Thread: Do we have a responsibility to buy new razors?

I'm happy to buy vintage or new. I've got a new MoP Dovo on the way. I'm excited about that as it's one of my first new razors. My new TI was a major disappointment, but I'd likely buy one again. I'm happiest with my vintage and custom razors though, so I don't know... I guess my opinion is pretty much in line with Glen's... odd, right? Seems we agree on a lot

Originally Posted by red96ta

I say, yes we do, the contemporary makers do make a great product at what I would call a completely reasonable price. Don't get me wrong, I'm still buying up the vintage units as I find them, but I also support the makers.

Nope. If what they make is not better than what was made 150 years ago, then I don't see a reason for supporting them in mediocrity. That would be like buying American cars because they are 'American'.

If a company cannot justify its own existence by the things it produces, they will die in the long run. And they should either shape up or ship out.

To clarify my earlier statement: I am not against new manufacture, but I handled a couple of new dovos a couple years ago, and I was not impressed by the rough quality of the scales, the crooked pins or the loose fit of the pivot.

Maybe they have gotten better. I honestly don't know as this was 2 years ago. Still, for 100 euros I expect good quality in both the blade and the scales. I have sold restored blades in very good condition with new scales for less than that.

........No.

No.

You should buy what you want. If you can afford a new blade and like the new blade styles and sizes, by all means buy one. While there are some out there that I do like (not many, though), prices are way too high for me. Manufacturers must be aware of what is out there on the vintage market and what vintage prices are like. Maybe they're doing all they can to compete, maybe they aren't. At the moment, there is, in my mind, no competition - in bang for the buck, vintage blades win out over modern, mass production blades with no competition, so that's where my money goes. If the manufacturers can get to a point where they can compete, then things will really get interesting. I hope that day comes, and when it does, I might buy new.

No, or yes.

Basically i do not care about the age of the razor. If it shaves ok, then why not. If someone has money enough to buy a new Dovo or TI, then it is up to him to decide where to throw his/her money.
I do not have new razors and i wouldn't buy one unless there was something that made it better than my old ones. Well i wouldn't buy $300 Filly either.

My opinion is that the art of forging, grinding etc ... of straight razors should not be lost. Whether that be through supporting individuals like Livi, Williams or companies like Dovo for me is besides the point. Up to everyone's budget.

I will do my best to preserve some of the existing vintage razors and the art of shaving itself, making new ones I leave over to others.

Besides, as garbage heaps rise I think more and more people are going to be fed up with the waste generated and therefore I hope and think that straight razors will become more and more popular ...

Originally Posted by Bruno

Nope. If what they make is not better than what was made 150 years ago, then I don't see a reason for supporting them in mediocrity. That would be like buying American cars because they are 'American'.

If a company cannot justify its own existence by the things it produces, they will die in the long run. And they should either shape up or ship out.

that is a great statement. i wish our politicians here would take heed too and would have saved us taxpayers a lot of money.. sorry, just couldn't resist after reading your statement

Do we have a responsibility to buy new razors?

No. We as consumers are still free to choose. Demand and supply are king. I have several Wacker and Mastro Livi razors I also have some old ones.

If the current manufacturers make one that calls to me and I have the $ I buy it. I don't feel an obligation to single handedly support the continuing resurgence of the popularity of straight razors although it might seem I've tried like hell.

I happen to love TI's razors. All but two of the dozen I have are perfect in every respect in terms of workmanship. Those two could have and should have been a bit better in the fit and finish of the scales. I've only bought one new Dovo and it was perfect in every respect.

I an not defending shoddy workmanship and I don't know how factory workers in Germany or France are paid but in the USA in the 1960s, working in a shoe factory for a time, we were paid 'piece work. We had a minimum we had to produce and the more each individual produced the more money he made. We had to maintain quality but going like a bat out of hell sometimes it wasn't always up to scratch and some inevitably slip through QC.