Thread: A very old WB FBU

I've had my share of Wade and Butcher razors stamped with "For Barbers Use" of various flavors (the later Celebrated Hollow Ground razors, the big chunky wedges stamped with varieties of "Wade and Butcher", "Wade and Butchers", "Wade and Butcher's", the variants with the B and arrow, ones early in the Victorian period with distorted stamps, and even a "magnetic razor / for barbers use"). But this is definitely the first I've seen with a typical 1820s stubby, chunky tail. It's been reground so I'm not sure quite what it originally looked like. It's also the first I've seen with the dots separating "For . Barbers . Use". I'm quite sure it's 1820s-30s based on stylings but I don't have a way to date it specifically. If so it would change some ideas I had about when the FBU starting to become a popular stamping. Pics are from the seller.

Originally Posted by ScienceGuy

. It's also the first I've seen with the dots separating "For . Barbers . Use". I'm quite sure it's 1820s-30s based on stylings but I don't have a way to date it specifically. If so it would change some ideas I had about when the FBU starting to become a popular stamping. Pics are from the seller.

I agree and like most of your post but wonder at this statement.

Especially the starting to become popular part.

If this is the earliest it wasn't popular but the "first".

Maybe someone years later said lets try this again?

Popularity goes in cycles.

Someone should mark their razors FBU today and it might become a hit.........