Advice needed on this Judge Henry Lummus, Wade & Butcher

I won this razor in a recent auction and was only originaly buying it for the blade to re-scale it.

Since buying it I have been informed it came from the collection of a Judge Henry Lummus who I know nothing of?
Also I find out that marked on the scales is some sort of code?
Again I know nothing of.

What I need to know is, looking at the pictures are the scales saveable?
How would you proceed with this, they are cracked (but stable) by the pin but are also severly warped (made from bone)

I have started hand polishing the blade and its looking good:)
I love the look of this blade:D

Thanks.

The "Code" ?
http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/2565/1001424x.jpg
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Backside
http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/2446/1001425t.jpg
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Warped Scales
http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/2594/1001428y.jpg
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For me if the crack is at the wedge and is stable it isn't an issue. If the crack is at the pivot chances are it will never be tight enough for me to feel secure stropping and what have you. If it is tight I wouldn't worry about it. The warp wouldn't bother me either if the razor closes centered, without hitting the edge against the scales. Can't help you on the code. :shrug:

Unfortunately the crack is at the pivot end.

I have a few ideas on how to proceed, but I am determined to keep it original now.

Watch this space!

Might keep the non cracked scale and just replace the cracked one.

the non cracked scale has the cool stuff anyway. :)

Not sure if it is the same Lummus but here is a thread with razor related content vis a vis Lummus. IIRC facsimiles of the articles can be found online somewhere.

I spoke with Robert Doyle whose collection this razor came from via Judge Lummus. The Judge noted his razors in a series of colored dots on the scales. Doyle insisted he never cracked the code himself. I have a similar Lummus razor coming my way today... For historic value, I will leave the scales as they are.

If you're intent on doing something to it, try removing the scales, soaking them in hot water (not boiling) on the stove for a period until they are slightly pliable, and figure out a wood jig to hold them in place the way you want them to be. Then put the whole setup in the oven on 110 degrees for a few hours. When removed, the scales will be in the shape you made them. This method is used for bending wood. I'd only try this if the lettering you are trying to save is engraved, not painted on. Then, you can buff them with a dremel

I have unpinned it and am currently polishing the blade, I will try your method of straightening the scales and put it all back together.

Thanks for the tips.

the code is similar to a recent string of crop circles. proceed cautiously.

My personal Henry Lummus Rodgers in horn with "crop circles" arrived yesterday...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by AntiqueHoosier

My personal Henry Lummus Rodgers in horn with "crop circles" arrived yesterday...

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If he used Braille that would be a letter "p" on the left and depending on whehter the pin is counted or not, it might be an "e" a "5" or a "ch".

Well I took my time with this one and there was alot more work in this than meets the eye.

I put around 4-5 hours of handsanding into the blade, couldnt get all the pitting out but I am satisfied with results.

The scales were first straightened by soaking in near boiling water and then taped to a slightly curved former and left to cool.
Next I got some enamal paint in red and white and went over the dots and writing to accentuate the 'code'
The scales were cracked at the pivot and this has been fixed and strengthened with superglue.
When I was re pinning I also cracked the scales in another location so had to fix that too (tip: bone is very brittle, go easy with the peening hammer!)

I then lightly sanded the scales and applied a coat of Tru Oil which was then buffed.

I think this has turned out to be a fine investment!

Oh by the way...it shaves lovely!!
(phone cam pics, I cant find my decent camera?)
http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/8792/27042011303.jpg

http://img594.imageshack.us/img594/6448/27042011301.jpg

http://img594.imageshack.us/img594/641/27042011302.jpg

Nice work. It is amazing what one can do with hard work an patience.

No need for the 'Decent Camera'! Great Job! You should be proud of yourself! However, when you do find the decent camera be sure to take really nice pics to print and hang on the wall for bragging rights! Again! Nice Job!!

Well done, excellent work. Have fun!

Excellent restore. I was so worried about un-pinning my lummus razor for restore and definitely took my time. Unfortunately mine doesn't have the red dots, just the number scrolled in the back. I did win it from the Doyle auction though.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Harvitz81

Excellent restore. I was so worried about un-pinning my lummus razor for restore and definitely took my time. Unfortunately mine doesn't have the red dots, just the number scrolled in the back. I did win it from the Doyle auction though.

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I won 4 from the Lummus collection. I did further crack 2 sets of the scales trying to un-pin. I did save the scales to eventually have a custom set made in the same shape. 2 of mine have the dots, but all 4 are engraved with his numbering system. Here's an article I found by Lummus if anyone is interested. http://www.anwealde.com/razors/bothlummus.pdf

Everything I can find out about Henry P. Lummus is about the razor articles, but a He ry Lummus was a member of the Massachussetts Supreme Court sometime after 1827. So are some about a Henry T(for Tilton) Lummus, 1876-1960.

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Henry T is the only one who appears in a BookFinder.com: Search for New & Used Books, Textbooks, Out-of-Print and Rare Books search, for legal texts.

I don't know whether this is someone's typo being perpetuated by others, or whether there were two Lummuses. But both point pretty squarely at a legal family in Massachussetts. I once worked in Saudi Arabia with an English language teacher, a worthless ne'er-do-well who soon departed on a semi-voluntary basis. But his name, which was distinctive, matched that of someone struck off the Oklahoma bar for possession of prohibited substances many years before. It is a small world.

I have a razor very much like Jaycey's, but bought minus scales. It was described on the spine as the "Superior Concave" (for that curious, longitudinal, large-wheel substitute for hollow grinding), and "India Fine Steel". Mine is now bright polished and in bone scales. It must have been a pretty effective lightweight razor. I have an almost identical blade on its way to me from Wade and Butcher Wedge Straight Razor, No Handle | eBay . This one is marked as the Celebrated Anglo-Saxon Concave razor, which I find rather charming despite being pretty well pure Celt as far as I know.

Wonder what Lummus had against Frederick Reynolds razors... In the article he wrote they they are worthless?