I think that Ivory scale razors are a rarity, and would like to start a thread showing different Ivory Scaled Razors. I don't know if this is an Ivory Scaled Razor, but, it doesn't appear to be bone or plastic. Its pretty thin, and has striations in the material, when under light. Wade & Butcher True Wedge. It needs a major cleanup, and Honing.
There are excellent online tutorials on identifying Ivory. The name itself has come to imply elephant, but properly includes hippo and fossil ivory. As with any vintage item the best intitial course of action is NO action. Items in bad shape won't deteriorate further just becase you now own them. Opinions and ill advise on various tests are legion. Even period faux materials are different. If you think gutta percha and celluloid behave like modern polystyrene they do not.
Pics on the internet SUCK for ID hehehe But there are some clues here that I think I see, you can correct me if I am not seeing this correctly in the pics #1 W&B are not often found in Ivory #2 The Pins and Washers look to have lock washers again a rarity on Ivory Scales #3 I think I can see Capillary holes in the surface which make me say Bone #4 they look to have a profiled "Rounded" side very very rare for Ivory scales again making me lean toward Bone These are simply clues, they are NOT definitive,, if the scales were in hand I could tell the difference in less then 5 seconds, but from an internet pic I have to use clues Let us know if you see any other details
Then it is possibly bone. I have some other bone, camel bone, and it doesn't look like that. But, as far as capillary holes, I do see what you are talking about. Oh well.
This one is supposedly ivory. Although, the seller was very careful to not use that word on eBay - describing them variously as material used for piano keys and a creamy animal product that used to be common but no longer permissible. @gssixgun did the hone job but I don't know if examined the scales as I didn't ask. @KAV - if you have some links to good sources to help ID real ivory they would be appreciated. Here's a pic or two:
@Karl G They are Ivory You can see the Schreger lines pretty clearly in the 2nd pic,, Besides that fact I held them Again Clues are also in this pic #1 Three pins, which is just not seen with ivory #2 Distinct Collars on the Pivot pin and the Center pin #3 The Wedge pin doesn't match the other pins This hints toward these not being original scales to the razor, keeping in mind that many Barber Supply stores back in the day stocked "New Scales" these might have been changed years ago.. Again all you can do is look at the clues, none of this is definitive
Remember the most important line of my post On the internet I can only use clues, it is NOT definitive until it is in hand, and even then I have seen a few that I had to get out the Magnifying Glass to be sure hehehe
My impression is bone. It reminds me of the look of my bone handled knife, where it has the light and dark areas. I admittedly have no experience with ivory whatsoever.
Man tuff call the second set of pics make it questionable again can you get some closer pics Especially of the pins area and by the crack ???
Does anyone have a clue, as to how old this might be? Also, when did Wade and Butcher stop making the wedge blades?
I believe the C V Heljestrand MK31, MK32, MK133, MK134 have ivory scales. I own this MK31 with ivory scales. You can see the Schreger lines in the first photo.