Hi, Just bought today for 15 USD. I will Dremel it and sharpen. anybody knows about it ? Kind Regards Lee William Hawcroft & Sons Sheffield Renown Some history, info taken on another website: WILLIAM HAWCROFT & SONS A trade advertisement stated that the enterprise was founded in 1833. It began as Hawcroft & Pearson, razor manufacturers in Eldon Street, which was listed in directories in 1834. One partner was Samuel Pearson. The other was William Hawcroft, a master razor manufacturer, who had been born in about 1801 in Bradfield. He was likely the William Hawcroft – the son of Isaac, a knife grinder – who was apprenticed to razor maker William Revitt (possibly?) and granted his Freedom in 1848. Sheffield Museums Trust has a giant razor made for steelmakers Johnson Cammell & Co. It is acid-etched with the words ‘CAST STEEL’ and is stamped ‘Hawcroft & Pearson, 61 Eldon Street’. Hawcroft was first listed as a razor manufacturer in his own right in a directory in 1841. He was based at his house in Gell Street. In 1845, his partnership with Pearson was dissolved. Between the early 1840s and early 1850s, Hawcroft’s business was located in Carver Street and then in Fitzwilliam Street. In the 1840s, Hawcroft’s business became ‘& Sons’. His sons were Isaac, William John, and George Henry. The latter (born in 1834) does not seem to have joined the family firm, so it was Isaac Hawcroft (1823-1880) and William John Hawcroft (1830-1888) who assisted their father. Hawcroft built a reputation by the traditional route: quality products and a striking trade mark (a flying angel and trumpet and the word ‘RENOWN’). The firm won a Prize Medal at the Great Exhibition (1851): The most conspicuous article is a large shew [sic] razor, on the blade of which the Crystal Palace is beautifully etched. The handle is of ivory, and exhibits an elegant design, of which the centre is the royal arms, supported by the figures of fame and plenty; while near the end are the arms of Sheffield and the Cutlers’ Company, with various national symbols. The handle was designed by Mr J. C. Fleming, and the ornamental part of the etching, on the blade, by Mr C. White (Sheffield Independent, 26 April 1851). Hawcroft’s Crystal Palace razor featured in The Art Journal’s Illustrated Catalogue (1851). Hawcroft was also awarded a First Class Medal in Paris in 1855; and another Medal at the London International Exhibition in 1862 for ‘razors excellent in design and quality’. The firm frequently advertised in the Sheffield directories after 1856 as a manufacturer of razors and ‘cutlery in all its branches’. In 1854, William Hawcroft & Sons moved to Bath Works, Bath Street. William and his family lived at Shireville, Albert Road, in Heeley. Hawcroft was a member of the Company of Cutlers and had served as town councillor. A comfortable retirement beckoned. However, his wife Ann died in 1867, aged 66. Then in 1868, Hawcroft himself was struck down in what the press described as a ‘singular’ accident. On the evening of 16 December 1868, the 67-year-old manufacturer was heading home in the rain with his umbrella up when he encountered two bullocks being driven to the slaughterhouse. He was knocked to the ground and gored in the head. A doctor treated his wounds and a cab took him home, but he died two days later. He was buried in the General Cemetery, leaving under £800. After William’s death, the business passed to his sons, Isaac and William. In 1871, Isaac told the Census that Hawcroft’s employed 20 hands. Three years later, Isaac’s partnership with his brother was terminated. William moved to Evesham and became a glass and china dealer. He died at Evesham on 7 June 1888. Isaac continued to operate the family firm until his death at Shireville, Heeley, on 15 September 1880. He left under £2,000. His tomb is in Norton cemetery. By his wife, Ann née Cade, Isaac had two sons – William John (1855-1922) and George Isaac (1858-1925) – who assumed the direction of the business. In 1881, it employed nine men and a girl. Besides razors, Hawcroft’s marketed spring and table cutlery. When George withdrew in 1892, William John was the last surviving family manager. He became insolvent in 1900 with liabilities of £1,273 against assets of £98. The stock of the Bath Street business was sold (Sheffield Independent, 25 April 1900). William, aged 46, and living in Crookesmoor Road, retired and became an artist. He died at Cambridge.
Pretty cool! I understand Sheffield to be of pretty good quality. Unless you've restored straight razors in the past, I would not start with the Dremel; straight razors are much more fragile than a kitchen knife, hunting knife, or pocket knife. I'd seek professional help to start.
If it were myself and I were gonna restore it myself , I would put away the powertools and start with Some wet/dry paper and clean it up with that...
I don't know how your Dremel skills are but Be mindful of the steel's heat treatment when you Dremel. It is not unheard of for razors to be ruined that way. There's a few things that can go wrong with a Dremel on a straight razor. If any type of Dremel attachment touches the actual edge of the razor, grinder, buffer, no matter how slightly ...
I've restored a couple hundred razors, and started with a Dremel tool. I cannot emphasize how dangerous and bad of an idea that is. Wet/Dry sandpaper to polish, and a cheap 320 grit stone to even out a blade is what you need.
Depending on the amount of pitting. Usually 400 up to 2500. Start low, and work your way up. Look at this thread https://theshaveden.com/forums/threads/before-and-after-restoration-thread.54027/
Hi, Thanks again for these precious advices. As I don’t have a « workshop area » in my apartment , I do these small restaurations in my kitchen , so the Dremel was a nightmare in regards to dust and particles spreading everywhere. I guess with wet sandpaper it will be also more quiet , safe , clean etc… I just ordered on Amazon sanding paper wet (2k, 3k, 4k all the way up to 10k) I did again on the same razor some honing as to me the shave quality is as important as the visual restoration. Went through 1000 , 6000, 10000 Then strop Belt Then red compound Then again strop Belt I was able to perform a much better shave today with it , I’m quite happy, it was almost as good as my brand new King Cutter. Kind Regards Lee
Hey Lee, I noticed about the new razor you got, called Sheffield Renown by William Hawcroft & Sons, where did you get it from??? William Hawcroft was my great great great great great grandfather and I really want to own one of his razors, it would mean a lot to me. Is there anywhere I can buy one?
There are several on ebay right now !! The prices seem VERY reasonable and some are Buy It Now and the prices look VERY good for those too !! I looked at one on the bay and almost bought it myself thats BIN but didn't because I wanted to let you know in case you wanted to get it instead....
Hi, Good to know it was your family. I bought it in Switzerland, at a local antique market , it was the only one available.
We believe, we just don't care. A ship doesn't sail on yesterday's wind. Congratulations on recovering some of your family's history.
Someone new mentions something, and another someone new swears to it. What I'm saying. Forgive me if I'm being too direct and not convinced. Carry on.
