Thread: OK, maybe I'm a bit overzealous...

So I fell in love with the feel for a straight shave when I was stationed in the Philippines while in the Marines. Once a week I'd go in for the haircut and shave. Of course, the haircut was straight razored an inch above the ear and around the back of the head. I loved the feel of both the process and the result.

So I've been looking to get into shaving and have been searching the forums for advice, suggestions and resources. I've been keeping an eye on the classifieds here and trying to get a feel for what I need/want.

Then I went to the local flea market/auction. I was keeping my eyes open and came across a knife vendor with a display with some used items in it. I asked if he could pull out the two straights I saw and out came six straights, a disposable blade straight and a hair shredding type thing. I was browsing to see if any names stood out and he offered to sell them all to me for $5 each.

As the name of the post implies... I took the deal. So now I'm looking for some advice on which may be the most viable / productive to invest the time and money into getting reconditioned. A list / general description of them follows;
1. The Electric Cutlery Company (with ECC etched in script on the blade) made in Newark NJ
2. Joseph Rodgers & Sons (with star and cross imprint) 9/16" blade
3. George Wastenholm & Son (with pipe imprint on reverse side of tang) approx. 7/16 blade
4. George Rodgers & Sons (with pipe imprint on reverse tang) 9/16" blade
5. Maher & Grosh Toledo O 7/16" blade
6. Aristo Especial (name only on blade) Made in Germany on tang, guaranteed 10 years on reverse tang

Their condition is best to worst (to a newbies untrained eye) in order listed. If it would help I can take a few minutes and figure out how to post pics. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

If you need further information to reply, just let me know and I'll do my best.

Thanks!

Welcome to SRP. I see RAD is gonna be an issue for you. lol. As for your razors please post pictures so we may may see the condition of the blades. I have a couple of Joseph Rodgers and Wostenholm razors (including 1 pipe razor). After clean up, rework and honing they are all decent shavers. Spend time in the WIKI there is a razor data base there besides oodles of info for newbies. Glad to have you with us. Good Luck.

Welcome to SRP! Sounds like a GREAT haul there!

If you get some pictures up it will let us help assess what can be fixed/ is worth having a pro job done on.

Welcome to SRP. That's a pretty sweet haul you got! Yup, the bug has bit you and now you are infected with RAD. I'll go out on a limb since there are no pictures, but if the blades are all in good condition, I would say the best of the bunch you got there would be the George Wostenholm. It's a very smooth shaver, as long as it is honed properly. Let's see some pictures!

Those are all definitely solid brands (at least the ones I have heard of) and for $5 each, you really can't go wrong. I wish I could make finds like that.

Assuming no nicks, cracks or chips razors 2,3,4 listed can all become excellent shavers, #5 may become a very good shaver, not real sure on the other 2. Welcome to the addiction BTW!

First, Welcome, So, you spent some time in Subic Bay, I was in the Navy for 8 years, never went, Had to hear all the stories, over and over, and over again. Sounds like Disney Land for adults....I'm sure you had a good time. Oh, Razors, yes, you did well. Pics would help us make a better determination, provided they can be restored if needed, and made shave ready, there should be no problem.

Welcome to SRP. IIRC the # 1 is a full hollow and should be the easiest to hone up. Wedges are tougher to get sharp but once they get there they are fine shavers. The 7/16 indicates to me that you might have some blade wear on some of them.I would focus on the 9/16 blades rather than the 7/16 depending on condition. Photos of the blades would help for a more accurate assessement.