Novodur #13 headed to the moon

[JeffE]

Beautiful razor, but wow -- price is now over $500 and still over a day to go. Here's the photo and link.

(I suppose enough has already been written about these razors, but I have to say that I have a Novodur #14, and it is just about perfect. Why did Filarmonica stop making these beauties anyway?)

STRAIGHT RAZOR FILARMONICA NOVODUR BLACK BOX MINT NOS - eBay (item 150470822592 end time Jul-29-10 11:54:59 PDT)

[mainaman]

YouTube - savage garden - To the moon and back(version1)

[Rocky]

No offense to anyone. Just my honest opinion.

[Rocky]

Beautiful razor, but wow -- price is now over $500 and still over a day to go. Here's the photo and link.

(I suppose enough has already been written about these razors, but I have to say that I have a Novodur #14, and it is just about perfect. Why did Filarmonica stop making these beauties anyway?)

Solingen competition

[JeffE]

I agree that no Filly deserves the same price as a hand-forged, custom razor. But for production razors, they are superb. To be honest, a lot of the Solingen brands I see look like they were cranked out in the same factory and stamped with different names right before being sold. Filarmonicas, on the other hand, are undoubtedly, unquestionably Filarmonicas, and that makes them more desirable, in my view anyway.

[BKratchmer]

Filarmonicas, on the other hand, are undoubtedly, unquestionably Filarmonicas, and that makes them more desirable, in my view anyway.

Oh? What about the Palmeras and Pumas that all appear to be made from the same blanks, in the same grind? Filarmonica may well just be another retail-level branding for the same product as many of those Solingens you say look cookie-cuttered.

[bassguy]

but clearly this auction illustrates, when you got to have it, you GOT TO have it.
but at 676.67 (4:40pm EST) this is getting highly quesitonable and re-friggin-diculous.

[Birnando]

Oh? What about the Palmeras and Pumas that all appear to be made from the same blanks, in the same grind? Filarmonica may well just be another retail-level branding for the same product as many of those Solingens you say look cookie-cuttered.

I have seen these claims around the web quite a lot, especially on a German forum, but also here. On the German forum there Are divided opinions as to the correctness of this. Actual documentation, that I've been able to find is.. Well, not conclusive.
Robin has also stated this on several occasions..
I Just took out my three Nos Pamera #14 and studied the Grind and spine thickness. They Are all pretty similar.
Funny thing is, they Are not the same as my 6 doble temple, my 4 EPBD or my medallon taurino.similar, but not Identical.
Is there any Filarmonica in particular the palmera is supposed to be identical to that I haven't used for comparison here? Perhaps the Novodur? I do not have any of those. Yet. (Gimme 24 hours and we'll see)
The Pumas, I have no idea. All I have had of that was a Puma 89, and I'm sure that is not it

[JeffE]

Ben and Bass, I'm not disagreeing with you. And yes, the Palmera and Ducal razors take away somewhat from the uniqueness of the Filarmonicas. (Not sure what Pumas you're talking about, but no matter, I understand your point.) But that doesn't mean that the Filarmonicas are worthless as razors, like some sort of well-marketed Spanish Kriegar. They're excellent razors, and they are more beautiful to look at and use than lots of Soligen brands. That's not stretching things or hyping the brand.

Now, is a Novadur #13 worth almost $700? No friggin way. No argument at all there. You could buy a brand new Livi or Chandler or [fill in the blank] for less.

[bassguy]

Perhaps the Novodur? I do not have any of those. Yet. (Gimme 24 hours and we'll see)

So you're participating in this rocket launch? Good luck!

Side by side comparisons with a doble temple 14 Filarmonica show many similarities, fwiw.