ID Help - Darwin?

[Joe Edson]

I recently picked this guy up in a lot off of eBay. Was actually bidding on the lot as I thought there was a fat boy in it (turned out to be a slim). The picture was rather blurry, but the slim actually was in very good shape, so I'm not disappointed.

However, the real gem of the lot may have been this weird razor attached. It came perfectly spotless - no brassing, plate loss, etc. (In fact, I could swear that this thing is stainless steel, but it seems rather old for that to be true). It is only marked Darwin on the head, and on the handle it says "Darwin Sheffield England". There seems to be no patent number or anything on it. It does however have the coolest looking handle I've seen. Am thinking of trying this out in a couple days. Looks like a pretty big bite angle on the head though.

I searched eBay for completed and active listing and there are none of these. Are these rare or are they cheap things that you normally wouldn't sell alone or mention? Looking forward to any info on this guy.

 

[Merkur25]

I believe they are pretty rare. One hasnt been sold on the BST for a long time, from my research at least. As far as price goes on these razors....I have no idea. I am actually curious too on what these are worth since I have similar to yours. Mine has a more squared off head, yours looks rounded.

Great score by the way

 

[Joe Edson]

I believe they are pretty rare. One hasnt been sold on the BST for a long time, from my research at least. As far as price goes on these razors....I have no idea. I am actually curious too on what these are worth since I have similar to yours. Mine has a more squared off head, yours looks rounded.

Great score by the way

Thanks! I'm not overly concerned with price as I highly doubt that this one is leaving my collection. Really interested to try shaving with it and more interested to know what it is made of or plated with.

 

[Merkur25]

The razor is made out of Stainless Steel and they say that they shave very aggressively.

 

[Joe Edson]

I believe that the plating is Silver and they say that they shave very aggressively.

Well I think I'll find out just how aggressive it is in a week. Want to try my EJ89L first.

Anyone know when these things date from?

 

[johnmrson]

Definitely a Darwin. Nice pick up. I'd be interested in getting one at some stage. They certainly look an interesting design.

 

[Joe Edson]

Definitely a Darwin. Nice pick up. I'd be interested in getting one at some stage. They certainly look an interesting design.

Sounds like I got real lucky on this lot. I mean the pic was entirely blurry and the only reason I bid was cause I thought there was a fatboy. This razor you couldn't even make out at all.

Funny thing was both the razors in the lot were absolutely clean upon arrival. The slim I received is actually better than the one I already own. Sometimes there are deals to still be had on eBay (although I've been bitten in the butt far too often as well....)

 

[Merkur25]

I screwed up.

The Darwin razor started to be produced in the 1920's and infact it is not made out of Silver, , the razor was actually the first Stainless Steel razor ever produced.

Here is an interesting read while I upload pics:

Darwin Razor

 

[Merkur25]

Here is the Darwin Safety Razor that I own. The date code on it is 710725, which dates the razor back to 1925.

 

[Haiku]

Congratulations on acquiring an extremely rare and valuable razor!

I am given to understand that they were made both out of stainless steel and cobalt steel. I don't believe that they're plated. I think they're solid.

I have one that's pretty much identical to yours. Mine is a 1925.

In addition to being one of the best looking razors around, it's also one of my very best shavers.

 

[Joe Edson]

WOW

The last couple of replies has me really stoked over this razor. First SS razor ever! I knew the thing felt pretty solid. I'm very tempted to give it a go tonight, but I'm trying new blades on my razors and have to see how the fifth shave on an iridium super goes on my Merkur 23c. I've settled on the iridiums I think as my go to and will be giving them a try with this soon enough.

 

[Joe Edson]

Here is the Darwin Safety Razor that I own. The date code on it is 710725, which dates the razor back to 1925.

Yeah, I see how yours is a little different and has the date code on the head. Mine is more roundish and has no date code that I can see. Very cool looking razors though!

 

[Haiku]

Yeah, I see how yours is a little different and has the date code on the head. Mine is more roundish and has no date code that I can see. Very cool looking razors though!

Take a look at the post that's linked above. There is a list of patent numbers and associated dates. I bet that yours will have a patent number that will match one of them.

Your razor is identical to mine, and I was advised that it's cobalt steel not stainless. Cobalt steel is, from what I can understand, better in every way than stainless. It's more expensive than stainless. I've never come across any other razor that's described as being made from cobalt steel.

So no question, you've really lucked out with this acquisition.

 

[Joe Edson]

Take a look at the post that's linked above. There is a list of patent numbers and associated dates. I bet that yours will have a patent number that will match one of them.

Your razor is identical to mine, and I was advised that it's cobalt steel not stainless. Cobalt steel is, from what I can understand, better in every way than stainless. It's more expensive than stainless. I've never come across any other razor that's described as being made from cobalt steel.

So no question, you've really lucked out with this acquisition.

Checked the link out and further inspected my razor. No patent codes whatsoever, but in that link it looks to be the same one as user GRoundhog has.

Considering that I paid $35 for the lot and it had a pristine slim in there (probably worth about $25), I'd say I got a hell of a deal for ten bucks

 

[Chester]

I'd say I got a hell of a deal for ten bucks.

Of that, we can be certain.
-- Chet