I was just wondering if anyone has any info (more than just a basic Google search) on the JR Torrey Razor Co. I have recently got into straights and found out that they seem to be a relative famous razor company. As a Worcester, MA lifetime resident I am amazed that this city was able to produce such an item. Any information anyone has would be greatly appreciated.
JR Torrey Info
- Thread starter madscientist86
- Start date
All I can tell you is they shave fantastic. I have a humble collection of straights. One of my most ugly pitted razors is a Torry, but it shaves better than all the others. Sad thing is, It has bad pitting near the middle of the blade. So it will only last 50 or 60 more years before I have to give up on it lol. I don't dare try a regrind for fear of messing up the magic. It is what it is.
Some of the best American straight razors were made by them. IMHO.
- Thread starter
- #4
Glad to hear that they make good shavers. I have one that I am working on restoring and hope to have it ready to shave soon.
Check out this link for more information: http://strazors.com/index.php?id=67&doc=the_j_r_torrey_co_
Madscientist86 -- I was born and brought up in Spencer and worked for various companies in Worcester: Associated Grocers, City of Worcester (Computer Dept.), Norton Co. (subsequently St. Gobain Corp.), Commerce Insurance Co. in Webster.
Small World!!!
Madscientist86 -- I was born and brought up in Spencer and worked for various companies in Worcester: Associated Grocers, City of Worcester (Computer Dept.), Norton Co. (subsequently St. Gobain Corp.), Commerce Insurance Co. in Webster.
Small World!!!
Torrey started manufacturing razors when the J.R. Torrey company merged with Turner & Cowlishaw in 1880. Joseph Turner had been a master grinder in Sheffield, England. He became president of the company with J.R. Torrey as treasurer. Torrey razors are made of american steel and said to be some of the hardest of the vintage brands.
Worcester had a thriving steel industry at the beginning of the 20th century. There were a surprisingly large number of razor manufacturers and distributors located there. Most were started by skilled immigrants from Sheffield, England.
Worcester Razor Co. 1900 - 1930
Worcester Cutlery Co. 1890 - 1910
Columbia Cutlery Co. 1905 - present (New York)
Williams Razor Co. ? - 1925 when they were purchased by the Durham Razor Co.
Buck Bros. 1853 -1939
The Swedish Razor Co. 1895 - 1904 (previously The Excelsior Cutlery Company 1893 - 1895)
W. H. Willard & Co.
S. R. Mahfoud
Worcester had a thriving steel industry at the beginning of the 20th century. There were a surprisingly large number of razor manufacturers and distributors located there. Most were started by skilled immigrants from Sheffield, England.
Worcester Razor Co. 1900 - 1930
Worcester Cutlery Co. 1890 - 1910
Columbia Cutlery Co. 1905 - present (New York)
Williams Razor Co. ? - 1925 when they were purchased by the Durham Razor Co.
Buck Bros. 1853 -1939
The Swedish Razor Co. 1895 - 1904 (previously The Excelsior Cutlery Company 1893 - 1895)
W. H. Willard & Co.
S. R. Mahfoud
Peter, you are the man. After I finish this cigar I may go shave with my J.R.
Here's more:
| [SIZE=+3]JOSEPH R. TORREY 1892-1983[/SIZE] |
|
| Long Beach Reunion, 1973 [SIZE=-1]EB CHIRP, January, 1974, Number 80[/SIZE] |
| [SIZE=+1]THE ARMY-NAVY AND NATIONAL BALLOON RACES, 1919[/SIZE] In the year following the end of the Great War, St. Louis moved into its readjustment by once again turning to the aeronautic activity which had made the city one of the primary air centers in the United States. In 1919, balloon racing returned to St. Louis in the form of two significant events. They were conducted by the Missouri Aeronautical Society, the successor to the Aero Club of St. Louis. The society had been formed at St. Louis in April 1917, for the purpose of trainng balloon pilots for wartime service. During the next 1 1/2 years, the organization's adjunct, the Missouri Aeronautical Reserve Corps, under the command of the ever-active Albert Bond Lambert, "qualified 354 students, made more than 1,500 ascensions and used 34,000,000 cubic-feet of gas." The society was to conduct both the Army-Navy and the National Balloon Races in 1919. On July 15, 1919, Major Albert Bond Lambert announced that St. Louis had been selected by the Aero Club of America as the site for the annual National Balloon Race, which would start on October 1. The ten entrants, many of whom had performed in St. Louis in the past, selected their starting positions by lot on September 29 at the Missouri Aeronautical Society grounds at Meramec Park. Captain Elmer G. Marchuetz and Lieutenant Charles S. Powell of St. Louis would be the first to start. The final balloon, scheduled to depart at 6:45, would be the America," with Lieutenant Joseph S. Batt and Joe Torrey II of the Aero Club of America in charge. At 6:45 p.m., the America, the last contestant, took to the air. Said Major Lambert, "It was a wonderful start. You do not often see ten balloons get off in a race in such a perfect manner." Batt and Torrey took the America only 220 miles to Leland, Illinois. [SIZE=-1]From CITY OF FLIGHT[/SIZE] |
|
| Joseph R. Torrey, 19 Westland Street, Worcester, Massachusetts, was born on September 4th, 1892, at Worcester. He learned to fly at the Curtiss School in Buffalo during the summer of 1916 and made his first solo flight in August of that year. On September 29th of that year he received his F.A.I. #577. He also holds F.A.I. Free Balloon Certificate #608, and Dirigible Pilot's Certificate #18, issued in 1917 and 1918 respectively. Mr. Torrey later became a flying instructor and taught U. S. Naval Cadets lighter than air flying. He piloted the Massachusetts entry in the 1916 National Balloon Race from St. Louis, Missouri. He is President and owner of the J. R. Torrey Razor Company, 128 Chandler Street, Worcester, one of the oldest razor companies in the U.S.A. He is present self employed as an Investment Counselor.[SIZE=-1]By Waldo Waterman, President The Early Birds of Aviation [/SIZE]Newsletter December 18, 1962 |
Last edited:
- Thread starter
- #11
Thanks for the info Peter and Eddie. I never knew where in Worcester they were but now I realize I drive by that address everyday going to and from work and it's 4 miles from my house although it's in one of the not-so-nice parts of Worcester.
Mr. Torrey thought that Gillettes safety razor was a fad. By the 60s they were renting rooms out at the mansion.
My super rare Torrey safety razor
I have several Kampfe Star razors in my collection. This one you posted looks very much like my Griffon razor. An excellent shaver by the way. I believe it's somewhat rare. I also have the small blade tin for it as well.
The Griffon's looked more like the Kampfe's , and the Yankee. If anything the Torrey was close to the Victorian and the Sterling Kampfe's but really the Nickel Plating on the Torrey is so much more superior to all but the Sterling Kampfe finishes. Even the tin from Torrey is nickel plated, they really made them a step above.
