Thread: Pics of real Ivory handles?

I was at an antique store this evening and went there to purposedly look at the H. Boker in this collection of razors in a case that said Ivory handle. I looked and it is light yellow and has streaks (faint) running parallel to each other, but it looked no different than some of my razors I have. I do have a J.A. Henckels that has an "ivor" look about it, but it's streaks are mingled more, not clearly defined. I also saw a letter opener that was marked "Ivory" and, upon looking at it with my magnifying glass I carried, I pointed out the 3 round "dots" where the plastic injection mold must have been used. Not ivory.

What are some of the pics of Ivory handles? How does one discern Ivory over faux or look alike ivory?

Not sure if these photos are detailed enough to be of any help. IME most genuine ivory has a random grain. It is not consistent from end to end. French ivory, as faux ivory was known in some circles, is more likely to have a consistent grain throughout. All of the vintage ivory scales I've seen are much thinner than celluloid A.K.A. ivoroid scales. Here are two pics. The second razor from the top shows how much thicker the celluloid is than the genuine ivory.

I think the pictures will show us detailled the differences between ivory and celluloid. Thanks for sharing.

The second pic, the razor to the far left is a Helje celluloid. Another thing that I've noticed is that the false ivory always has washers around the pins while in most I've seen, maybe all, the genuine ivory does not have washers around the pins. The razors to the right of the celluloid Heljestrand are two Heljestrands and a Wilkinson in genuine ivory.

Jimmy... I'll have to post pictures tomorrow, but I just looked at the few I have with the light yellow schales. Only one has no washer. It is a Geo Wolstenholm & Son razor marked SUPERB on the tang with a pipe. It is a very light color and no washers around the pins. My other ones all have washers.

I found one with washers in my collection of ivory-scaled razors.
It is a Mappin & Webb.
Maybe she got a new pin sometimes, because there is only one washer at the side where the scale is cracked.
What do you mean?

I have a few light yellow handled razors, and was wondering if any of them were actually ivory. The lightest colored one of the bunch has no washers around the pins and is very thin as well. It is the Geo. Wolstenholm & Son razor and when I get a chance I'll take a picture and post it.

I wouldn't go by washers or not. Real Ivory looks and feels like nothing else. There is a specific color and variation of color and the lines cross at angles. Also, in the right light it has a sheen to it.

You can also search the razor database in the wiki by scale material if you are still looking for more examples

Here is an old Sheffield wedge in ivory. It hasn't been cleaned up so the grain is harder to see. The yellow hue is easy to spot on older pieces. Goins dates this razor ca. 1848-1853.