Thread: SRP Straight Razor Database passes 400 Razors!

Done, I'll add the lafayette when it gets back to me.

Originally Posted by gregs656

I just know the Mab item on there is called 'The MAB Razor', it's sheffield steel and the company was british based in Birmingham, not Germany.

I just wish I had a date!

How interesting! Where do you get your info?

I entered the info for the MAB and only had a short bit from the Standard Guide to Razors listing it as the MAB Reg. I have seen a couple of other MAB Rg. razors that looked just like the one in wiki

Is this the same as the Mab Co in Birmingham?

Thanks for the correction!

Originally Posted by hoglahoo

How interesting! Where do you get your info?

I entered the info for the MAB and only had a short bit from the Standard Guide to Razors listing it as the MAB Reg. I have seen a couple of other MAB Rg. razors that looked just like the one in wiki

Is this the same as the Mab Co in Birmingham?

Thanks for the correction!

The one in the Wiki is EXACTLY the same as the one I have, which came with the original Box. That's where I got my info from, I have been trying to look up the company through the patent register but with no luck. I've been looking on there because the box says REG(d) on the back ((d) = super script d.)

So, it seems likely your book is talking about the same razor. they registered something as a trademark, assuming that's what the REG stands for?

I'm certain it's the same razor. I'd love to know more about the company, their razor(s?) is quite distinct.

Yes they are a distinct razor! Do you have a picture of your razor and box? that would be great to see

I found some date into from this link on the web, but have no clue as to its accuracy Items from the World of Glass Collections

Mab Co. Date1902-1986. Place of Manufacture73, Newhall Street, Birmingham.

I too have failed so far in finding trademark data either in the US or in the UK. I would not be surprised if the authors of the standard guide to razors somehow know that the mab was manufactured in Germany [Edit: No, the photos of the box below clearly indicate that the razor was "Made in England"], but it certainly appears to be made with english steel and sold by an english company based in birmingham. It would be nice to have more info, as usual with these old razors

However I did find The Mab (Birmingham) advertising its straight razors in 1896 which included a testimonial of its usage in 1894. (See 1st & 2nd attachments)

I also found a Mab Co. of America based in Scranton which was advertised as the sole US distributor of The MAB in 1902. (See 3rd attachment)

I also found that by 1908, the MAB was selling the same dwarf razor as a safety blade straight razor. (See 4th attachment) Yay for Google Books!

PS I don't know about you, but I also find this razor to be a fast shaver due to maneuverability. I have not tried using it without stropping though Maybe we should hold a "Great Shaving Contest" as well

that's the right company, the box lists the adress as 73 newhall street.

Now, they all look quite similar! However, the small set of instructions on the inside slip of the box advocates the use of 'a good strop like the Mab Tension strop (price 3/6)' Goes on to suggest a few passes before and after (which I found interesting) use will keep it shave ready for many months. So apparently they gave up on that idea!

Here's a couple of shots of my razor, as it came from ebay - cleaned up a bit but being honed at the moment




I'll grab a couple of pictures of the box at some point today, I didn't expect a box it was a nice surprise. Incidently, the box does say 'Made in England'

Excellent research here, gentlemen. If you click on the Red Link in the razor's entry, you can edit the company info, too: Add Straight Razor Manufacturer: MAB Co - Straight Razor Place Wiki. If you want to include images, click on the "upload" link. Due to restrictions imposed on us by the software, adding more than one file is counter intuitive: you have to click the link repeatedly. The software will add all images to the "upload" field.

Great! thanks for the photos

Originally Posted by gregs656

that's the right company, the box lists the adress as 73 newhall street.

Well, I found another ad last night but did not post it, which had the address 73 newhall.

I'll see if I can scrounge it up again. [Edit: yes I have found more ads with that address by the MAB (same trademark, same razor, same prices, etc) and they are from 1906 onward. Perhaps the company moved down the street]

I would be very much shocked if these were two different companies I thought it interesting that 150,000 were supposedly in use by the British armed forces but that I rarely see anything about the brand. I wonder how many razors the big names produced throughout their entire histories - W&B, J Rodgers, Wostenholm, etc?

Hehe, this is such a nice thread hijack. thanks robin

I got some pictures of the box, they came out pretty good actually. Interesting that MAB and not Rodgers supplied the armed forces, Rodgers do now and have done for quite some time I believe. This company obviously has some history to it, seems both my razors are ~100 years old.






All those pictures are clickable.

Howdy. I have one to add, that I checked to make sure was not listed prior. However, I can't seem to log in to the wiki using my normal SRP log-in. Do I need to create a separate log-in, or is there something I need to change on my profile to allow it?

That is odd. It should work. Do contact dwessell, maybe it's got to do with the recent software upgrade.