What makes this razor so highly demanded?

I am pretty new to straight razors but I enjoy looking on Ebay at razors people are pushing. This razor sold for quite a hefty sum and it is damaged pretty good. I know appraisals aren't given at this site which is fine, but I was hoping someone could shed some light on why this razor may have gone for so much. I couldn't find much on the razor so I'm rather clueless as to why it was so highly demanded.

Any thoughts are appreciated.

RARE Southern Gentlemen Carved Celluloid Razor Spread Wing Eagle Nude Unicycle | eBay

Cheers

There is a contingent who are pure collectors. Most of them never would think of actually using a straight and to these guys the scales make it rare and collectible.

Absolutely no clue why the bidding went so high. I would like to know too as personally I would not have paid $76.00 for it. What am I missing here?

Bob

To slow in typing, I see TBS has the answer.

What thebigspendur said.

I've seen absolute CRAP razors--in worse shape than this one--put up on eBay that nobody who shaves with a straight would touch but the collectors snap 'em up.

I'd buy a $20K coffee table-sized japanese hone before I buy that.

I'm mighty impressed by the purse on that razor. I'll be the first to admit I don't know much about the do's and don'ts of antique razors. Personally, I'm not overly excited to nab razors with celluloid handles. I certainly wouldn't pass one up if the price was nice, but the thought of cell rot going unseen and wiping out some or even one razor is not overly inviting.

The reason is the scales, pure and simple. I have seen many over the years, (started on straights in the 80's) and I have never seen that design before. The more obscure the design, the more they are worth. Like any collectible.
I am not sure of the representation of the figure, but I am fairly certain it is a goddess of some sort. Mythology based I believe.

The winged wheel under foot is an automotive thing. Is that Hermes? Unusual sells, in this case! I have not seen another like it, but I hope it is not crumbling, for the buyer's sake!

My first thought was Hermes too, but looking at the close up, it seems to have a feminine form?
Now that you say "automotive" though, my brain is burning with a lost thought that this might have been a symbol for some rare car company?

I feel it is a take on the really old Goodyear stuff. Wings and wheel, Wingfoot! In fact, it may be? I think the jury is still out on Hermes! ;)

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Originally Posted by eod7

One time, in band camp, I shaved with a Gold Dollar razor.

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Like the preacher in the joke said, "Brother, I don't believe I'd 'a' shared that."

I was going to bid on it but it is not from the Liberachi collection. I bought the original " Dogs Playing Poker " instead.

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Originally Posted by Durhampiper

Like the preacher in the joke said, "Brother, I don't believe I'd 'a' shared that."

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I honed it with lapping film and used canned shaving foam.

i had a guy in an antique store try to sell me a razor for $175 the other day because of the " rare celluloid handle " ( in his words ) i didnt even see what kind it was cause soon as he grabbed it the tag on the string popped out and i said never mind sir .. thats when he went into the price being fair for " rare celluloid handles " ...lol..

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Originally Posted by gooser

i had a guy in an antique store try to sell me a razor for $175 the other day because of the " rare celluloid handle " ( in his words ) i didnt even see what kind it was cause soon as he grabbed it the tag on the string popped out and i said never mind sir .. thats when he went into the price being fair for " rare celluloid handles " ...lol..

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Ha! What a bargain. I'm too irked by celluloid decomp to appreciate the scales at any price. My favorite razor has its original "french ivory" celluloid scales & lives like a lonley leper, apart from the rest of the family. Poor guy.

Some folks will still sing the praises of rare celluloid film up until it spontaneously combusts.

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Originally Posted by hope

Ha! What a bargain. I'm too irked by celluloid decomp to appreciate the scales at any price. My favorite razor has its original "french ivory" celluloid scales & lives like a lonley leper, apart from the rest of the family. Poor guy.

Some folks will still sing the praises of rare celluloid film up until it spontaneously combusts.

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That's exactly why I have no desire to seek them out. I'm a college student and I don't have a ton of disposable income. It would be rather unfortunate to have my (small) razor collection get roughed up due to cell rot.

One thing you'll always bump up against is ignorance. I've had arguments with antiques dealers regarding certain straight razors: I've been eloquent, informative, honest, and frank. But they still want $60 for a $5 razor. Oh well.

And yeah, in this case whoever bought this razor bought it for the scales. Of that I have no doubt.

James.

Attachment 129877 Oh Well! If you have some stable ones, they are a cool part of razor history!

Attachment 129884Attachment 129885Attachment 129887

Did someone sneeze in the celluloid mould? :D

Very nice scales there Sharpton.

James.

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Originally Posted by sharptonn

Attachment 129877 Oh Well! If you have some stable ones, they are a cool part of razor history!

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I wouldn't call myself an artist, but I love to paint. I totally get the allure of having these razors and I love straight razors in part due to the maker's effort they put into it. Seeing some of Dylan Farnham blades or any of Charlie Lewis's line of razors certainly makes the artsy part of me giddy with enjoyment. It's quite nice that you have those razors that are in that good of condition. As much as I would love to bolster my artsy razor collection, I would see them as too much of a time bomb :shrug:

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Originally Posted by Jonah

I wouldn't call myself an artist, but I love to paint. I totally get the allure of having these razors and I love straight razors in part due to the maker's effort they put into it. Seeing some of Dylan Farnham blades or any of Charlie Lewis's line of razors certainly makes the artsy part of me giddy with enjoyment. It's quite nice that you have those razors that are in that good of condition. As much as I would love to bolster my artsy razor collection, I would see them as too much of a time bomb :shrug:

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Oh well! I shan't live forever, but thanks to some preservation, these shall outlive me as well! ;)

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Originally Posted by Magpie

My first thought was Hermes too, but looking at the close up, it seems to have a feminine form?
Now that you say "automotive" though, my brain is burning with a lost thought that this might have been a symbol for some rare car company?

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Nice catch. In mythology, the female figure associated with the winged wheel was Athena/Minerva. The winged wheel has traditionally been a symbol for progress & technology, so this type of image has been popular in coats of arms & logos for transportation (cars, tires, hwy patrols, etc).
http://s16.postimg.org/3weayeh2t/image.jpg
http://s16.postimg.org/g61x2sqnp/image.jpg
http://s18.postimg.org/5bwtwna6h/image.jpg

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Originally Posted by Jimbo

Very nice scales there Sharpton.

James.

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i couldnt agree with ya more !!!

look at that... I still have a couple of functioning brain cells!

I like the "good used condition" and wonder what a "bad used condition" would be (no pictures please, I do have an imagination).

Someone must have liked the scales for some reason. Or maybe his grandfather had one of those, or it's the seller's cousin who tried to raise the price and overshot...

There are a lot of celluloid collectors out there. I have seen some of the more ornate and rare ones go for over $1000, I remember one over $1500.

Every time I've sold a razor with ornate celluloid on eBay, when asking the buyer if they want it shave ready, the response is typically "I don't care" and even sometimes "absolutely not" - apparently if the blade has a dark patina, honing a shiny strip into it can decrease the value to some collectors.

I collect only celluloid scaled razors, mainly because I have used plastics most of my career and love the history of plastics. celluloid was the first plastic that could be made to look like almost any other product available. they also were easier to clean and cheaper than a hand carved set of scales. this particular razor I have never seen before in any of my books or 15 years of looking and collecting. the price was way over my bid, but maybe a museum or large collective group picked it up. very pretty scales. wish it was in my collection.