A Providential Pair

[Kalloran]

So I was surfing the 'bay, trying to appease a bit of my RAD, when I came across a J. Wostenholm with no scales. The blade looked decent, with, to my eye, none of the tell-tale signs of metal fatigue or corrosion that I've learned to look for and only a few small nicks on the bevel. I grabbed it for 20 USD with little contest and am now quite pleased that I have a "big name" razor in my inventory, if sans scales.

A few days later, also surfing e-bay, I came across this little gem:

The blade says Joseph Rodgers and Sons, but the scales are J. Wostenholm & Sons EBRO and in good shape! If I'm not mistaken, it appears that someone re-scaled a Joseph Rodgers blade with J. Wostenholm scales, the original type scales for the J. Wostenholm that I just purchased. 16.50 USD later, it's mine. I can't wait for the Joseph Rodgers to get home and so I can perform a little scale transplant. These are the seller pics, so I can post more when the blade arrives, but does anyone know what material those scales are? Just so I can get an idea on how to re-finish them.

[sharptonn]

Nice match, I think. The scales are of pressed horn. If you want to fill in the gold letters, do not oil them first or the paint won't stay . I would use some extra-fine steel wool lightly, then paint in the letters, wool again, and then polish and wax them. Should be nice.