Thread: Townley & Co. Little Joe...

Ok, was going through my Dad's things and found an old straight razor - Townley & Co. Little Joe. I can make it "Made in Germany" but has some build up on the blade, but luckily not the edge. Going to try and clean it up and hone it. Does anyone know anything about the razor or vintageness of it? I am thinking it may have been my granddad's originally, so I was guessing 1920-1940?

Originally Posted by Formel1

Ok, was going through my Dad's things and found an old straight razor - Townley & Co. Little Joe. I can make it "Made in Germany" but has some build up on the blade, but luckily not the edge. Going to try and clean it up and hone it. Does anyone know anything about the razor or vintageness of it? I am thinking it may have been my granddad's originally, so I was guessing 1920-1940?

Pics would help out. If the pics look good and there's even a possibility that it's an heirloom, I'd strongly urge you to send it to someone in our Member Services area to do the restoration and honing.

Restoring and honing razors is really fun, but starting out you're bound to make mistakes. I think you'd be better off making those mistakes on insignificant razors rather than something that was in the family. Personal opinion, of course.

I'll try to take a couple of pics when I get home. Found this link to a Historic Registry Application. In the history section, speaks of the history of Townley Metal & Hardware Company, and apparently only recently (1980) ceased to exist...per that section, it should date this razor from 1895 to ?.

http://www.dnr.mo.gov/shpo/nps-nr/94000286.pdf

Pics.....Don't know if the condition is worth "restoring" as opposed to trying to get a good hone it. It's still sharp enough as is to cut some arm hairs, though.

I'm no expert, but it looks like a good razor to me. If its an heirloom and you have no previous experience with honing or restoration work, I would definitiely send it out to be expertly honed and restored.

You'll thank yourself later...