Thread: Counterfeit Solingens

Originally Posted by JeffE

Seraphim, I didn't know you were also bidding. Sometimes I think that all of the decent razors on eBay get sold to the same 20-30 guys here -- like, maybe we buyers chould get get together ahead of time here and decide who wants which blade the most! Could save a LOT of money in the long run . . .

Anyway, I hope it's a decent blade, and it certainly has a nice look to it. I like reading the comments here about "fake this" and "Paki that," but I've never seen one either.

For what it's worth, I've also got one of those FWEs with the old style scales. It's definitely authentic, in super shape, and even has the original bluing on the tang. And it looks pretty much like the "suspected" FWE shown above.

Hope everyone else had a good weekend!

I actually didn't bid on that one, as I started to see it climb.....

I didn't want to get in trouble with my wife or anything




Instead, I purchased this little interesting looking razor:


It was shiny, and had a cool looking grind.



And the maker had a patent on a early multi-tool, so I figured they may know something about quality tool steel.

Whoa, that one is very cool.

What do you think the "Tungsten" refers to? I mean, I'm sure it has something to do with the blend of steel, but I just don't know enough about one alloy versus the other to know why tungsten would be singled out for mention on the blade. Makes for an excellent engraving, however!

Anyway, nice photos, and I will keep you posted on my latest purchases too, even if I do have to keep selling off others to pay for it all!

Tungsten is even harder metal than steel. I really doubt it is made out of tungsten. But I dig the art deco font. I've been looking for a good American steel razor to add to mt rotation, hopefully this will fit the bill.

Re: "Why not counterfeit a Filly?"

It's the same reason you counterfeit a $20 rather than a $100. Sure there is way more money to be made in the $100 or the Filly, but the scrutiny it will be subjected to is MUCH higher.

Ultimately, you can put out 2 $100 bills before you get caught, or 1000 $20s. Same with the razors, etc.

Sorry Lynn, but you always counterfeit Ford or Chevy, not Aston-Martin.

Seraphim, I agree that is a beautiful razor, and it looks like the font is a good bit older than Art Deco. I would put it closer to 1890s or early 1900s. Great purchase, and probably a much better choice than mine. (Looks like I will be keeping that Henckels too, so you never know, right?)

Regarding the counterfeiting situation, I agree that it makes no sense to counterfeit a Filly -- when there's so many examples on the market and people are paying so much money to have one. But FWEs and ERNs and the like aren't exactly Fords and Chevys either. I think they appeal to an even narrower range of people than a Filly, and the market for these razors is even more discerning, if that is possible. I mean, the entire worldwide market for a really nice, restored FWE probably amounts to a few hundred pieces. And from that, a counterfeiter is going to make his riches?! No, the problem here is that if you are going into the counterfeiting business, straight razors in general are probably a really, really stupid item to waste your time on. Handbags and t-shirts are where the real money is.

And all you counterfeiters out there, feel free to weigh in and tell us how the world REALLY works, ok?!

Now accepting bids:

Originally Posted by JeffE

Seraphim, I agree that is a beautiful razor, and it looks like the font is a good bit older than Art Deco. I would put it closer to 1890s or early 1900s. Great purchase, and probably a much better choice than mine. (Looks like I will be keeping that Henckels too, so you never know, right?)

Regarding the counterfeiting situation, I agree that it makes no sense to counterfeit a Filly -- when there's so many examples on the market and people are paying so much money to have one. But FWEs and ERNs and the like aren't exactly Fords and Chevys either. I think they appeal to an even narrower range of people than a Filly, and the market for these razors is even more discerning, if that is possible. I mean, the entire worldwide market for a really nice, restored FWE probably amounts to a few hundred pieces. And from that, a counterfeiter is going to make his riches?! No, the problem here is that if you are going into the counterfeiting business, straight razors in general are probably a really, really stupid item to waste your time on. Handbags and t-shirts are where the real money is.

And all you counterfeiters out there, feel free to weigh in and tell us how the world REALLY works, ok?!

I doubt it's as old as that:

The Thomas Manufacturing Company was a truly remarkable and versatile company, although it failed to survive the depression years after the first world war.
With roots back in 1886 or perhaps even earlier, The Thomas Manufacturing Company was producing bicycles in it's Springfield, Ohio base between 1896 and 1898. One registered address was 360 South Limestone Street, Springfield. By 1901, it had patents for rope making equipment, and the Thomas Rope Machine was part of it's production range for the next few years. There are indications that the company continued to specialise in the rope industry perhaps beyond 1910, by which time it was based in Dayton, Ohio. By that time other irons were in the fire, and the growing gramophone industry was a lucrative outlet for products such as needles and clockwork motors. In 1916 Thomas Manufacturing marketed at least one gramophone, or phonograph, called the Armoniola. There are also documented cases of music records being distributed, possibly manufactured by the company. One such is the Domino, a 7 inch label advertised in 1916 but not, apparently, later than then.

There is a suggestion that the company ceased trading in 1926

So, I'd say between 1910 and 1926 for the Tungsten.

Still a great razor, congrats. Very nice find. Let me know how it shaves, and I will do the same with the Gotta.

Originally Posted by Seraphim

Now accepting bids:

Oh my god! I've never seen that kind before. That must be the rare sharpie lifetime version. I heard they were signed by Mr. Pou himself, and scaled by his friend tigre.

Originally Posted by loueedacat

Oh my god! I've never seen that kind before. That must be the rare sharpie lifetime version. I heard they were signed by Mr. Pou himself, and scaled by his friend tigre.

You can tell it's vintage, because it's not laser etched.....