Thread: George Brittain "Acier Fondu" Razor

Originally Posted by Martin103

And yes "Acier Fondu" is French, after Huntsman invented "Cast Steel" the English cutlers didn't like the new steel so Huntsman was selling most of his production to France hence the mark "Acier Fondu". Decades later they were force to use it to compete with the French and many used the "Acier Fondu" markings because what was made from the French was superior as far as steel goes.

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?

I dunno, but I thought I may see some 9/8 razors here!

Before the anchor GB?

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?

Well firstly its not a George Brittain razor, its a Brittain, Wilkinson & Brownell.

I'm assuming the anchor came later in this firm history as you mainly see that on the big choppers.

Fascinating Martin, thank-you, so this razor most likely is an 18th century razor? Just under the wire at 1797?

So can the anchor be attributed to George alone? Way I understood it?

Originally Posted by Phrank

Fascinating Martin, thank-you, so this razor most likely is an 18th century razor? Just under the wire at 1797?

Personally I think this razor is early 1800's.

Originally Posted by sharptonn

So can the anchor be attributed to George alone? Way I understood it?

Don't think the Anchor had anything to do with George since he died in 1812, you notice an evolution with their razors, from the ones marked "France" then the ones like Phrank, and later the big choppers. George sons took over his part of the business by 1815, Verdon and Bernard.

Thanks again Martin, either way, 200 years old, I'm going to tell myself 1797.... :-)

Now to read up on how to fill that gap in the scales, and clean this up without changing anything at all, leaving it as original as it is...no unpinning I guess, gentle hand sanding and some WD-40 possibly to get at the gunk in the pivot pin area...this one stays as original as I can leave it.

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.