Has anyone ever seen a "Kimberly" straight razor before?

[tumtatty]

Hi Guys!
I was wondering if this looked familiar to anyone. I can't find any info on the make or manufacturer (Graham & Morton Stirling). I picked it up from a nice lady who lives in Scotland. She said Graham & Morton was a local retail chain. She also told me that a relative used it during WWI.

Does the lead spacer = a 19th century production date?
I'm also not sure of that I've seen the shape of the razor before. What's that called?

Please pardon the pics. It's my first attempt photographing razors and I have a cheap digital camera.

Thanks!

http://www.antiquemilitaryshooter.com/forums/kimberly1_small.jpg
http://www.antiquemilitaryshooter.com/forums/kimberly2_small.jpg
http://www.antiquemilitaryshooter.com/forums/kimberly5_small.jpg
http://www.antiquemilitaryshooter.com/forums/kimberly3_small.jpg

[dakotaev]

I can't say I have, It's a nice looking razor, but what really got my attention is your keyboard.

Wow...

[O. Glenn]

^ What he said... cool keyboard!

[Slartibartfast]

Like I said elsewhere. It looks like someone used a lot of pressure when honing or lifted the spine up like a knife to get rid of some chips.

[MajorBurnz]

It's more likely to be a 'model' name, rather and a brand name.

The Kimberley mine in SA produced some of the best diamonds in the world, including the famous Kimberley Diamond (flawless 70 carat). This razor was probably named after the diamond in an effort to boost sales off the publicity surrounding the diamond - that makes it likely to be from around either 1921 (when the diamond was first mined) or 1958 (when it was re-cut) - the later date is more likely.

The razor has been honed pretty badly, and has some really uneven wear, even though the blade is not rusted. Its value is mostly as a collectible, at this point. The quality of the craftsmanship reminds me of a Wilkinson - very nice finishing.

Nice to see it - never seen one marked like it before.

The spacer doesn't indicate 19th century manufacture. It may actually be Pewter anyway.

[tumtatty]

Like I said elsewhere. It looks like someone used a lot of pressure when honing or lifted the spine up like a knife to get rid of some chips.

I didn't hear back from anyone about the brand/company so I posted over here as well as the straight razor place. That was my main question.

[tumtatty]

I can't say I have, It's a nice looking razor, but what really got my attention is your keyboard.

Wow...

I made it using old typewriter keys and modding a dell keyboard. Unemployed with too much time on my hands! If I'd only known about the fun of straight razors a few months ago I could have bought a ton of them rather than make that sucker:w00t:

http://antiquemilitaryshooter.com/forums/tim%20steampunk%20keyboard.jpg

[TheEza]

I made it using old typewriter keys and modding a dell keyboard. Unemployed with too much time on my hands! If I'd only known about the fun of straight razors a few months ago I could have bought a ton of them rather than make that sucker:w00t:

http://antiquemilitaryshooter.com/forums/tim%20steampunk%20keyboard.jpg

sick!!

[dakotaev]

Very cool and totally unique !

[StillShaving]

The keyboard is certainly very cool and interesting. :thumbup1: And the razor is too!

Totally speculating, but given the name of the razor and its shape, could this have been some type of straight razor meant for shaving women? Before King Gillette what did women shave with who wanted to hike up their knickers at the beach? I certainly could be wrong, but I get an impression that the shape was intentional and not the result of a butchered grind.

[tumtatty]

The guy who had it in WWI had his name engraved on the blade. I was told that he did so because he didn't want any of his bunkmates taking it while on the troop ship. I know I removed some of this razor's history, but I removed the engraving while trying to get the piece back to its original condition.

The keyboard was a real pain to make. I grind all the key bases from the old typewriters, get the keys separated from the glass, Print out new key labels for modern computer keyboard stuff, reassemble then glue. That was after cutting each Dell key with drill press to remove all but a small circle in the middle as a base for the typewriter key. Then came the painting, weathering and such. My daughter wants me to sell them, but the cost of getting the old keys and making the conversion make the sale price pretty high..probably too high. So...i've got another hobby that doesn't make me any money...but money's not everything:thumbup1:

[RetroGrouch]

I think Yohann basically nailed it, so I have no further comments on that lovely razor.

But I'd totally buy one of those keyboards!

Mike