Collector's fairs

johnmrson and myself were at the big Nambour Collectorama on the Sunshine Coast today. This big showground market is a cross between a proper antique fair and a flea market. I've seldom failed to find a decent razor at it; today it was no exception and a nice turn of the century 6/8 Bengall found its way into my hands - crocus polish still intact and stuff-all hone wear. I know that sounds like an unexceptional find but decent razors found in the wild are more a rarity in Aus then they are in the US. There are no W&Bs here; no Double Ducks, or any of the well-known American makers that are the staples of collecting there. We have to be content with Invictas and Bengalls, mixed up with the occasional Solingen blade: mostly Gottas and Blue Wonders but sometimes a Boker rears its very welcome head! I saw such an example today: a Boker Ohio Farmer 5/8 with the etch "Radium" on the blade. Unfortunately the gouging bastard who had it wanted $125 for it with a junk blade and worn out paddle strop thrown in - so no dice.

Anyway, the upshot of all this is that I urge all my fellow Aussies to get out to the markets and collector's fairs. There's good stuff to be found there. Oh, I forgot to mention, I found the best Rodgers I've ever seen at a fair last year - 40 bucks. Go find them.

But what about the pictures? You shouldn't just tease us with words.

No pics? It didn't happen. I think he's making it up. ha.

So, a common or garden Bengall is a rarity in North American parts eh?Attachment 258437

That is an awesome Bengall, sure would like to find one like it for a reasonable price. I have had a couple in the past, got stupid and sold them. They do make great shavers......enjoy!

It is in very nice condition, and there is not any in my collection. I have not seen any in the wild and the few I have seen while touring the bat have been less than desirable or priced too high. I did have one on loan recently and it was a great razor.

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Originally Posted by RezDog

It is in very nice condition, and there is not any in my collection. I have not seen any in the wild and the few I have seen while touring the bat have been less than desirable or priced too high. I did have one on loan recently and it was a great razor.

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Re post war Bengall's, this is probably why :)
http://straightrazorpalace.com/srpwi...T._R._%26_Sons

Ya, They paved the roads in AU With Bengalls as an underlyer.
Go to an old road and sink your pike into the center stripe.
Come up wearing Bengall earrings! :D

Bruce

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Originally Posted by onimaru55

Re post war Bengall's, this is probably why :)
http://straightrazorpalace.com/srpwi...T._R._%26_Sons

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After viewing this link I wish I had kept my Bengall.

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Originally Posted by DoughBoy68

After viewing this link I wish I had kept my Bengall.

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There's always a few on eBay.

Cleaned up, honed and now shaved with 3 times. Honing sequence: all with one layer of tape - Shapton GS 1000 for bevel set, Norton 4k/8k for edge refinement, followed by the Shapton Pro 12k for initial finishing. The shave after stropping was a little harsh so I went to the hard black Arkansas with Smith's honing solution for 60 or 70 strokes. The shaves after this have been superb. The Bengalls have a well deserved reputation for smoothness when the edge is done right. There are many sharp razors in the world and a lot of them came from Solingen and Eskilstuna but the smoothest I've tried (out of a limited sample of 120 or so) are the Sheffields. Only my opinion of course and your litres/100 km will inevitably be different;)

Great find and nice looking Bengall too.

I never seem to have much luck going round these places. The UK seem to have a bit of a hang up when it comes to selling sharp things. I went in one antique place and asked about razors and I was met with disdain, and told that people didn't like to see such dangerous things in there. The thing is she had a butchers knife just sat on a table at the back it wasn't even locked away in a cabinet :hmmm:

I keep looking maybe one day I will strike gold. The thing is I live near Sheffield I should be finding great razors all the time!

That's been my experience in the UK too Porl. I drew almost a total blank at the big fair at Newark in 2015; all I saw in the way of razors was a 7 day safety set by Mappin & Webb - I can't remember what they wanted, but 300 quid rings a bell, so that lot stayed on the shelf.

France and Hungary are better for straights but because I was making a lot of internal flights with carry on luggage only I would have needed to have posted the blades home - which takes the shine off any "bargains" one might find. The ones in Hungary were pretty expensive too.

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Originally Posted by Maladroit

at the big fair at Newark

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Coincidentally the antique centre I was in was Newark too. I am originally from Newark and was visiting family at the time. The same seems to be true wherever I go in the UK though. I am planning a trip to Atlanta in June to go to a blade show there. Hopefully I will find something good there.