A razor love story: I. Pearce and H. Hobson wedges

I acquired this I. Pearce (John Pearce) some months ago in a job lot with three other old Sheffield razors (including the F. Fenney, Ford & Medley and William Rodgers that I’ve already posted about in the restorations section). Last week I bought an H. Hobson (Henry Hobson) with bone scales. In researching the Hobson, I discovered the two razors are related by love (or marriage, at least).

Attachment 278985

Henry Hobson was John Pearce's shop manager and married John Pearce’s only daughter, Ann. The pair later lived together in London, where Hobson ran his own company outlet on Houndsditch, in The City. It seems Henry operated under his own name (as opposed to Hobson Brothers or later re-launching the I. Pearce brand) only between 1852 and 1860, which would date the Hobson to a very short period. I believe the Pearce is earlier.

Attachment 278986

Both are wedges, both have very similar tang shapes...and both have significant hone wear!. Invisible in the photo but just visible under acute angled light is some etched writing inside a fancy box on the I. Pearce blade (some is worn away completely), it reads:

???? By John ????
???? Angel St
Warranted To Shave

The horn scales on the I. Pearce have a built in spacer. Not sure they are original to the blade?

I’m particularly happy to have the H. Hobson as I worked in a building on Houndsditch (where this blade may have been sold from) for five years (although the street now bears no resemblance to how it would have looked in 1850). Restoration on both is underway. I’ll post in the restorations section as they are done.

I found the history on Henry Hobson here: https://www.sheffieldhistory.co.uk/f...traight-razor/