Thomas C. Durham was a pioneer of the safety razor.  His company originated in 1908 in Jersey City, New Jersey, USA.  The Durham-Duplex safety-razor system had a double-edge steel razor blade, which could be re-sharpened on the strop almost indefinitely, but eventually could be replaced without the need for a new handle.  Thomas C. Sheehan, who had been born in 1870 in Ireland, was appointed as general manager to supervise the expansion of the business.  ‘DURHAM-DUPLEX’ was the trade name; ‘DURHAM-DEMONSTRATOR’ was the starter set (Krumholz, 1987¹).  

In 1911, Durham-Duplex Razor Co Ltd was registered in Britain as a subsidiary of the American parent, Durham Razor Co.  This was a marketing agency, but after the First World War Sheehan became the president and implemented plans to manufacture in Sheffield.  By 1920, Durham-Duplex had acquired shares in W. & S. Butcher, Arundel Street, and in the following year registered Wade & Butcher Ltd as a new company.  Originally, the Sheffield plant manufactured only the razor holders for Durham-Duplex’s blades, but the plant was later set up to operate independently.  Sheehan visited Sheffield in 1923 and had ambitious plans to replace the older craft methods with American-style mechanisation.  Sheehan’s plans were not a resounding success.  

In 1950, the assets of Butcher’s Arundel Street factory were sold.  Durham-Duplex continued to trade from Petre Street with the Wade & Butcher marks (Whitham & Sykes, 1953²).  In the 1950s, competition from Gillette forced Durham-Duplex to diversify into hair trimmers and dog dressers, besides a range of hobby and craft knives.  These newer products were bolstered by product loyalty from soldiers issued with the Durham Duplex razor system, who needed new blades every few years.  In 1960, the company became independent from its American owners.  In 1974 – when it was acquired by Sheffield metals company Edward Turner & Son Ltd – the name was simplified to Durham Duplex Ltd.   It continued to manufacture and distribute  a wide range of machine knives, industrial razor blades, and trade knives from Petre Street in Sheffield.  By 2008, the parent company was Durham Duplex (South East Asia) Limited, which was located in Thailand.  In 2018, Durham-Duplex (Europe) was established in Brussels.  The company remains based at Petre Street in Sheffield.

^1. Krumholz, P L, A History of Shaving and Razors (Bartonville, IL, 1987)

^2. Whitham, J H, and Sykes, A, (eds) Register of Trade Marks of the Cutlers’ Company of Sheffield (London, 1953)