Thread: Please help with identification.

Greetings all. Once again, thank you all so much for the help with last question. Walking back from the hairdressers this morning I bought this straight razor from a small shop. The razor scales( unknown material) have an insert "BEEKAY" in them and wording about the steel in the blade. Any assistance would once again be really appreciated. Cheers

You might be able to find some info here https://www.archivingindustry.com/cu...azormakers.htm . Gremer could be the maker or importer and Beekay could be a brand name. Scales are likely celluloid.

Bob

There is a Beekay Cosmetics in Kolkata India. Not sure if that is the same but if so it is a contract razor. That doesn't say who the maker is but my guess is that the box is not original to the razor. They are not matched what seems like more often than not when buying razors second hand.

Originally Posted by BobH

You might be able to find some info here https://www.archivingindustry.com/cu...azormakers.htm . Gremer could be the maker or importer and Beekay could be a brand name. Scales are likely celluloid.

Bob

Hi Bob. Many thanks.The logo tested out at 9.25 silver. Looks like a keeper.

Originally Posted by anthony03

Hi Bob. Many thanks.The logo tested out at 9.25 silver. Looks like a keeper.

Yeah, looks like a nice razor. I am not help with information, though.

Try this link: https://trademarking.in/details/Beekay-1470595.html

Looks like someone in India bought the rights to an old trade mark.

Bob

Thank you so much to all. Just some more info. Wording on the tang is"Finest Sheffield Steel-Forged and real Hollow ground in Germany" Then some faint etchings on the blade on the same side as the wording on the tang, a circle on the left with the words "regd" . In the center of the blade" BEEKAY " and on the right side a circle with the words "De Luxe".

Do not know about the maker, but that it is 3 pinned, a better quality of Faux Ivory, and the logo in silver indicate that it was a higher end razor at the time.

Unfortunately, that scale pattern of Faux Ivory and color are highly susceptible to cell rot off gassing and by the look on the blade and tang some early stages of off gassing are indicated by the black finish.

If you catch them in the early stages and remove the rust, (the black oxidation is a form of rust), clean well, keep it dry and out of direct sun light, it may be saved.

Honing will tell you if the steel is good. It is badly in need of Heel Correction, and that has caused it to be honed over the stabilizer and the excessive wear on the spine & toe, uneven blade width and curved tapered toe.

Once repaired and properly honed, it should prove to be a good shaver.

There were many companies in the early 1900’s that only made razors for export for others and did not stamp a makers mark. Some stamped the back or not at all.

Wingen/Othello was one of the largest in Germany. They made quality razors for many well-known companies and lesser known. They also pioneered the fancy bolsters, inlays, wild colored celluloid scales and better ground, higher end razors.

You might have better luck matching the Faux Ivory scale design, blade shape and size to other razors to locate the maker. Many made the identical razors for others and under their own mark.

Some companies would make razors and stamp your name and logo on them for as small a run as 144 razors. That is where all the hardware store razors come from. Many are quality razors.

Remove the oxidization with some steel wool, 600, 1& 2k wet and dry, clean the scales well, hone it up and keep it dry and you should be ok. I would not store it with your other razors until you see that it is not off gassing. If it does, it will turn black, or a fine orange rust film will coat the blade. If so, you must immediately un-pin the razor to save the blade.

Because the maker is unknow and not collectable it will not be a valuable razor but may be a good shaver.

Originally Posted by Euclid440

Do not know about the maker, but that it is 3 pinned, a better quality of Faux Ivory, and the logo in silver indicate that it was a higher end razor at the time.

Unfortunately, that scale pattern of Faux Ivory and color are highly susceptible to cell rot off gassing and by the look on the blade and tang some early stages of off gassing are indicated by the black finish.

If you catch them in the early stages and remove the rust, (the black oxidation is a form of rust), clean well, keep it dry and out of direct sun light, it may be saved.

Honing will tell you if the steel is good. It is badly in need of Heel Correction, and that has caused it to be honed over the stabilizer and the excessive wear on the spine & toe, uneven blade width and curved tapered toe.

Once repaired and properly honed, it should prove to be a good shaver.

There were many companies in the early 1900’s that only made razors for export for others and did not stamp a makers mark. Some stamped the back or not at all.

Wingen/Othello was one of the largest in Germany. They made quality razors for many well-known companies and lesser known. They also pioneered the fancy bolsters, inlays, wild colored celluloid scales and better ground, higher end razors.

You might have better luck matching the Faux Ivory scale design, blade shape and size to other razors to locate the maker. Many made the identical razors for others and under their own mark.

Some companies would make razors and stamp your name and logo on them for as small a run as 144 razors. That is where all the hardware store razors come from. Many are quality razors.

Remove the oxidization with some steel wool, 600, 1& 2k wet and dry, clean the scales well, hone it up and keep it dry and you should be ok. I would not store it with your other razors until you see that it is not off gassing. If it does, it will turn black, or a fine orange rust film will coat the blade. If so, you must immediately un-pin the razor to save the blade.

Because the maker is unknow and not collectable it will not be a valuable razor but may be a good shaver.

Thank you so much for the priceless information. As a novice to small blades it is really appreciated and eye-opening. Cheers