So I was in an antique store today and the seller behind the counter offered up the information that Bengall was the most prolific razor maker in history. Now while I didnt put to much faith in her knowledge (although she may be right) it did get me thinking. So who produced the largest number razors?
Most prolific razor maker
- Thread starter Aussieshaver
- Start date
i dont think it was bengall. There are heaps of them down here, but they seem fairly uncommon elsewhere. They probably just sent a ship or two full of them down here.
It will probably be rogers - they were (i think) the biggest pocket knife maker, and one of the largest cutlerers.
It will probably be rogers - they were (i think) the biggest pocket knife maker, and one of the largest cutlerers.
Joseph Rodgers would be a good pick.
Wade & Butcher maybe.
Boker did quite a bit...
Joseph Fentons...
I would bet on a maker in Sheffield...
Wade & Butcher maybe.
Boker did quite a bit...
Joseph Fentons...
I would bet on a maker in Sheffield...
I'd bet my hat it's W&B. Honestly I think the only reason W&B got a reputation (which has since dissipated) is some "experts" had a stockpile of them and so they started telling everyone how great they were to drive prices up and have been saturating the market with the most common maker in existence ever since. Don't get me wrong, W&B are fine razors, but they are no better than any other Sheffield maker. They're all pretty much the same with a few notable exceptions (Fred Reyn using Dark Matter instead of steel to ensure that their razors will never be honed without some kind of laser cutting device and the grace of God).
If I pick up a lot of razors, it's extremely unusual for the lot to be less than 15-20% W&B.
Bengalls are pretty rare in my experience. I've had three. That's about a half a percent of the razors I've had pass through my hands. W&B on the other hand? I think I've got a dozen or so at the moment. And that's probably out of maybe 75 razors or so, probably 30 of which are from lots (the source of all but one of the W&B's).
If I pick up a lot of razors, it's extremely unusual for the lot to be less than 15-20% W&B.
Bengalls are pretty rare in my experience. I've had three. That's about a half a percent of the razors I've had pass through my hands. W&B on the other hand? I think I've got a dozen or so at the moment. And that's probably out of maybe 75 razors or so, probably 30 of which are from lots (the source of all but one of the W&B's).
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- Thread starter
- #5
Very interesting. It must be an Australian thing, but every second razor down here is a Bengall. I have never seen a W&B in the wild! That being said there does seem to be a heck of a lot of them on ebay.
- Thread starter
- #6
Bump - anyone else have any ideas?
Based on searching through eBay every night, my vote would probably be for W&B's for sheffields and probably Bokers/Henckels for Solingens.
The prices on W&B's are insane though. For 1/2 to 1/3 of the price you can get Wostenholms and such, which I find to be just as good if not better shavers.
The prices on W&B's are insane though. For 1/2 to 1/3 of the price you can get Wostenholms and such, which I find to be just as good if not better shavers.
Bokers and Henckels cheated. They kept making razors. 
Oh and the difference is nothing like it used to be. Non W&B sheffields sold for cents on the dollar of what they fetch now (and they're still climbing) just a few months ago. W&B has come down a little (at least the smaller and poor condition ones have), too. I remember looking for a razor with one requirement, that it had to be W&B, and losing crap I would literally throw into the trash these days for $40+ back then.
Oh and the difference is nothing like it used to be. Non W&B sheffields sold for cents on the dollar of what they fetch now (and they're still climbing) just a few months ago. W&B has come down a little (at least the smaller and poor condition ones have), too. I remember looking for a razor with one requirement, that it had to be W&B, and losing crap I would literally throw into the trash these days for $40+ back then.
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I'll wait to name a few after I swipe them up.
But Bengal are amazing shavers and I wish I still had a little 9/16-5/8. Bengal are sure not hard to run into in Antique shops. Also I wouldn't trust any vendor at an antique store when it comes to a hobby you may likely know more about. I once had a vendor argue with me because I told him his "mother of pearl" scales on a junk razor was actually faux tortoise.
Bengals are good to have in the collection because you can find some circa 1800's with not a whole lot of effort.
But Bengal are amazing shavers and I wish I still had a little 9/16-5/8. Bengal are sure not hard to run into in Antique shops. Also I wouldn't trust any vendor at an antique store when it comes to a hobby you may likely know more about. I once had a vendor argue with me because I told him his "mother of pearl" scales on a junk razor was actually faux tortoise.
Bengals are good to have in the collection because you can find some circa 1800's with not a whole lot of effort.
I had a knife dealer argue with me when I told him that his $95 RollsRazor was missing the hone and handle.
I had a similar Rolls Razor experience recently where my sons bought me one for Father's Day. Everything about it was tremendous - two spare blades, spare hone, two spare and unused strops, original box and literature. NO HANDLE. I took it back to the store and explained that there should be a handle into which to mount the blade. The vendor's initial response was to suggest that the handle was the 'bent thing in the box'. I got a refund (Aus$65). They are now looking out for a handle and will advise me if one becomes available.
Yeah, to be fair when I first got mine (unknown item in a lot I bought for a strop a few months back) it was missing the handle and I assumed that the handle for the strop/hone mechanism detached for shaving. Still, if I were asking THAT much for an item, I'd be damned sure the thing worked. I've since bought another one on eBay for $15 or so to replace the missing hone and handle in mine (different rolls, but same parts missing as the one in the store, I assume hones are fragile and handles get lost since I can find no decent place to keep them in the kit (most seem to tuck them in the strop mechanism's tracks) and some day soon I'll hone it up and take it for a spin for a laugh and a fun SOTD. You might try BST WTB for a handle. These things are cheap as dirt over here (Seen minty kits end under $20, poor ones usually sell for little more than the cost of shipping), so someone who replaced their hone might have an extra handle kicking around they'd let you have for next to nothing.
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We're at the end of a long tunnel looking back and we can't see the end.
There were so many produced and so many brands are forgotton that unless someone was a very longtime razor collector and history buff we would only be guessing and probably it would be a name we would never think of like sears who of course was a retailer.
There were so many produced and so many brands are forgotton that unless someone was a very longtime razor collector and history buff we would only be guessing and probably it would be a name we would never think of like sears who of course was a retailer.
I am always suprised how many different brands there are about, of all the razors i have collected, about 35, nothing compared to you lot
the only razors where i have had 2 are a ern, thomas turner and a taylors witness.
the only razors where i have had 2 are a ern, thomas turner and a taylors witness.
This really depends on the country you're in.
I've searched most antique stores, flea markets and barbershops here in Portugal and what I've seen, the most popular are, in no particular order:
- Heljestrand. Since this is an awkward name to say in Portuguese, most folks refered to it as the "3 crowns".
- Filarmonica. Just right on the other side of the border.
- Gebr. Weyersberg. They used to make a Portuguese re-brand "Corneta" for Portugal and Brazil. Also very popular here.
- Henckels, also refered here as "the twins".
That would be right. However, and I know this is not reflective of the world production, if I look on ebay, most makers are from Sheffield. Wade & Butcher is a name that comes up often. Down under, Bengall is very common, I'm guessing every migrant from the UK only brough Bengalls with them
Came across this old thread and thought I would mention re the Bengalls down under this link ....
http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/index.php/T.R._Cadman_&_Sons_Manufacturer
which explains why they are so common in Aus and NZ.
Now if someone could explain why every razor in NZ that is not a Bengall is a Gotta .... and I haven't found a W&B yet despite loving their shape.
possibly time for some international trade agreement
http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/index.php/T.R._Cadman_&_Sons_Manufacturer
which explains why they are so common in Aus and NZ.
Now if someone could explain why every razor in NZ that is not a Bengall is a Gotta .... and I haven't found a W&B yet despite loving their shape.
possibly time for some international trade agreement
I didn't get to the Gotta page yet...
But, yes, most razors in Oz are also Bengall. Gotta is very frequent and Invicta!
As well the makers previously mentioned, C. Friedrich Ern made a lot of razors under different names. They also made razors for Sears.
I don't think thay were the most prolific, but they're up there.
I don't think thay were the most prolific, but they're up there.
