B.J.Eyre at W. Greaves

[drmoss_ca]

I'm dredging up the dregs from the basement and came across a razor I'm ashamed to say I don't recall. Horn scales with no bullseye washers, square point, full hollow, concave spine, constant width blade, rather short tang, with a cut-out on the shank, which has a double stabiliser:



and the shank itself is where it gets interesting:



"B.J.EYRE & CO
AT E W.GREAVES & SONS
SHEFFIELD"

First thing is the extraneous 'E' - maybe William Greaves had an unused first name? Or is the "ATE" preceded by another letter that has worn off? We know Benjamin James Eyre was a partner at Greaves' Sheaf Works until it's dissolution in 1850, and then traded as Eyre, Ward & Co. using the Sheaf Works, and after 1857, Eyre traded alone as B.J.Eyre & Co. I had guessed from the anatomy of this razor it was 1840 - 1850, so I think it comes from Eyre's original participation at Sheaf Works somewhere before 1850.

Given its interesting nature, I think I'll hone this one for use after the Dovo seven day set, and before the eleven Friodurs waiting impatiently, along with a couple of others. I have thrown out two chipped blades that are beyond rescue, but find I have six more that were given to me and are intact but filthy. Anyone want six razors to play at restoration with?

 

[drmoss_ca]

Honed up nicely, too. Something to look forward to when the Dovos are done.

 

[jaro1069]

Sorry I think it was made during or After 1850...The company was dissolved in 1850, being parceled out to Thomas Turton and B.J. Eyre, each using different parts of the factory and producing different kinds of goods with the Greaves name on them.
The E would stand for Edward the last Greaves owner, so it could just be what it says and mean at e greaves which would fit with in or after 1850.

 

[jaro1069]

A very interesting history of Greaves....

William Greaves | The Shivering Beggar

 

[drmoss_ca]

That's wonderful - thank you!

 

[Sean]

So many stories lost to time.

Depending on the price, I’d be interested in the practice razors you mention. I’m still working on my honing technique, with intermittent success.

 

[jaro1069]

I'm dredging up the dregs from the basement and came across a razor I'm ashamed to say I don't recall. Horn scales with no bullseye washers, square point, full hollow, concave spine, constant width blade, rather short tang, with a cut-out on the shank, which has a double stabiliser:

View attachment 3008

and the shank itself is where it gets interesting:

View attachment 3009

"B.J.EYRE & CO
AT E W.GREAVES & SONS
SHEFFIELD"

First thing is the extraneous 'E' - maybe William Greaves had an unused first name? Or is the "ATE" preceded by another letter that has worn off? We know Benjamin James Eyre was a partner at Greaves' Sheaf Works until it's dissolution in 1850, and then traded as Eyre, Ward & Co. using the Sheaf Works, and after 1857, Eyre traded alone as B.J.Eyre & Co. I had guessed from the anatomy of this razor it was 1840 - 1850, so I think it comes from Eyre's original participation at Sheaf Works somewhere before 1850.

Given its interesting nature, I think I'll hone this one for use after the Dovo seven day set, and before the eleven Friodurs waiting impatiently, along with a couple of others. I have thrown out two chipped blades that are beyond rescue, but find I have six more that were given to me and are intact but filthy. Anyone want six razors to play at restoration with?

@drmoss_ca I'd love to have some razors to restore.. I have wanted to do that !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[drmoss_ca]

The old razors are not at all pretty, and maybe a bit far gone to be worth much effort. I'll send you both (Sean and Jimmy) some pics sometime in the next few days when I get a chance and you can see if you're interested. You can contribute to postage if you like, but otherwise free.

 

[jaro1069]

The old razors are not at all pretty, and maybe a bit far gone to be worth much effort. I'll send you both (Sean and Jimmy) some pics sometime in the next few days when I get a chance and you can see if you're interested. You can contribute to postage if you like, but otherwise free.

Thanks I would appreciate it...

 

[Ols67]

Chris,

I have never used a W. GREAVES & SONS, and since this is 200+ years old with a similar profile to my SCARGILL...well...I figured I should rectify the situation!

It arrived today! I will hone it sometime in the next few days and use it Monday or Tuesday. It is a big honking piece of steel at perhaps a shade over 7/8 at the widest...not a full inch.

Vr

Matt

 

[drmoss_ca]

Greaves are generally very good shavers. You have an old one there, with the curved spine and edge, stubby tang and straight scaled. His sons joined him in 1817, and razors made in the Sheaf Works were marked as such - they built the Works in 1823. So it looks like your razor comes from 1817-1823 (which is rather nice as I dated it by looks alone as 1820!)

 

[Ols67]

Great gouge! Thanks Chris!

I think I am going to finish it on a translucent ark rough cut.

Vr

Matt

 

[brothers]

I've had this old Greaves & Sons Sheaf-Works for a long time, bought at a flea market. It's a very good shaver. I love the original scales and washers. Would this be one of the originals around 1820 or thereabouts?

 

[Ols67]

I've had this old Greaves & Sons Sheaf-Works for a long time, bought at a flea market. It's a very good shaver. I love the original scales and washers. Would this be one of the originals around 1820 or thereabouts?

View attachment 3135

That’s a beauty! Congrats on having that one!

Vr

Matt

 

[drmoss_ca]

Interesting, Gary. It says Sheaf Works and we'll have to take that at face value, which means post-1823. But, blow me, that razor looks twenty years older than that by design features alone. Once again, we might be seeing a manufacturer having to cope with conservative shavers who wanted a razor just like their last one, even if fashions had moved on. Also note the 'Cast Steel' on the shank, which also gives us information, as it refers to the Benjamin Huntsman process that transformed Sheffield. Huntsman cleverly took blister steel, made by carburizing wrought iron with charcoal in a cementation furnace, and heated it with a flux by using coke. Coke allowed higher temperatures to be achieved than could be done with coal or charcoal, and he could thus make a much more homogeneous product as it had all been properly melted, mixed and reacted. A controlled reduction in carbon content of the blister steel and a homogeneous product. Cast Steel was used as a selling point and often marked on razors in the decade of 1820 - 1830. After that, it was taken as a given, and it no longer helped to sell razors.

I do hope you guys understand what kind of history you hold in your hands when you use these razors! I'll haunt you if you ever get a rust spot on them.

 

[Ols67]

Could be pre-1823 razor, with post 1823 scales!

Vr

Matt

 

[Slawman]

I want one!

 

[K5MOW]

I would love to have one.

Roger