Thessen Razor

I have gotten a new to me razor given to me. It is a Thessen Razor, Birch and Co. Germany on one side of the Tang. On the other Side is stamped,Perfection warranted. I hope you can see the rust spots, there is some minor pitting. It feels very sharp. I have not looked at it with a microscope. The scale are metal, the person I got it from said that he thinks they are aluminum. I don't know. So what do you think Full redo or leave alone? Anyone know about this razor? I look forward to the input.

Phil

Hey,

I would redo the blade, and leave those gorgeous scales alone. Give the apparent age, I think they are probably pot metal of some kind - maybe like a tin or something. Are they really light, like aluminum or so they have some heft? Is that patina on the metal scales or paint? Can you scratch them easily?

I think the old look to the scales is brilliant, I would leave those alone and go after that blade - the rustiness needs to be got after right away before it gets any worse.


Just my 2c.

K

They Have some Heft to them. Yuo can open the razor and balance it at the pin with you finger. It must be patina, Comes off easly. They do not scratch. I have been carrying it around in a book bag for about a week now.

Phil

They don't sound like aluminum to me. Aluminum is very soft and will scratch easily. Also, aluminum oxide is white, not dark like the stuff there.

At any rate, the scales are cool, and unusual - I think if you clean them up, it will look like a cheesy recently made wannabe antique, you know? Leave them alone, I would say. I might almost suggest, if the blade is too far gone, you use those scales on a nicer blade. But again, that is just me.

K

I think The blade will clean up well the steel seems to be very hard. like I said, it almost feels like you could shave with it now.

Phil

Those scales look like they could be silver :hmmm: . They could be worth some $$$$$$ :) . Hopefully you didn't hurt them too bad , giving them the scratch test .

No I was satisfied when I didn't scratch them in my bag.

Phil

sterling silver possibly ?

Those are silver, and ARE worth $$$$! :tu

The scales are worth more than the blade!

Nice grab........

C utz

You really think those are silver?

When he said the patina came off quickly, I thought, nah, silver doesn't get clean that fast...and being that thick, they would be hard to mistake for aluminum?

I don;t know, I just didn't think silver - I would have thought that tarnish would have spread to the entire surface, not just the deep crevices?

If they are silver, that *is* quite a grab, and I would definitely not clean them!

K

How could you really tell? Take them to a jeweler?

Usually, your older metal scales were either aluminum, or silver (in my very limited expereince). I've seen this make before with silver scales, however I might be mistaken. They will be a little on the heavy side if they are (versus the aluminum). As for tarnish distribution, I don't handle silver much myself...but would imagine that the surface with the most contact (the higher areas) would have less tarnish from rubbing off than the recesses...but, oils in the skin might attract more tarnish...Ok, I can go in circles chasing my tail all day on this. The point of the matter is, I really don't know :shrug:

One way to check....use a little silver cleaner on a small area :D

C utz

Good Idea C. I'm going to have to try that.

Phil

OK, I think These might actually BE silver. I tried silver polish in the area the lady is looking, and that is supossed to be a mirror, Her reflection is there. Opinions?

If you remove the scales from the blade, it might have stamped on the inside if they are silver (you might not have to do this to see if it's there). I've also seen it stamped somewhere on the outside of the scales...but those look a little busy.

You could always check the density! (d= mass/vol) (If it's about 100% silver, which it very well might not be.... It should be about 10.5 grams/mL). Try the Archimedes trick and see how much water they displace, assuming that water is about 1g/mL.

:thinking:

OR, if I recall correctly....Silver should conduct heat rather well (ever have tea with a real silver spoon? That spoon gets damn hot compared to stainless steel). SO, make a cup of tea and see how hot the scales get when placed in the tea.... :D

(I'm just FULL of dumb ideas!)

C utz

If it was my razor , I would take some WD40 and a cotton rag and get the rust off the blade . Then I would take it to a jeweler and see if they can tell me what the metal is . Judging from the pics , I'd say they are sterling or silver plate . What ever they are , they are nice looking scales :tu .

I say..... (I had to butt in)

Go to the jeweler (if you don't want to play Mr.Wizard...rest his soul) find out what metal you have on that cutter. THEN send her down to Joe Chandler for a regrind/clean-up and a new lease on life!

(my $0.02, again. I guess I'm up to $0.06 now....:p)

C utz