Thread: The Stub-Tailed Shavers

Originally Posted by dimab

Wow, this was fast! Thanks a lot!
I think whoever cleaned it put the scales backwards for some reason. Am I correct? Also, any idea for period of manufacture?

There's a good chance they are on backwards. The inlaid decorations were generally on the side of the razor that is usually stamped. Without going deeper into the maker's history, I'd put an estimate on 1780-1800 for age. Cross referencing with other directories will give a better estimate. Joseph Roberts & Co don't appear in the 1774 directory by Sketchley, this was referenced from the 1787 one.

Just as a possibility, on occasion, pairs were blade to blade with the tangs at opposite ends in a box and both up sides were decorated.
That is a beautiful razor!!
~Richard

Looks to me like a blade with both scales decorated, but one side probably cracked or broke and someone used a old replacement scale from another razor. Nice razor though feel like I saw it somewhere with a broke scale before too.

Perhaps like these:

JMO

~Richard

Interesting. And the second side is plain or both sides are equally decorated?

Originally Posted by dimab

Interesting. And the second side is plain or both sides are equally decorated?

From those I've seen online. the other side is plain. Though over the 600+ years of folding straight razors; any possibility that does not interfere with the shave may be encountered!

~Richard

Here are a few new ones. Georgius Smith (G. SMITH), Joseph Justice (IN PARIS), Stephen Parker (* TURK), John Lindley, and what may be Jonathan France (FRANCE) - this mark was later involved in partnerships with Brittain / Wilkinson / Brownell but this mark is in the positive rather than the negative, from the later BWB pieces I have, so this needs more research. The Georgius Smith is really the star of the show, as it has a totally original grind (you can still see the grind lines) and very little hone wear. Also, it is 15/16" at the toe! A lot of these old ones have monster blades, and they are LONG.

Science Guy, I remember looking at them when they were new and I was a young European just starting out.
Just love them oldies. I have two and find they still shave like they were new.

Originally Posted by Geezer

Perhaps like these:

JMO

~Richard

Actually, those are decorated on both sides, so they’re not an example of paired razors with facing and pile-side decoration.

Here's one I've just finished restoring for myself, a London maker Charles Macdaniel 1814 - 1851, Ivory scales with a fine silver rope inlay.