What Do I Have? Wade & Butcher

[Ohio]

My MIL just brought up a couple of razors she found in her house. She has been amused by my (and my son's) new hobby of collecting and using "those old things".

Anyway, one of them was a fairly unremarkable NEW long comb new, ball handle.

The other is chromed, open comb. The head style is like the Gillette "Old", with square holes in the head. The cap has round posts, that have square shoulders to engage the square holes.

The cap is marked Wade & Butcher. Under that is a sideways "B" in a circle, an arrow, then an Maltese/Iron cross.

What do I have?
Anyone have any experience with these?
What might it be worth? (not selling, though)


Thanks, guys!

 

[Luc]

I would love to see some pictures if you can.

 

[82R100]

Wade & Butcher appear to have an enthusiastic following in the world of straight razors. You can even get an appropriate T-shirt: http://www.zazzle.com/wade_and_butcher_tshirt-235197091820433885

Here's an entry with photos on shaveworld.org: http://www.shaveworld.org/shaveworld_web/shave_encyclopedia_details.php?id=1180&shortname=WADE%20-%20BUTCHER%201&page=34&category=Safety&select1=&select2=&select3=&select4=&select5=&select6= (with cleverly curved blades)

- Chris

 

[Ohio]

Wade & Butcher appear to have an enthusiastic following in the world of straight razors. You can even get an appropriate T-shirt: http://www.zazzle.com/wade_and_butcher_tshirt-235197091820433885

- Chris

I bet they don't have as much of a following in safety razors. Know why?

Modern blades won't fit in the razor!
I tried to use it and the square lugs won't allow a blade to seat. Bummer!

 

[mdunn]

I bet they don't have as much of a following in safety razors. Know why?

Modern blades won't fit in the razor!
I tried to use it and the square lugs won't allow a blade to seat. Bummer!

that sucks! any chance you could modify a standard blade?

 

[Ohio]

that sucks! any chance you could modify a standard blade?

I'm looking into that. I am pessimistic, but that would be really, really cool.
I have a history in other hobbies of being a "make it work" kinda guy; making unorthodox alterations to allow oddball antique things to be used again. I think I can pull it off.

I was thinking getting a square piece of tool steel, grinding it to fit the shoulders, turning a round nib that fits the round holes, and punching out the square.

It ought to be doable. I don't know when I can get to it, though.

 

[mdunn]

maybe do a WTB for old blades, you never know - someone may have a few sitting around

 

[The Real McCoy]

very nice- yeah W and B made safety razors. Even cooler are the blades. nice score.

 

[Jatte]

why not just take a dremmel to the posts so that a standard de would fit?

i know it goes against you antiquers but , if you wanna use it its better

 

[mdunn]

why not just take a dremmel to the posts so that a standard de would fit?

i know it goes against you antiquers but , if you wanna use it its better

noooooooooooo!

can you not take the dremel to blades instead

 

[Ohio]

why not just take a dremmel to the posts so that a standard de would fit?

i know it goes against you antiquers but , if you wanna use it its better

Because the square posts are needed to index the cap. If I round off the posts, the cap would not set the way it should, and could move during use.

I can't think of a way to fill and round the holes to match Dremeled posts without destroying the plating. JB weld wouldn't cut it...