Shave and Sound: A Father's Day Examination of Straight Razors

The first of the three razors was manufactured by Frederick Reynolds of Sheffield, England and features scales of black bone and a biconcave hollow ground blade with a barber’s notch. The exact date of manufacture is unclear, but the use of the slogan “The Old English Razor” makes it probable that it was made between 1840 and 1850, given that the Frederick Reynolds company printed that phrase on its razors during that decade. However, Albert Duffill was born in 1843 and Harry Duffill was not born until 1878, making it likely that this razor belonged to Harry’s grandfather and was passed down from father to son. Moreover, it is uncertain whether or how much Harry Duffill would have used these razors, given the rapid rise of the disposable-blade safety razor in 1905, but still he kept the outdated blade. Many people have early memories of watching their fathers shave; perhaps that routine but deeply personal memory is why these razors were kept. In an age when photographs were not as easily taken as they are now, items carrying memories of one’s father would be especially important as keepsakes.

Another razor, a “Wade & Butcher’s Celebrated Razor,” comes with a handwritten tag that reads: “This razor had belonged to Sydmer Ross. Given to me by the Duffills.” While the author of the tag is unclear, we know Sydmer was a cousin by marriage of the Duffill family. It is difficult to date the manufacture of the razor itself, but given that Wade & Butcher was in operation between 1818 and 1890, and that Sydmer Ross passed away in 1934, it was likely made sometime in the late 19^thcentury. The final razor, made in Germany and imported by Wester Brothers in New York, comes from the Ben Wielputz Exclusive Cutlery Shop in Los Angeles, at an address that is now home to a pleasant neighborhood in Venice Beach. Because the Wester Brothers company was active between 1904 and 1967, this is probably the most recently manufactured razor in the group. Unlike the first two, it has a French tip and a hollow-ground profile, giving it a more minimalistic look. Its box boasts that it is made of “Manganese Steel,” a steel alloy that boasts high tensile strength and durability.