Thread: Odd Observation from a Newbie

I just put a post in the “Intro” section, but figured a little background was relevant here to this post.


I have been a DE shaver for a few years, and recently just took the plunge into a straight by ordering one from SRD (haven’t even received it yet)


I got interested in DE because I got sick of the cost of cartridges, the razors themselves changing often and the whole process seemed such a waste. When I found out how much better the shave was, it was the right thing to do. It seems only natural that I finally get to a straight razor.


Just getting into this, I have an odd observation (it may be true, or it may be just my current perception) but I would like some feedback from you guys here.


To take my attraction to the DE one step further, the thing that attracts me to the straight razor is not having to rely on a supply chain. Self reliance, doing things yourself. One tool, maintained yourself, capable of serving you for the rest of your life. It will keep working without having to buy things for it, throw things away, and buy more things. I am attracted to simplicity it a lot of different things.


The straight razor seems to be a simple tool that at one point in time probably every man owned. Whether he was darn near poor, or considered wealthy. It just had to be something that was available to the common man and probably almost taken for granted.


The places around me that actually carrying straight razors and supplies are all marketed towards the very wealthy. Extremely expensive stuff. Even though it is obvious that they are overpriced, stuff for using a straight razor is still quite expensive.


I have seen the guides about “buying on a budget” and all that. But, consider this. When you get into something, you would like to think that you could afford the “mid-grade” version of something. If you take a look at Simpson brushes, even a mid-grade brush will cost $150. Sure you can buy the cheapest, and I have beyond the cheapest when it comes to the brush. But, I can’t help but think about what I am missing, and would strive to at least get something mid-grade. Even though I would like one, I couldn’t possibly see my self spending $150 for a brush! My kids don’t want for anything, but if I were to do that, I couldn’t help but look at them and think about there is some way I should have spent the money on them instead


I guess my whole point or observation here is this: Does it not seem odd that something that was available to the “common man” now seems only available to those with lots of disposable cash?

On SRP is a Forum called the "Vendor Forum" in there you will find what you seek

The Classifieds also hold a ton of deals although Used brushes are not a very popular item like used SR's are

Originally Posted by OffTheMapKnives

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I guess my whole point or observation here is this: Does it not seem odd that something that was available to the “common man” now seems only available to those with lots of disposable cash?

It doesn't seem odd to me at all! You are assuming it was available to the common man of yesteryear - moreover, you are also assuming that men of yesteryear didn't have things handed down to them and that they bought everything, or purchased more than one of anything like we do today. Heck they might have even made their own soap.

Considering you read all the "doing it on the cheap" threads - then you know you can get everything you "need" on the cheap. And brother - just like yesteryear, I am positive the common man couldn't get all those mid-priced things they wanted either. So nothing has changed there.

What has changed is that there is considerably less demand for the products today, so the economy's of yesteryear's scale will not be achieved. Hence, things will and should be a little more dear today. The fact that we can even get some of the stuff we want at the prices we get them for is a minor miracle really... read thank goodness for the internet with it's vendors and eBay.

Then to top it all off - once you have two razors, a brush, a hone, and a good strop... all you need is soap. So even if you bought all the most expensive stuff out there - once done, you are set! The rest is well... a form of gluttony.

Starting off straight shaving has a "relatively" steep entry cost for some but again, once you are in... it's cheap!! The fact that we can get the stuff we want today, at prices that are reasonable, is again a testament to the efficiency of the internet.

I may be mistaken, but I think by looking at mid-grade Simpsons, you're looking at upper-mid grade in the grand scheme of things. Kind of like looking at a mid-range Mercedes. As much as I'd love to have a Simpson, one that would improve on my current brushes would be well outside my budget any time soon. There are less expensive but still good quality items out there. You just need to do some hunting.

As Glen mentioned, there is the Vendor Forum as well as the classifieds, not to mention other sources for new gear at very good prices. For example I bought my silvertip brush from whippeddog.com for a fraction of the price you would pay for a brand name brush. Same for my Vulfix travel brush. (not the best, not cheap, but good to use and relatively affordable) And I am sure there are plenty of other examples out there too. The expensive ones may well be better - I honestly don't know as I have never used one. But my brushes work well for me and I suspect they are far superior to anything the common man would have had access to 100-150 years ago.

Happy hunting!

I agree with everything you said, and well put. Except for straight razors being expensive to own.
I have never bought a modern straight for my own use and don't intend to. They are just too darn expensive.
Every antique and junk shop has a box full of straights to sift through. Sure, most of them are rusted beyond salvaging or chipped and broken but on occasion you'll find a wonderful near new-old-stock example of the best of a hundred years ago.
I rarely pay more than about $30 or so for my razors. Sure, it takes time to find razors like this, but for me the hunt is lots of fun.
My latest find? A minty JR Torrey 13/16 extreme hollow grind with no hone wear and only light staining (patina, lol) that shaves like a dream.
I bought it for the princely sum of $24.

By the way - are you the guy who makes these knifes?

The Backyard Bushman » Off The Map Custom Knives

David, it's good to see you putting that econ. major to work!

Earcutter nailed it. Those companies who supply new items to a niche market have to charge more than when everyone had to have a straight to shave. Throw in a bit of whatever the market will bear and there you have it.

Bob

I also know there are many of these expensive razors I can't afford and the same thing would happen to me (I have a daughter I want the best for her). My brushes are not expensive but they do the job well. The most expensive ones are two badger brushes made by Edwin Jagger for Crabtree and Evelyn. I got them at $25.00 each because not much people here (Puerto Rico) do classic shaving. I am waiting for a Semogue hog bristle, paid about $20.00. SRP Classifieds and Whipped Dog straights you can get a great deal. I came to this also looking for a simpler way and unless you really are into collecting, it will only be an initial investment. My favorite razor is a 6/8 Torrey, excellent... cost me $53.00. This is really good considering they last a lifetime and the advantages over the plastic and dry foam kind of shaving.

I've found it kinda depends on where you are at as to the local availability of antique/vintage straight razors. I've beaten the bushes pretty hard in SE WA and even during road trips to the Coast and come up with a handful of not very much. But, the Internet is the great equalizer... I've made what I consider a killing on eBay and have done just what you said by buying the gear to hone/maintain my razors. It has turned into a quasi-addiction/Hobby but that was all by choice. And, depending on how you look at it I may still be way ahead. I started shaving my head and not going to the Barber Shop 6 years ago. $8/Shave + $2/Tip was $10 for a Flat Top and I averaged twice a month so that is over $1,400! And, that's not counting the increase in cost for Hair Cuts which I think are now at $10. So, say I splurge and spend a Grand (still ahead over $400) on hones, strops, misc supplies and a BUNCH of vintage razors running $10-$45 ea and occasionally some nicer ones at $60-$80 ea and I use one a week over time to get as much exposure to different manufacturers as possible and to learn how to hone and deal with various blade shapes... Now I've attained a serious level of experience that can help me thin my vintage razors down selling them and likely taking a hit at 75% original cost the majority of the time and maybe breaking even on some others but I still retain the knowledge and experience. I can then utilize that knowledge/experience to fine tune my search and pick out some brand new razors from current manufacturers that will be nearly 'exactly' what I want as I'm making a very educated decision based on all the previous experience and those razors will last easily my lifetime and I can continue to improve my skills and flip vintage razors to fund all my other random shaving gear. As far as Hobbies go, that sounds like a win/win to me. But, that is just one way to do it. This Hobby/activity is as deep and wide as you want to take it. Compare that to the eternal cost you mentioned of throw away shaving gear you were previously and the ball just sails out of the park.

I would love to know more about Economics and be able to compare what you say about razors and men years ago as I've wondered the same thing. I read a very interesting book speaking about the myth of the double income for families and it had a much more utilitarian explanation and the comparisons of the economics of the, IIRC, 50's/60's to common times was fascinating. One conclusion the author drew was that in times long past when the Father was the primary wage earner if somehing went wrong or a new large expense came up then the Mother was free to take a part time job thus seriously augmenting their family income. Whereas today's incomes that are dual based are spending based on two people working and if the same money issue arises in those circumstances then there is no lateral move to make. I suspect with razors it was much the same thing.... There was a very down to earth and pragmatic way it was handled and most likely that was hand me downs kind of like your Father or Grandfather giving you their 'old' but your 'first' pocket knife. It could have also been an extremely popular wedding gift... The 'Crockpot' of the day where each Married Man was expected to have a nice razor so that family/friends went in together on something like that which was utilized until his Son needed a razor and by that time he had saved enough money to buy a new/different one. I would love to know more about how turn of the century economics/income/expenses compared to today.

I also had your similar interest in brushes and this is how I addressed that:

http://straightrazorpalace.com/begin...e-brushes.html

I am still using the E&J and Parker leaning heavily toward a love affair with my $59 Parker Silvertip!

You are in the right place to find anything and everything at any and all price points... Just have to start looking and wait until you find your mark! But, be careful... Likely not to be your 'last' one. ;-)