Thread: Fun Find in Tortoise shell.

A fun find Joseph Rodgers & Sons 14/16 ¼ hollow wedge in tortoise. The unusual blade has some pitting so it will need to be un-pinned for a proper cleaning to make shave ready. I realize it has collector value as is, but I want to restore for use. I was surprised to find the tortoise shell in as nice condition. I am treating the shell with Burt’s Bee’s Cuticle cream to help restore some of the moisture content.
I found the wadded up piece of news print shoved in the original coffin case. There was no date that I could make out on the newspaper however it looks to be the obit section. It reads “In Post 8vo price 5s third Edition. London, Jackson & Walford 18 St. St Paul’s….” “ A terrific explosion” then the names “William Dixon a boy, James Flannigan engine man, M. Nish 633 Gallow Gate. N. British railway depot”
I found some other nice finds too. You know what I’ll be doing for the next few days. Have fun;
Mike

Cool razor, and the newspaper is an interesting bonus. But I'm pretty certain those scales are dyed horn.

Thanks Dylan, That could be. I have un-pinned and have worked some more on the scales. It stinks like burned hair when worked. It has a layered texture effect more like shell though.
It also has an opalescence I have not seen in horn. See attached. I will be running this over to someone that knows more about than me. We'll see if we can verify.
I'm also restoring a Yak hide strop. It might be Cow hide or Water buffalo, but somebody saw fit to stamp a Yak on there.


Mike

Originally Posted by MODINE

Thanks Dylan, That could be. I have un-pinned and have worked some more on the scales. It stinks like burned hair when worked. It has a layered texture effect more like shell though.
It also has an opalescence I have not seen in horn. See attached. I will be running this over to someone that knows more about than me. We'll see if we can verify.
I'm also restoring a Yak hide strop. It might be Cow hide or Water buffalo, but somebody saw fit to stamp a Yak on there.


Mike

I recently acquired a razor with supposed turtle shell scales on it, so I did a bunch of resources. The scales can be determined bone/shell if the dark colors run all the way through. The process for dying horn means that the dark blotches are only on the surface. If they go all the way through, odds are good that they are real turtle shell.

Also, ran across a strop recently and was digging for info and that image you have on that strop looks like a logo I saw for a Russian Leather company. Might still be yak, or might just be a company logo. A lead to follow though.

So far as the Newsprint goes, it looks more like a catalogue/classifieds listing of Theology Books/articles. The text I can make out refers to The Sacraments: An inquiry... and The Doctrine of Original...Sin? Underneath each listing appears to be publishing information, Jackson & Walford press?in London. The format is identical to theological works published today. You might be able to get an idea of the age if you can find the Authors, Titles, and Publisher info together. Another lead to follow.

Edit: The Post 8vo most likely refers to 8 Volumes