Thread: Anchor stamped straight razor

Originally Posted by Firefighter2

If that razor could talk........

You're tellin me. If it could talk it could tell us who made it. Something tells me that it might have a Shakesperean drawl so I probably wouldn't be able to understand it anyway.

Originally Posted by cheetahmeatpheonix

You're tellin me. If it could talk it could tell us who made it. Something tells me that it might have a Shakesperean drawl so I probably wouldn't be able to understand it anyway.

And how much paint it stirred.

Those aren't my knives. I do have a little sodbuster like the one at the back of that pair, made by Robert Klass that I might could be talked out of.

It has yet to stir any paint.

Originally Posted by cheetahmeatpheonix

Wow you love posting that pic of that GB sitting on the Mac.
This is the second thread that I started and you've posted that same shot...LOL Lets see it from the other side..or opened up or sitting along side some shaving cream. I feeling alittle taken for granted over here. I got my dollar bills out and I'm sitting right by the edge of the stage...shake it alittle. Show me what you're made of. Tease me abit....LOL

LMAO! Maybe I'm prepping the Ebay market for George Brittains...you know most guys on here only know the names "Wade and Butcher" and "Greaves"

Originally Posted by cheetahmeatpheonix

LOL THanks for this but you're supposed to send me the link before the bidding is over so that I can win it and give allt he credit to you for finding it for me...LOL Really great piece though. I wish I could have found that sooner but with that title I would have never have found it...what the heck are birds eye rivets..LMAO

hi do you think this razor is a wade & butcher or a ? please help i would like to know

Originally Posted by rigsby

hi do you think this razor is a wade & butcher or a ? please help i would like to know

Which razor are you referring to ? If it is stamped or etched Wade & Butcher chances are it is a W&B. If it, like those spoken about in this thread, is stamped with "GB" and an anchor, it is a George Brittain.

Originally Posted by rigsby

hi do you think this razor is a wade & butcher or a ? please help i would like to know

Probably not. The only Wade and Butcher with an anchor I've seen is this type, and you can see the differences in the mark: Wade & Butcher "Anchor" 8/8 - Straight Razor Place Wiki

A number of manufacturers used anchors as marks (do a search on SRP and they'll turn up). However it is always within the realm of possibility that WB made a contract razor that was stamped with an anchor. I've seen a number of contract razors produced by them for other companies. But for this one, I'm guessing no.

I love the old stub tails! And they usually take an excellent edge and are excellent shavers! Congratulations!

Alfred Field and Co is a possible contender:



From what I have seen the 'GB' and maltese cross were used separately on occasions, so no doubt the anchor was too. The one in the pic is from 1919, but Alfred started business as a Birmingham hardware factor in 1836, which is closer to that razor's age by the looks of it. He opened a branch in NYC too. He didn't make razors though - he was US agent for Allens and Rodgers, and probably had his mark stamped on articles like knives and razors.

The 'GB' did accompany the anchor, though - so not all George Brittains are what they seem!

Another possibility is H Shaw & Sons:



They go back to at least 1783. 200 years after that and the name had already changed to H. Shaw & Son (Magnets). The firm was started by Henry Shaws father, but financial problems called Henry away from school to assist him in 1816 or 17. Steel, iron and cutlery were the products and the US was the aim! They had great success in New Orleans and St Louis, particularly among the pioneers. This gets us nearer the date of your razor.

Alldays & Onions had an anchor trademark, but they made automobiles, so we will discount them!

As for Wade & Butcher:



The anchor does appear without 'W GOODLAD", but I have yet to see it without the Wade & Butcher name - you never know, though. Advertiements of the time gave the business a start date of 1725, but partnership of William and Samuel Butcher is more accurately dated to 1825. However, their father James was a cutler in Charles Street, so it is not unreasonable to expect that they took his mark/s (he died in 1801 when they were children) and that the razor could be from an earlier generation, which would make the date pretty spot-on.

Regards,
Neil

thanks for everyones input it makes interesting reading