Thread: Razor Prices Through The Years

How has the price of razors changed over time. From say, the 1920's till today, how has the price for a new razor changed much. How much did the barber back then pay for a razor, and what would he be paying today, accounting for the value of a dollar today. Would anyone here be able to shed some light on this?

Probably pretty similar I would think. A $1 razor in 1920 would be a fairly expensive purchase if you earned $5 a week. Interesting question.

Well I know in 1926 an Challenge Cutlery plain 5/8 round point with celluloid handles sold for $24 in their catalog.

I don't know the inflation rate on that, but I'm thinking that it was a lot of money for the time.

For continuity through the years.
I have Challenge Tip Top that sold in 1926 for $38. I bought it on ebay for $15 and I don't think it was ever used before I got it.

I did a study about a year ago. I don't recall the exact figures but we pay about twice as much as someone from the 20's. There were three or four periods where the average wage grew rapidly. The 20's were one of those periods but on average we pay double.

Originally Posted by JTmke

I did a study about a year ago. I don't recall the exact figures but we pay about twice as much as someone from the 20's. There were three or four periods where the average wage grew rapidly. The 20's were one of those periods but on average we pay double.

realistically we probably pay a lot more cause we all tend to buy way more razors then we need ..lol...

this thread does have me thinking though , i wonder how many razors a barber kept in his shop ? i would imagine that most were the standard razors in a shop bought to the lowest cost and the more detailed razors with fancy scales were marketed to the upper class at that time period ...and to take this ? a step further i wonder what a razor cost in the late 1700's- early 1800's

Try this link to a search for price, Martin103. He's posted many old advertisements for razors, and other articles of interest, etc.. Some very good info.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/searc...archid=3032293

Regards,

Howard

Originally Posted by gooser

i would imagine that most were the standard razors in a shop bought to the lowest cost and the more detailed razors with fancy scales were marketed to the upper class at that time period

There is/was a good parallel to this in the hand-tools segment... pros had the skills (and muscle) so they could do the job with a good quality basic tool set, amateurs bought the fancy tools hoping to compensate for their lack of skills (and muscle) and also because they didn't know any better.

Or in other economies. When I did the research I was looking for average wage vs average goods price in the U.S. During different decades. I did not include any information from other countries.

Originally Posted by criswilson10

Well I know in 1926 an Challenge Cutlery plain 5/8 round point with celluloid handles sold for $24 in their catalog.

I don't know the inflation rate on that, but I'm thinking that it was a lot of money for the time.

For continuity through the years.
I have Challenge Tip Top that sold in 1926 for $38. I bought it on ebay for $15 and I don't think it was ever used before I got it.

Wouldn't those prices be by the dozen? Most scans of razor catalogues I've seen indicated prices by the dozen, or by the boxes (wholesale prices, I guess).

Originally Posted by Pithor

Wouldn't those prices be by the dozen? Most scans of razor catalogues I've seen indicated prices by the dozen, or by the boxes (wholesale prices, I guess).

You are correct!
I didn't read the stuff before the price.

So that brings the Challenge Razor Works down to $2 a piece in 1926 when the US average income was $0.45 per hour. So about 4.5 hours of work would purchase a razor.
For 2014 the average US income was $24.66 per hour. 4.5 hours of work at that income is $110.97, which is about the same cost as the basic Dovo, Ralf Aust, and Boker and just a little bit less than the basic Thiers-Issard.