Thread: 1830's Edward Allison with fancy bone scales.

Thanks to this thread, I now know that I've got a museum-quality specimen here. In fact this one is in better condition than the one in the Artemas Ward collection. The main difference is that I have a better clue about its age than the folks looking after the collection, and mine is missing less of the original ornamentation.



The W(crown)R makes the date unequivocal. This razor, was made after 1830. The one in the museum probably not much before that.



The scales are slightly cracked, and there's a small piece missing on the pile side above the pivot.



Very few of the original pique work pins are missing. (8 are missing of probably 150 -- I only counted what was gone). The pins come in two sizes, roughly 0.3mm and 0.5mm, then there are the two larger shields (one of which is missing) and the long plate.

The blade has a hollow point and an unusual scalloped tang, not to mention that neat swaged spine (a feature I have a particular weakness for).

Edward Allison, Knife Grinder (and most likely maker of this razor), served 7 years of apprenticeship to Charles Milnes and was freed 1813. He was the son of Edward Allison, cutler and grinder who was apprenticed to his father, Edward Allison, horsecroft and husbandman who had also served an apprenticeship to a cutler (Thomas Osgathorpe).

Beautiful...

Love the ornamentation! Are you going to shave with it?

Originally Posted by mrv

Love the ornamentation! Are you going to shave with it?

Absolutely! I'll probably get impatient and hone it before I fix the scales though. If at all possible I'm going to replace the missing pins in the design as well as the larger 'button-like' shield.

Wow love that! Those jimps are veritably industrial

Jimptastic

Did you ever finish the restoration on this one?

Is it the one that was listed on ebay.co.uk ?

Regards

Originally Posted by tedh75

Did you ever finish the restoration on this one?

I honed it, but have otherwise done nothing else. It's a favorite shaver despite the toll of ages!

Originally Posted by charlie48horlogerie

Is it the one that was listed on ebay.co.uk ?

Hmm. Do you have a link to that? I don't think it was. I did get an Allison from eBay recently, but it was this one.







The spine is etched 'Warranted To Shave Well'.

And since posting here, I've dug up more information about Allison over here, on my blog.

Interesting. I love stuff like that. I really enjoyed your article on William Greaves and Sons. Very informative.
I was wondering if you knew anything about he maker of this razor? I have found precious little myself. The "Y" looks familiar and is that a crown next to it or more "Y's". Also can't make out the symbol opposite the "Y". Do you think it is contemporary to the first Allison you posted?