Wilkinson Razors Through the Ages - 1890-1952
Wilkinson Razors - "The Name on the World's Finest Blade"
Wilkinson & Son entered the shaving market during the 1850’s when their records show customers being supplied with specially selected open razors made for them by leading London makers.
In the early 1890’s following their design and patenting of machinery to produce the perfect hollow ground edge to a blade, Wilkinson Sword Co Ltd (Incorporated in 1889) introduced ‘The Figaro’ open razor.
The ‘Figaro’ London Hollow Ground Razor 1893
These razors were supplied in four blade widths and either singly (as above), pairs, fours or seven, (one for every day of the week and etched with the day on the rounded top of the blade.)
It was another ten years before Wilkinson patented their Safety Shaver, which was launched in 1903, winning a gold medal for excellence the following year.
The razor featured a number of revolutionary improvements to the safety razor such as Wilkinson’s ‘Patent Anti Friction Roller’ which, unlike the crude combs of other safety razors, gave a smooth rolling action over the face and fed the lather onto the cutting edge of the blade.
Wilkinson Patent Safety Shaver 1903.
The success of the razor, which was sold singly and in larger sets with three, four or seven blades, encouraged Wilkinson Sword Co Ltd to produce other razors and shaving ancillaries.
1907 Pall Mall Safety Razor 7 Day Set
Double edged ‘Wafer’ blade razor 1908
1912 ‘Strong Beard’ Safety Razor
1920 Pall Mall Safety Razor
1921 Pall Mall Safety Razor
1923 Pall Mall Hollow Ground Razor
1925 Pall Mall Hollow Ground razor
1925 Head Details - Flat Plate milled head and shaped plate and flat head.
1928 Gilt & Ivory Pall Mall Razor
for Alfred Dunhill USA
1928 De Luxe Pall Mall razor set in Crocodile case
1930 The ‘Empire’ Self Stropping Razor.
Deluxe Empire Razor 1930-1935
(Top E40 and E35 -Centre E35 Jubilee set-Bottom E27 [Plain wood box not covered with skin as the E40 and E35 and leather as Jubilee model)
1933-1935 Model E21 Empire razor with deluxe gilt model with red lined case top centre.
1935 ‘ Empire’ Razor produced for the Silver Jubilee
1936 Empire E21 De luxe gilt 7 day set
1947 Wilkinson ‘Rocker’ Razor
1936-1952 Wilkinson 7 Day ‘Empire’ Razor
1949 Wilkinson W12 ‘Popular’ ‘Empire’ Razor and
1950 Wilkinson W19 ‘Empire’ Razor
1952 W 20 ‘Empire’ Razor
Production of the Empire razor ceased in 1952/3. It was to be 4 years before Wilkinsons again entered the razor market and this time with a blade that would revolutionise shaving!
Wilkinson & Son entered the shaving market during the 1850’s when their records show customers being supplied with specially selected open razors made for them by leading London makers.
In the early 1890’s following their design and patenting of machinery to produce the perfect hollow ground edge to a blade, Wilkinson Sword Co Ltd (Incorporated in 1889) introduced ‘The Figaro’ open razor.
The ‘Figaro’ London Hollow Ground Razor 1893
These razors were supplied in four blade widths and either singly (as above), pairs, fours or seven, (one for every day of the week and etched with the day on the rounded top of the blade.)
It was another ten years before Wilkinson patented their Safety Shaver, which was launched in 1903, winning a gold medal for excellence the following year.
The razor featured a number of revolutionary improvements to the safety razor such as Wilkinson’s ‘Patent Anti Friction Roller’ which, unlike the crude combs of other safety razors, gave a smooth rolling action over the face and fed the lather onto the cutting edge of the blade.
Wilkinson Large deluxe set 1903
The success of the razor, which was sold singly and in larger sets with three, four or seven blades, encouraged Wilkinson Sword Co Ltd to produce other razors and shaving ancillaries.
Wilkinson Patent Safety Shaver 1903 Deluxe set with silver plated razor and ivory handle.
(Courtesy of Renzo Jardella)
With both Open and Safety Razors to cater for the two different markets, Wilkinson Sword now set out to improve and perfect their designs and in the next fifty years became leaders in an already fast moving shaving market.
(Courtesy of Renzo Jardella)
With both Open and Safety Razors to cater for the two different markets, Wilkinson Sword now set out to improve and perfect their designs and in the next fifty years became leaders in an already fast moving shaving market.
1907 Pall Mall Safety Razor 7 Day Set
Double edged ‘Wafer’ blade razor 1908
1912 ‘Strong Beard’ Safety Razor
1920 Pall Mall Safety Razor
1921 Pall Mall Safety Razor
1923 Pall Mall Hollow Ground Razor
1925 Pall Mall Hollow Ground razor
1925 Head Details - Flat Plate milled head and shaped plate and flat head.
1928 Gilt & Ivory Pall Mall Razor
for Alfred Dunhill USA
1928 De Luxe Pall Mall razor set in Crocodile case
1930 The ‘Empire’ Self Stropping Razor.
Deluxe Empire Razor 1930-1935
(Top E40 and E35 -Centre E35 Jubilee set-Bottom E27 [Plain wood box not covered with skin as the E40 and E35 and leather as Jubilee model)
1933-1935 Model E21 Empire razor with deluxe gilt model with red lined case top centre.
1935 ‘ Empire’ Razor produced for the Silver Jubilee
1936 Empire E21 De luxe gilt 7 day set
1947 Wilkinson ‘Rocker’ Razor
1936-1952 Wilkinson 7 Day ‘Empire’ Razor
1949 Wilkinson W12 ‘Popular’ ‘Empire’ Razor and
1950 Wilkinson W19 ‘Empire’ Razor
1952 W 20 ‘Empire’ Razor
Production of the Empire razor ceased in 1952/3. It was to be 4 years before Wilkinsons again entered the razor market and this time with a blade that would revolutionise shaving!
Wilkinson Sword Edge 5 Blade dispenser 1956.
(The very early dispenser lid card did not have the word 'stainless')
(The very early dispenser lid card did not have the word 'stainless')
"Mr Sword" counter/shelf dispenser 1956.
Within two years, in 1958, Wilkinsons produced the 'Sword Edge' razor. Of innovative design it was never marketed due to problems with staining on the nylon head on which the stainless blade rested.
It wasn't until 1968 that Wilkinsons finally designed, produced and marketed a razor for their double edge 'Super Sword Edge' stainless blades.
It wasn't until 1968 that Wilkinsons finally designed, produced and marketed a razor for their double edge 'Super Sword Edge' stainless blades.
This was followed in 1977 when the New Classic 'Flip Top' razor was launched with its unique side hinged opening head.
In 1970, Wilkinsons patented and introduced The Bonded razor-the system razor that really revolutionised the shaving market!!!
posted by Wilkinson Razors at 11:54 am
"Mr. Blue Chin had a trying time, he suffered from stubble trouble. Every morning he would go twice over his face and every third day he'd add one more to that mounting pile of used blades. For evening occasions he'd have to reap another harvest. It was getting a bit too much. Then one day things took a turn for the better. A quick once over in the morning was enough. Gone was that pile of used blades. His chin was smooth the whole day long. Evening shaves were forgotten. He didn't know himself. He felt a new man. Mr. Blue Chin had become Mr. Clean Chin - and all because someone said "Why don't you try a Wilkinson?"
This is without question the best reference work on a single razor manufacturer produced so far.It is a great addition to the razor collecting fraternity. WELL DONE!!!
RJ England