Thread: questions -- cleaning up early Monserrat 14

I got this razor from Spain for about $26. It's a Monserrat razor -- according to forums in Spain, razors like this one were made by Antonio Monserrat, Jose Monserrat Pou's father, probably around the time of World War I.


I don't know if the scales are original, but it was apparently repinned after a botched job, because there's scoring and pits around the pin near the shank; the wedge is a little too big, and one collar on the wedge pin was missing -- that side appears to have just been glued back in, and the ends are offset -- it's just kind of a mess and I would like to fix it up.

Here you can see the blade and the shank stamp.


The shank stamp is quite faint -- possibly the shank was heavily sanded at one point, or possibly the stamping die was worn, but I can tell it is in fact one of these:


Anyway, I have two questions -- first, the scales have raised molded numbers (5 and 8) on the inside, as can be seen here:


They have been painted black, and the black paint is kind of rough. I can see where it is chipped that the underlying material appears to be translucent and amber in color.

Here is my first question: Are these scales likely to be original? I know there were plastics around WWI, like cellulose acetate, but the raised number says injection molding to me. I don't know how popular this would have been in 1917 or so. If they are likely original, I will try to clean them up and restore them.

Here is my second question: the diameter of the shank hole is 2.5 mm (a bit over 3/32"). The old pins were 1/16" brass, and there was some play in the shank. Here is one of the old pins sitting in the shank hole:


I have never re-pinned a razor before, but I am thinking, hmm, press a bushing in there. But I have no idea where to get a 2.5mm OD, 1/16" ID bushing, and I didn't find one in an internet search. I'm starting to think dark thoughts about filling the hole with solder or JB weld and drilling. So I am appealing to the collective wisdom of the forum -- what would you do? Is there a source for bushings like this?

Thanks for any help or suggestions!