanciful guess. The device is on the cap of the most naval officers, the distinguishing device of a Chief Petty Officer, the collar device of midshipman, and on the cap badges of the British naval officers.
Many sailors regard the device a sign of poor seamanship. Although, artistic to a civilian, it has been called a sailor's disgrace by some.

The fouled anchor was first seen as an insignia of the Lord High Admiral of England, Lord Howard of Effignham, around 1588 during the Spanish Armada battle. More than 400 years later, the insignia is still the official seal for the admiral's office.
The fouled anchor insignia is just one example of how the British navy influenced the navies around the world.

Originally Posted by Phrank

So to surface the old legend, the Anchor signifying Birmingham, which I've read has no or little basis in fact...curious as to why the Anchor stamp is missing? Any ideas?

The association of anchor-stamped steel items with Birmingham comes, as far as I can tell, from a misunderstanding that the silver hallmark for Birmingham could be meaningful on anything other than silver.

Tweedale didn't say what happened to Wilkinson, so I dunno!

And hey, 1830's is awfully late for me.

Originally Posted by Voidmonster

Tweedale didn't say what happened to Wilkinson, so I dunno!

And hey, 1830's is awfully late for me.

1830's to late as in you think the razor is dated earlier? The Acier Fondu stamp and the almost stub tail looks earlier to me, almost a transition razor....