Scales identification

Hi
I recently acquired an old well worn Joseph Rodgers razor which I intend to renovate, and would appreciate some help from the Forum experts !
The scales appear to be made of a natural material and have a grain to them ! Is there a definitive method of telling if the material is bone or ivory ?
I am posting two photos of the scales of which one shows the actual creamy colour, and the other close up under a strong light, to show the grain structure but came out very white !
There appears to be only pins holding the scales together but no washers - is this normal for natural material ?
Many thanks
http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/...ps4fdfb215.jpg
http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/...psfeb2c249.jpg

Those would appear to be ivory

Ivory for sure,very nice Ivory.

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Originally Posted by pixelfixed

Ivory for sure,very nice Ivory.

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Is it the grain or the colour or both which clarifies the decision ?

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Originally Posted by luckypip

Is it the grain or the colour or both which clarifies the decision ?

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Grain, color means nothing.

Agreed - the grain is too irregular to be synthetic and it just doesn't look like bone to me. The color is mostly irrelevant for telling bone from ivory except in isolated cases where the ivory is just really nicely aged - but that may even be a misleading. I have outstanding experience with seeing how ivory splits, cracks, and otherwise shatters but you really don't want that kind of test done.

As to the collarless/no washer thing, I really can't recall any ivory scales having them - must be a stress thing? Anyway that's one more small indication they're not bone. We could all be wrong but if I saw those in an antique store I'd act uninterested and quietly buy them up regardless of what blade might be attached.

No where near Bone,you sand old aged Ivory it becomes bright white Again.

From what I have learned here it is very nice ivory with that grain in it. I look at the washer less pins as another clue but it was pointed out to me here that it is not always a reliable clue in all cases. Joseph Rogers made some fine razors. Would that happen to be a near wedge blade?

Bob

Yes Bob, its virtually a wedge blade with a barbers notch but with a fair bit of spine wear.

As the consensus is that the scales are ivory, I am very reluctant to try to unpin them before refurbishing the blade. I would like to try to keep it all as original as possible.
With this in mind, what would be the best way to finish off the scales ( they have some minor scratching to them ) ? Would you experts recommend Micromesh as I already have some and how would you recommend cleaning the tang inside the scales where it is pinned ?
The other end appears to have a lead or pewter wedge so I will leave that as is !
Any advice would be very much welcomed,
Phil

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Originally Posted by luckypip

Yes Bob, its virtually a wedge blade with a barbers notch but with a fair bit of spine wear.

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Very nice, even with the hone wear it should take a good and shave well. I think it is a good decision not to try and unpin the razor, far too easy to damage the ivory scales. Same reason I did not unpin the few ivory scaled razors I have have. I'll let Pixelfixed comment on cleaning them and how to clean around the pivot pin. Enjoy you new find.

Bob

Getting the rust out of the Pivot area is darn near impossible without unpinning.
In your case I feel less is more,I would not be sanding the scales,I would ren-wax them, treat with mineral oil a couple times a year,JMO

Ivory is usually found on better razors, usually washerless pinned, is much thinner than bone, wood or plastic, has irregular grain and feels only like Ivory. Smooth like a polished finger nail.

I bought this razor for the scales, a Wade Butcher at a flea market for the scales, 2 bucks.

Yes, remove active rust with fine steel wool and keep the patina, hone and shave.

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[QUOTE=Euclid440;1265722]Ivory is usually found on better razors, usually washerless pinned, is much thinner than bone, wood or plastic, has irregular grain and feels only like Ivory. Smooth like a polished finger nail.

I bought this razor for the scales, a Wade Butcher at a flea market for the scales, 2 bucks.

Yes, remove active rust with fine steel wool and keep the patina, hone and shave.

Enjoy

Yes, you appear to be spot on - the scales are indeed very smooth and thin with an irregular grain !
I will indeed clean it up slowly and carefully to preserve the original integrity, I will post photos after I have finished it and had my first shave with it; hopefully with all going well !
Many thanks

If it were me I'd unpinned them and put a better blade in there. It looks like a huge chip in the middle of that one by the time you remove it you'll be into the stabilizer. Great find even better buy.

Yea, that one was bought just for the scales. I have many old blades that would wear them well. That blade is too far gone and the chip too large. Once I have it apart I will clean, lightly sand and hand buff the scales.

I do like old blades with original patina, especially if they can be cleaned up without unpinning.

Luckypip, looks to have an excellent candidate for an original patina restoration, that one, I would not buff.

Some dental floss with 2 or 3 knots and some WD40 worked in between the pivot and scales then wiped on a paper towel will remove most of the rust from the pivot. Takes some time but is worth it.

Fine Steel wool and WD40 will remove the active rust and leave patina.