First MOP (help with identify?)

So I've kinda finish restoring the blade, it took a lot of time and I'm not sure if I'm happy with the results...you decide yourself.
Don't get me wrong, I love it and the scales are amazing (although not quite perfect). I couldn't identify the maker and I was hoping I could get some help here if possible. I can say that it came from France but judging by the blade's shape and the "silver steel" stamp my guess is that its English...any thoughts on this?
Attachment 130414Attachment 130415Attachment 130416Attachment 130417Attachment 130418Attachment 130419Attachment 130420Attachment 130421

The scales are nice and the blade, though heavily pitted isn't bad. I don't think they pair up very well however. If you had some scales that looked more roughed up I think it would look better, almost matching. This is just my opinion and personal taste, of course. I think the scales would look great on a mirror/satin finish blade around 4/8-5/8.

Nice! Leave it alone, IMO. The scars are from time and use. Looks like something and Co. The first letter appears to be a "T" while the last is a "R"? Turner? Anyway, A beauty! :chapeau

Yes, a real gem of a razor!

The tang mark could be Pickslay & Co and underneath Peruvian Silver Steel?

If so, Charles Picksaly (b1781) would have been the cutler. He was in a number of companies (Green, Pickslay & Co, Pickslay, Appleby & Bertram, Picklay & Co.) and had made proper silver steel razors from an ingot of that metal supplied by Michael Faraday. At one point (c1828) Adam Padley was a partner, his company being absorbed by Charles Pickslay. Some examples of Peruvian Steel razors have a stylized 'AP' on the tang near the pivot. In 1834 Pickslay registered the PERUVIAN mark and proclaimed himself as the only maker of Peruvian Steel, made by a process "only known to Himself" although one presumes it must have had Peruvian silver as an alloying agent. He was making Peruvian Steel cutlery in Solly Street in 1834 as Pickslay & Co. Appleby seems to have disappeared by then and James Bertram (late Pickslay & Co) was a Merchant, Factor & Manufacturer of 11 Norfolk Street (still making Table knives, Razors, Stove Grates, listed under Ironmongers). Pickslay died of apoplexy in 1844.

Of course, it just looks like it says those things on it - a higher res, larger pic of the tang stamp would have been nice.

Regards,
Neil

I like that spine on the blade, very unique.

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Originally Posted by Neil Miller

Yes, a real gem of a razor!

The tang mark could be Pickslay & Co and underneath Peruvian Silver Steel?

If so, Charles Picksaly (b1781) would have been the cutler. He was in a number of companies (Green, Pickslay & Co, Pickslay, Appleby & Bertram, Picklay & Co.) and had made proper silver steel razors from an ingot of that metal supplied by Michael Faraday. At one point (c1828) Adam Padley was a partner, his company being absorbed by Charles Pickslay. Some examples of Peruvian Steel razors have a stylized 'AP' on the tang near the pivot. In 1834 Pickslay registered the PERUVIAN mark and proclaimed himself as the only maker of Peruvian Steel, made by a process "only known to Himself" although one presumes it must have had Peruvian silver as an alloying agent. He was making Peruvian Steel cutlery in Solly Street in 1834 as Pickslay & Co. Appleby seems to have disappeared by then and James Bertram (late Pickslay & Co) was a Merchant, Factor & Manufacturer of 11 Norfolk Street (still making Table knives, Razors, Stove Grates, listed under Ironmongers). Pickslay died of apoplexy in 1844.

Of course, it just looks like it says those things on it - a higher res, larger pic of the tang stamp would have been nice.

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Pickslay & Co is the only maker stamp I can think of that fits the space on the top (I can only recall 5-6 cutlers with "& Co." around 1820-1840, but that sure doesn't mean there aren't others), but I'm not at all sure about the bottom being PERUVIAN SILVER STEEL. Back to 1826 when Pickslay was anonymously singing his own praises in the newspaper row over silver steel, he was calling it just 'Peruvian Steel' as a separate thing from silver steel. (The letter signed 'Another Friend To Invention' in the December 16th, 1826 edition of the Independent).

I could swear I've seen a razor stamped 'Perfected Silver Steel', but I never replied to this before because, unhelpfully, I can't remember where.

That's a good point, Zak - I have only seen it stamped as 'Peruvian Steel' by Pickslay, Appleby and Bertram (from 1827), 'Peruvian' by Adam Padley (1834) and 'Peruvian Steel' by Pickslay and Co (1834). The list of '& Co' cutlers I have compiled so far doesn't help much either:

1822
Harwood Thomas & Co. manufrs. of table knives, razors, and lancets, 27, Arundel st.
Hilliard R. H. & Co. merchants, factors, and mfrs. of table knives & razors, Grindlegate
Johnson George & Co. manfrs. of pen and table knives, razors & lancets, 4, Furnival st.
Schofield & Co. factors & mfrs. of table knives razors, nails, &c. 18 Union st.
Skidmore Saml. & Co. mfrs. of portable desks and cases pocket books, razor strops &c. Westbar
1834
Colley & Co. 98 Arundel st
Johnson George & Co. Tudor st
Oakes & Co. 2 Eyre lane
Pickslay & Co. (Peruvian steel) 60 Solly st
Sansom, Harwood & Co. 36 Norfolk st

I can see that faint first letter as either being a 'T' like Tom said or a 'P' or posibly a 'B' or 'D' but I can't see it being anything else - even the last three depend on an overhangin top serif and wear to the lower part of the character.

It could be 'Perfected' on the next line, perhaps even 'Peerless' - perhaps more pics in different lighting would help.

Regards,
Neil

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Originally Posted by Neil Miller

I can see that faint first letter as either being a 'T' like Tom said or a 'P' or posibly a 'B' or 'D' but I can't see it being anything else - even the last three depend on an overhangin top serif and wear to the lower part of the character.

It could be 'Perfected' on the next line, perhaps even 'Peerless' - perhaps more pics in different lighting would help.

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I can definitely see it being 'Peerless' too. Maybe it was TILLOTSON & CO? The timeframe seems about right... I've never seen that stamp, but I know there were several Tillotsons working between 1820-1840 (a few merchants as well as the more famous cutler). Also, I'd guess the age is closer to 1840 than 1820. Seems like the changeover to Victoria is about when that style of half-swaged/half-quill spine was popular.

And because I forgot to mention it, wow, that's a lovely razor!

Aha! A Tillotson & Co razor.

I'd guess this is John Tillotson and not Thomas Tillotson. Neil will, of course, know for sure.... But I'm pretty confident in the maker identification.

You are too kind, Zak!

Not the original Thomas Tillotson - too early (founded company 1774, died 1803). In 1797 name changed to Thomas Tillotson & Sons - John and George were the sons. The name changed again to Thomas Tillotson & Son - after John took over the firm. George had his own business. John had two sons - John and Thomas - he handed them the business in 1831. They styled themselves T & J Tillotson. John left the business and Thomas run it by 1850. Sometime around that date the name changed to Thomas Tillotson & Co and carried on that way to 1861.

So it could have been T & J Tillotson or Thomas Tillotson the second.

Regards,
Neil

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Originally Posted by Neil Miller

You are too kind, Zak!

Not the original Thomas Tillotson - too early (founded company 1774, died 1803). In 1797 name changed to Thomas Tillotson & Sons - John and George were the sons. The name changed again to Thomas Tillotson & Son - after John took over the firm. George had his own business. John had two sons - John and Thomas - he handed them the business in 1831. They styled themselves T & J Tillotson. John left the business and Thomas run it by 1850. Sometime around that date the name changed to Thomas Tillotson & Co and carried on that way to 1861.

So it could have been T & J Tillotson or Thomas Tillotson the second.

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You aren't doing a good job of proving my assessment too kind. ;)

Here are the best pictures I could get from my phone's camera
Attachment 131078Attachment 131079

In a closer exam through the magnifying glass it looks like the first letter is a "T" and the last one is "Y", yet a little hard to confirm the T in the pictures but the Y is pretty obvious isn't it?

NOW I am seeing an "H" first letter and a "Y" last one! "Refined" or "peerless" ??? Some way to bring it out like they do filed-off serial numbers? That blade is making me itch! As I go home, I shall check my oldies display.

OK, time for a curved ball. Supposing the name on the tang is not the makers, but the vendors? If it is a T, a la Toms first idea, maybe Tiffany & Co? Granted, in 1837 they were called Tiffany & Young, but the name changed to Tiffany & Co in the 1850s. A bit late for our timeframe, perhaps, but an interesting possibility.

Thanks for the extra pics by the way, Orsh, but they have only confused me further.

I would have liked the maker to have been Pickslay, but I would also have liked the weisser bier not to have run out in the hotel I stayed at in Austria - but then you cant have everything, can you?

Regards,
Neil

Indeed, Neil, most of us have found that bit out! ;)
The bier did not run out, Mate! They were just witholding from you! You were probably going on like Old King George and the Austrians were concerned!

All I see now is Tiffany and Co. !
Ahhhh, the power of Neil's suggestions! :rofl2:

I can get on board with 'Tiffany & Co', but I don't feel confident about it (and so much for my previous confidence in Tillotson's -- it's DEFINITELY not that).

The more I look at the second line, the more I think it says 'REFINED SILVER STEEL'.

Or maybe 'PILFERED'...

Come on in, Martin! We need your opinion! ;)

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Originally Posted by sharptonn

Come on in, Martin! We need your opinion! ;)

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Ever since this thread was posted i been trying! Honestly, im thinking the name on the razor _ _ _ _ _ y & co is a company of luxurious item and the razor was part of it.
And yes i really think the name is 6 letters then & co, wifey saw me with a ruller on the screen, and she just gave me that look! Priceless!

Orsh you found a really great looking gem. Anything else on the other side a number ?

Perhaps finding a similar razor with the same worked spine?

I think that is the key. Someone somewhere has the complete tang stamp to lay this one over!
Oh Well! Always looking! :rock:

Counting spaces, It cannot be Tiffany! At least to my worn-out eyes!

Just to mess with your brains a little more, now I'm also only seeing Tiffany!
Attachment 131132

I don't know if this extra info is helping but When I took out the blade for the cleaning I noticed that it has a golden washer-like shape around the pin hole, it looks like it was part of the metal, at one point I even thought that if I'll push it real hard from one side it will pop out but I didn't want to put it into a test.