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  • I went to just pick up a pair of Wiss Professional Buttonhole cutters....

  • I went to just pick up a pair of Wiss Professional Buttonhole cutters....

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    Old 03-16-2014, 06:27 PM
      #1  
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    Default I went to just pick up a pair of Wiss Professional Buttonhole cutters....

    and it turn out that the guy is a local "picker" and has a small antique shop... I mentioned that I collect Victorian era tools and tailoring stuff as well as old blacksmith stuff, he said "why don't we go on around to the back and check in my old storage shed".. Well all right then....

    We dug through a lot of stuff, found a early meat grinder for Heather and he has these two old pair of big scissors...

    So, I asked how much for the scissors, he said Since I drove all this way, they were rusted "solid", and i was gonna use them, I could have them for free. $10 for the meat grinder...

    LOL Deal.

    [ATTACH=CONFIG]467569[/ATTACH]

    [ATTACH=CONFIG]467570[/ATTACH]
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    Old 03-16-2014, 06:30 PM
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    so, with some attention to detail the first (newer pair) turn out to be in pretty good shape.

    [ATTACH=CONFIG]467571[/ATTACH]

    And they turned out to be a pair of WISS tailoring shears
    [ATTACH=CONFIG]467572[/ATTACH]
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    Old 03-16-2014, 06:33 PM
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    the second set are older and rougher, but clean up ok..
    [ATTACH=CONFIG]467574[/ATTACH]

    [ATTACH=CONFIG]467575[/ATTACH]

    They are made by a company I am not familiar with (yet)
    [ATTACH=CONFIG]467576[/ATTACH]
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    Old 03-16-2014, 06:37 PM
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    and the Wiss Buttonhole cutter is awesome. You can see how almost identical it is to the older R. Heinisch pair. (Wiss was trained in the Heinisch factory)

    [ATTACH=CONFIG]467577[/ATTACH]

    But it cleans up REALLY nice...
    [ATTACH=CONFIG]467578[/ATTACH]

    [ATTACH=CONFIG]467579[/ATTACH]

    and the makers mark
    [ATTACH=CONFIG]467580[/ATTACH]
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    Old 03-16-2014, 07:17 PM
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    Amazing that you got them cleaned up so well.. and I'd never heard of buttonhole cutters! Tanks for posting this!
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    Old 03-16-2014, 07:58 PM
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    I found Seymour Cutlery in a Google Books reference to "American Scissors and Shears, An Antique and Vintage Collectors' Guide". A Connecticut history site says: "Henry Seymour Cutlery Company - Organized in 1939, Capital $25,000. Henry Seymour, President; Robert H. Seymour, Treasurer." Google Books has reference to a catalog from "Henry Seymour Cutlery Company, Manufacturers of Shears, Scissors and Sheep Shears of Every Description".
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    Old 03-16-2014, 08:02 PM
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    You did a fine job of restoring them...I too have never heard of a buttonhole cutter before. Thank you for the potted history lesson, very interesting.
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    Old 03-16-2014, 09:05 PM
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    Oh those are pretty! I love Wiss Scissors, I have a 40's pair that i love.
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    Old 03-17-2014, 02:42 AM
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    What did you do to restore the scissors??? I have some of those big scissors and I would love to see them in better shape. Mine were pretty rusted - so far I soaked them in oil and wiped them off. They hang in my shop window.
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    Old 03-17-2014, 04:13 AM
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    Steve, you are amazing! You give new life to things that look like they should be trashed. Awesome!
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