Thread: J Shaw & Sons

I have been given by my auntie her late dads straight razor, a vintage razor for me with family connections i feel very lucky. So i plan on doing what has to be done to this razor for me to use and keep.

This razor was kept in his WW2 box of stuff he was in the RAF , there where lots of stuff dated 1943 in the box and 2 of these razors of which i have been given 1. The blade is just about a full wedge there is a very slight hollow. I cant decide what the scales are made of they seem to be some sort of plastic which can bend, im not sure what to use to clean them. The pins are firm and the blade does sit nicely in the centre, so i think i would rather clean them than change if i can.

Anyway heres some pictures and any comments or knowledge on it would be really welcome, Cheers.

You have been given a part of your family's history, and are very lucky. I wouldn't change a thing on this razor except to give it a good cleaning with soap and water and hand polish with Maas. On the rust spots try to get them with oooo steel wool and Hoppes # 9 gun bore solvent. Hard to tell from the pics, but I think the scales are bakelite. Rub them with a dry cotten rag, and if they smell like burning rubber that is what they are. If they are bakelite, they will be very brittle so treat them with care. Very Best, John

Thanks for your reply wildhog i have been meaning to buy some Mass for a while now.

Some more on the scales, yes it does seem to be some plasticy material but im not sure it bakelite. You can actually nip the scales together when it the blade is out quite easily, also they do bend slightly. Im hoping some one with knowledge of J Shaw and sons might now as im sure they are the original.

Im struggling to find anything really about J Shaw and sons to , except they where in Wolverhampton.

Hi,

Enjoy! I have 3 of great grandfather's razors. It's a blast to have that connection.

Ive

Very nice heirlooms. You are very lucky. Some plastic polish from an auto parts store will do wonders for plastic scales.

You sir, are a lucky man.

I had someone look at it from chat and they think the material could be Vulcanite. Im still struggling on more information on J Shaw & Sons.

John Shaw(1816-1879) was a razor manufacturer, who worked and lived in Copper Street. He was born in Stannington. Possibly he may have been the son of Joseph Shaw, who was also a razor maker living next door in Copper Street. John remained in Copper Street throughout his career and eventually brought his sons - Thomas, Frederick, and John - into the business (another son, Joseph, died in 1873, aged 33). John Shaw died on 24 April 1879, aged 63.
The firm continued in Copper Street as John Shaw & Sons and advertised in The Foreign Buyers Catalogue(1895). By 1901, it had moved to Eldon Street. It was then based in Wheeldon Street until after the WWI, but apparently became defunct during the 1920s. Shaw's was a largely anonymous backstreet firm, but it had several trademarks:

I use vulcanite when making my pipe stems. It's a verry hard rubber material and from my experience has very little if any flex to it at all unless heat is applied. It could be Vulcanite or Bakelite.

Hmmm it seems hard to find what this scale material actually is. If vulcanite has no flex at all that must rule that out. I also presumed bakelite also has zero flex ? Im not sure. From manahs excellent post this razor must be dated at the latest 1920s . A very intresting item for me.. I spent last evening on my coticule and am hoping for my first shave with it tonight , I can't wait to see how it performs. Thanks everyone for your help and please if you know anything else let us allow know.