WH Morley Scales

**Sluggo** · 02-11-2009, 09:41 AM

Hi Everyone,
My father-in-law picked me up a WH Morely and Sons (Clover Brand) razor, in it's box, and an antique strop for $30 in Atlanta.

The scales of this razor are really interesting, as they are carved with deer (stags likely). My father-in-law thinks they maybe ivory, but I think they are bone or horn.

I will post pictures when I get the razor, but any ideas on what they could be made of?

**pal** · 02-11-2009, 05:45 PM

Sounds interesting!

**Sluggo** · 02-11-2009, 06:04 PM

Here are some Pics...what do you guys think?
After seeing the razor in person I am fairly certian this is not ivory.

**BillEllis** · 02-12-2009, 02:13 AM

Originally Posted by Sluggo

Here are some Pics...what do you guys think?
After seeing the razor in person I am fairly certian this is not ivory.

The scales are celluloid.

**ignatz** · 02-12-2009, 03:54 AM

Without a closer look at the scales I couldn't tell for sure.

Nevertheless, the design appears to roll off slightly at the edges and I would think that rather than being carved into the scales the design was pressed. Individually carved scales would not have made economic sense back then either.

This 'pressing' operation could be successfully carried out in either horn, hard rubber or celluloid, but without further evidence I would have to throw my vote in with Mr. Ellis and go for celluloid.

**leighton** · 02-12-2009, 09:29 AM

Last night I asked myself this same question, wtf are the scales made of? And I did a google search and came upon an article with a very simple test. CAUTION! Basically, you heat up a pin and then put it to the scale. If it melts, its plastic, if not, its horn or ivory. Now, I certainly do not suggest this if you want to keep your scales, but if your going to replace them anyway, as I am, then it didn't matter.

That said, it really only left a small unnoticeable mark, not too bad. But uh... again, it does cause minor damage if your scales turn out to be celluloid.

**BillEllis** · 02-12-2009, 12:00 PM

Originally Posted by leighton

Last night I asked myself this same question, wtf are the scales made of? And I did a google search and came upon an article with a very simple test. CAUTION! Basically, you heat up a pin and then put it to the scale. If it melts, its plastic, if not, its horn or ivory. Now, I certainly do not suggest this if you want to keep your scales, but if your going to replace them anyway, as I am, then it didn't matter.

That said, it really only left a small unnoticeable mark, not too bad. But uh... again, it does cause minor damage if your scales turn out to be celluloid.

Or... you could take the word of someone who knows what they are.

**Sluggo** · 02-13-2009, 06:33 AM

Well I guess that means they will be re-scaled when I send out the razor for a restoration!!

**BillEllis** · 02-13-2009, 09:14 AM

Originally Posted by Sluggo

Well I guess that means they will be re-scaled when I send out the razor for a restoration!!

I must have missed something here. I thought you wanted to know what the scales were made of. I didn't know it had anything to do with a desire to restore it. The scales are worth a lot more than that blade and I don't think you will find many guys who can restore a blade with any degree of success with that much damage to it. If you do restore it, I think you'd be better off to get a new blade for those scales rather than the other way around. If you just don't like the scales, I'll buy them from you if the price is right and there are no cracks or other damage to them. Good luck with it no matter what you do.

**Sluggo** · 02-13-2009, 10:07 AM

Can you tell this is my first straight razor? I do know that the WH Morley steel is very hard, so I would like to restore the razor but I guess I am torn on what to do.

Bill - you do this, any advice? I want to keep this razor, but the blade is what interests me. What do you think is wrong with it (that it could not be restored)?

**BillEllis** · 02-13-2009, 10:40 AM

Originally Posted by Sluggo

Can you tell this is my first straight razor? I do know that the WH Morley steel is very hard, so I would like to restore the razor but I guess I am torn on what to do.

Bill - you do this, any advice? I want to keep this razor, but the blade is what interests me. What do you think is wrong with it (that it could not be restored)?

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