Thread: Need Help Henry Sears and Son

I have 3 Henry Sears and son straights. The first one from the top only says Manufatured by Henry Sears and Son. No Number or country of origin.
The second one reads "Clean Shaver 551" Henry Sears and Son
ast one reads "Clean Shaver 362" Henry Sears and Son. 1865

All have the date 1865. Here is what I know:
The company was founded by Henry Sears in 1865 but the Name Henry Sears and Son was not used until 1883.
Some were made in the USA and some were made in Germany and England.
I have heard that Henry Sears and Son was bought out in the early 1900's but used the name until the 1950's.
All are excellent shavers and fairly easy to hone.

Any info would be great. There is not that much I can find on the web.

Thanks

According to Bernard Levine they were located at St Paul, Minnesot and, often had "1865" imprinted on the tang. They made knives and razors. Razor brands include "Queen" and "Paragon" but apparently both knives and razors were made by many others for Sears. The company was originally a Chicago firm called Henry Sears & Co. The brand was sold again in 1878 and appeared on knives until 1959.

However, according to Goins:

Henry Sears & Co. Prussia - c 1865-1879
Henry Sears & Son Prussia c 1883-1897
Founded in 1865 as Henry Sears & Company in Rockford, Illinois.
The business became the Henry Sears manufacturing company in 1879, and in 1883 the name became Henry Sears & Son.
From 1879 to 1881, the Henry Sears Manufacturing Company operated a factory in Middlebury, Conneticut. This factory was either moved to Illinois or closed by 1881. The business was moved in 1885 to Chicago, but Henry Sears retained a residence in Rockford. In 1897, the company was sold to Farwell-Ozmun-Kirk & Company Hardware of St.Paul, Minnesota."

Not that I have a great deal of faith in either source!

Regards,
Neil

Originally Posted by Neil Miller

Not that I have a great deal of faith in either source!

Regards,
Neil

+1! Got a good chuckle from that remark and I tend to agree.

Yep I understand. Thanks for the help. I didn't know these razors were made in Prussia. My guess is they were made before 1897 by looking at the tang size and how all three have old horn scales.