Yellow & Blue Coticule Combo. Rare, but...
I was VERY excited about this one since I have HAD much more than RAD (go figure): http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEBTOX:IT&i tem=130198847319&_trksid=p3984.cTODAY.m238.lVI
Clearly the seller doesn't know this, but it's a vintage Belgian 80+ years old. This is not a natural yellow coticule/belgian blue but it's a yellow and Belgian blue bonded together just like the yellows of today are bonded to the black slate. Two awesome stones in one! I asked Howard about this one and he said a Belgian company bonded the two stones together about 80+ years ago but no one has done it since. Vintage yellow and blue. Nice. Except.........
I found out from the seller that the yellow side aside from the corner chips is in great condition, but the blue side is significantly cracked all the way through and looks as though it was glued back together.
Here's some additional pics the seller sent me:
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m178/filinxxx/2.jpg
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m178/filinxxx/4.jpg
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m178/filinxxx/3.jpg
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m178/filinxxx/1.jpg
The current bid is only like $13. I posted this stuff here not because I'm going to bid on it, but I think for the right price, this would still make a great stone for someone since the yellow side is really great (corners don't matter for honing) and there may even be enough of an area on the blue side, even though this hone is a bit on the small side, to use that side as well. If this stone goes for like $20-$30 IMO, it would still be a great deal. The yellow side and its small size would make it an ultimate bathroom barber hone upgrade to keep handy.
If I had the money and if both sides of this stone were in great shape, I would probably have bid up to $100 for this stone.
Chris L