✅ SOLVED Knife handle? Razor? Found in yard, 1860 farmhouse, 3 1/2" long, looks like a demon or something teasing a dog, looks like OREO above his head. Anyone

[Hoosier axe hunter]

 

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[Robot]

Hi Hoosier axe hunter,
Nice old find!
I believe it is the handle from an antique straight razor?
I could not find the exact engraving.

 

[Red-Coat]

That's curious imagery.

There was a French maker maker of straight razors in Paris using the initials 'AK' in the late 1800s and also a German maker in Solingen in the 1920s, but neither of their marks were in an oval cartouche with a star between the letters as seen here.

With a bit of enhancement, it looks to me like the other part of the handle has the word 'LOVES' (ie in English) issuing from the mouth of a monkey, so that it kinda reads [Monkey] LOVES [Dog].

Doctor Google gave me nothing helpful but as a complete WAG, I wonder if this is the handle from some kind of grooming device for dogs? Brush, comb, clippers or whatever?

Those grooved marks on the longer piece have at least some similarity to this vintage Blackwell Bostrukizon (London) Dog Grooming Brush:

 

[Hoosier axe hunter]

That's curious imagery.

There was a French maker maker of straight razors in Paris using the initials 'AK' in the late 1800s and also a German maker in Solingen in the 1920s, but neither of their marks were in an oval cartouche with a star between the letters as seen here.

With a bit of enhancement, it looks to me like the other part of the handle has the word 'LOVES' (ie in English) issuing from the mouth of a monkey, so that it kinda reads [Monkey] LOVES [Dog].

View attachment 2131151

Doctor Google gave me nothing helpful but as a complete WAG, I wonder if this is the handle from some kind of grooming device for dogs? Brush, comb, clippers or whatever?

Those grooved marks on the longer piece have at least some similarity to this vintage Blackwell Bostrukizon (London) Dog Grooming Brush:

View attachment 2131166
View attachment 2131167

Thank you very much for the information, it's amazing the knowledge that's on this forum. Thanks again 👍

 

[Red-Coat]

Thank you very much for the information, it's amazing the knowledge that's on this forum. Thanks again 👍

You're most welcome... we all like a challenge, but this one isn't solved yet. We have theory and conjecture but not a matching ID.

 

[eyemustdigtreasure]

View attachment 2131114

You certainly have a unique relic !
You are going to have to do more research to key-out the thing…!
Maybe someone can give you a web address to start….

 

[Robot]

I wonder if the A K logo could be from AMERICAN KNIFE CO. Plymouth Hollow, Connecticut from circa 1849-1875.
They produced Straight Razors.

 

[Red-Coat]

I wonder if the A K logo could be from AMERICAN KNIFE CO. Plymouth Hollow, Connecticut from circa 1849-1875.
They produced Straight Razors.

Good thought., but couldn't find a match for that logo. American Knife of Plymouth Hollow and American Knife of Newark razors both seem to be marked with simple lettering on the stem of the blade, as below, but not marked on the handle.

 

[pepperj]

Straight Razor Manufacturers and Dates of Operation.

A CHARLES ADAMS & CO. 36 Front Street, Rochester, NY. ca. 1889 - 1957 AKERS BRITTON CO. 232 N. Illinois Street, Indianapolis, Indiana. In business circa 1925 - 1930 JOHN ALBRIGHT 516 Baltimore Street, Hanover, PA Used "HANOVER" Trademark ca. 1922-1927 JOSEPH ALLEN & SONS Oak Works, Sheffield...

www.roadshowcollectibles.ca

 

[Bramblefind]

That monkey and dog imagery shows up on the blade of other straight razors. Both of these listed below are said to have something like "G. Doxey No.2" on the back. The sellers spell it "G. Doxcy" and "G. Doxvy" in their listings.

Wade Wingfield & Rowbotham 6/8 Straight Razor w/ Etched MONKEY & Dog - Wedge | #1994596199

You are bidding on a Vintage Wade, Wingfield & Rowbotham Wedge Straight Razor w/ an Etched Blade Featuring a MONKEY Teasing a Leashed Dog. The razor reverse is also etched and says G Doxcy No. 2. VE

www.worthpoint.com

ASSORTED ENGLISH ETCHED-BLADE STRAIGHT RAZORS, LOT OF THREE | #3821592230

comprising one with the depiction of a dog and monkey, and on the reverse G Doxvy No 2 ; one depicting the Horticultural Building of the Columbian Worlds Fair in Chicago; and a patriotic eagle holdin

www.worthpoint.com

 

[Bramblefind]

I wanted to come back to this because I discovered that this monkey and dog depiction was something of a 19th century meme. The phrase usually attached to it "Don't you wish YOU MAY GET IT?" appears in variations of the monkey and dog and in other situations, all played out for humor.

A neat twist was this Nast political cartoon with Lincoln as the monkey (holding a rat called "The White House") and McClellan as the dog.

 

[Joecoins]

Found the imagery u just beat me to it

 

[Red-Coat]

Getting more and more interesting.

So, according to the George Glazer website, E.C. Kellogg of New York and Hartford, Connecticut, and Ensign & Thayer, Buffalo, New York co-published the image as a lithographic print around 1852-53. It was titled “A Close Calculation” with the subtitle “Don’t you wish you may get it” which is said to have its origins in Punch & Judy shows. The embroidery pattern by Georg Nippe has a description that says it’s “third quarter of the 19th Century”… so it’s later than the Kellogg/Ensign & Thayer etching.

https://www.georgeglazer.com/wpmain...ign-thayer-connecticut-antique-print-1852-53/

A humorous American genre print, subtitled Don’t you wish you may get it, depicting a monkey teasing an alert hunting dog that is chained to the wall by offering the tip of its tail but holding it just out of reach. Seated on a stone step, the monkey is clearly enjoying the game with a smile on its face. The scene takes place in front of a wood plank wall upon which hangs a jacket and cap with a feather. A wooden tub of water is on the ground beside the dog; a pitcher and patterned cloth are beside the monkey. A Gothic Revival house is across the road is in the background.

The Connecticut Historical Society, which has an example of this print in its collection. According to Kellogg expert Nancy Finlay the phrase “Don’t you wish you may get it?” also occurs in the script of the Punch and Judy show as published in London Labour and the London Poor by Henry Mayhew in 1851. Kellogg published another print on a on a similar theme, also in the Connecticut Historical Society collection; it shows a monkey teasing a terrier by holding the dog by the tail and a dead rat just out of its reach.

Additional publication information beneath the ruled border below right is faded and difficult to decipher but probably says Ensign, Thayer & Co. 127 Main St. Buffalo. The two companies apparently co-published it. Kellogg issued other prints with different publishers.

So, seemingly the imagery was adopted for multiple humorous purposes, including advertising (not just for razors) and political satire among other things. For the OP’s handle, the word apparently issuing from the monkey’s mouth (which may or may not be “Loves”) remains unexplained, as does the maker mark for whatever it might be.

 

[Bramblefind]

The monkey seems to be saying the same something on the blade in the image I posted - I think it could be "O YES"

 

[ArfieBoy]

Interesting imagery and histories! Thanks!

 

[Hoosier axe hunter]

Getting more and more interesting.

So, according to the George Glazer website, E.C. Kellogg of New York and Hartford, Connecticut, and Ensign & Thayer, Buffalo, New York co-published the image as a lithographic print around 1852-53. It was titled “A Close Calculation” with the subtitle “Don’t you wish you may get it” which is said to have its origins in Punch & Judy shows. The embroidery pattern by Georg Nippe has a description that says it’s “third quarter of the 19th Century”… so it’s later than the Kellogg/Ensign & Thayer etching.

https://www.georgeglazer.com/wpmain...ign-thayer-connecticut-antique-print-1852-53/

A humorous American genre print, subtitled Don’t you wish you may get it, depicting a monkey teasing an alert hunting dog that is chained to the wall by offering the tip of its tail but holding it just out of reach. Seated on a stone step, the monkey is clearly enjoying the game with a smile on its face. The scene takes place in front of a wood plank wall upon which hangs a jacket and cap with a feather. A wooden tub of water is on the ground beside the dog; a pitcher and patterned cloth are beside the monkey. A Gothic Revival house is across the road is in the background.

The Connecticut Historical Society, which has an example of this print in its collection. According to Kellogg expert Nancy Finlay the phrase “Don’t you wish you may get it?” also occurs in the script of the Punch and Judy show as published in London Labour and the London Poor by Henry Mayhew in 1851. Kellogg published another print on a on a similar theme, also in the Connecticut Historical Society collection; it shows a monkey teasing a terrier by holding the dog by the tail and a dead rat just out of its reach.

Additional publication information beneath the ruled border below right is faded and difficult to decipher but probably says Ensign, Thayer & Co. 127 Main St. Buffalo. The two companies apparently co-published it. Kellogg issued other prints with different publishers.

So, seemingly the imagery was adopted for multiple humorous purposes, including advertising (not just for razors) and political satire among other things. For the OP’s handle, the word apparently issuing from the monkey’s mouth (which may or may not be “Loves”) remains unexplained, as does the maker mark for whatever it might be.

Again I am amazed at the thoroughness and determination to find an answer as to "what is it", thanks so much to all.