Thread: Old barber has str8 razors

Had my beard shaved off a couple of weeks ago by a 70+ year old barber who used a shavette. I told him that prior to growing my beard, I used a str8. He told me that I could get as good of a shave with a disposable razor. I politely disagreed with him and told him that in addition to getting an awesome shave, I really like using a str8 razor. He then told me that he must have at least 40 str8s around and that he should sell them because after he passes on, who knows what'll happen to them. I told him that I would be interested in seeing them and that if he had any 6/8s or larger in decent shape, I would buy them. I called him this morning and reminded him of our conversation from a couple weeks ago and was wondering if he was serious about selling his razors. He then told me that he's not interested at this point and thinks he should hold on to them for awhile yet.

Here's my question...why?? He doesn't use them, he's not getting any younger, he could make some extra cash, he knows that they would be put to use given I told him I use a str8, and lastly I would think that he would love the idea of his razors in the hands of someone who appreciates and uses them vs. whatever might happen to them after he passes. They'll probably end up in the trash -- sadly. I'm sure at one point in his career, he had a strong affection for the tools of his trade. I would thought he would have really liked hearing that a younger guy today shares that same affection I'm sure he once had towards his str8s. Guess not, especially since he tried to persuade me to use a disposable again. Ahh...no way. I found my razor of choice and I'm staying with it.

If he was my regular barber, I would periodically ask him if he had changed his mind. Unfortunately, I'm missing out on the opportunity to add to my current razors and I believe he's missing out as well. Guess that's the way it goes...

Just guessing as I've never met the guy, but maybe he's seen one too many films where young whippersnappers in a fight pull a straight razor. He might be protecting against something like that. Another possibility may be that he would like to have his razors appraised by someone to see what they are worth if he cleaned them up and sold them rather than going by an offer from a customer (not to insinuate that you would try to rip him off in the slightest, but I'm trying to put my mind in his position). Either way, it's a bit odd. Good luck.

John

It is common for seniors to want to minimize change and not face their mortality. These razors are something significant to his past and he probably wants to hang on to that part of his life. It is a security factor. Many times the memory is more important then the money. I'm a history buff and I am fascinated by listing to folks who lived history. A few years ago I was in the Delta Society Pet Partners program, my dog and I would visit nursing homes, hospitals, clinics, where ever we were asked to go. At our regular nursing home, we had a friend who was a spritely 101 years old. She was a school teacher in west Texas in the early 1900s. She had some stories! Even some with dealing with Comanches. I can imagine a veteran barber would have some great stories. He might associate his stories with his razors. If he will entrust you with his stories, might just very well entrust you with his razors. It is one way of letting him know that he will be remembered. Switch from money to memories and you will do both of you more good then you could ever know.

Originally Posted by Kenrup

...If he will entrust you with his stories, might just very well entrust you with his razors. It is one way of letting him know that he will be remembered. Switch from money to memories and you will do both of you more good then you could ever know.

Excellent advice, Ken! When it comes to tangibles (concrete things) that are mentally and/or emotionally connected to other parts of our lives (past, families, friends, etc.) the memories of them are much more important than the monetary. What this gentleman (barber) has to offer by way of stories, insight, and wisdom will much outweigh the value others might put on his 'tangibles'. FWIW

I have once had brief contact with a retired professional sharpener who still has Eschers in his collection but he just wants to hang on to them for the sake of it. I suppose reminiscing is makes people happy.

my guess is that he probably wished he hadn't told you he had them. who knows why. Perhaps he forgot where he put them and was embarassed to tell you that. Maybe he saw your eyes open up when you heard about it, and worried he was going to get taken advantage of (this happened to me once with a vintage motorcycle, i missed out on). perhaps he just wants to hold on to something so that he has control, and perhaps he really just cares to hold onto his memories, more than he needs the money. who knows, he could have a multitude of reasons.. either way, i wouldn't take it personal. either way, id keep getting my hair cut by him (unless he sucked) its hard to find a REAL barber in these parts.

Ya never know

good luck,

I think NOW he knows they might be worth some money, he's scouring his family for an eBay-savvy family member to cash in.

That's my guess

I was a union ironworker for twenty years. I quit at 39 and became a pro tattooer. That is another story. Point is at sixty years old I still have my American Bridge belt and spud wrenches etcetera. I could get a good buck for them on ebay but for many years they were extensions of my hands. I understand the old barbers reluctance to get shed of the straights he know longer uses if his feelings about them are the same as mine for my old structural tools that I will never use again.

Back when I used to work in aerospace, I collected slide-rules. Whenever I would talk to some old engineer and the subject would come up, they would say, "Hey, I got a couple of those layin' around, I'll give 'em too you." But as soon as they found them, they suddenly became aware of how cool they really are, and they didn't want to get rid of them anymore. A few of those guys became slide-rule collectors themselves.

I would guess that Kenrup is on the right track. I am not old but I am an accumulator (collectors have valuable things). I keep everything. I need to get rid of some things but they all have memeroys attached to them. I still have my first lunch bucket from my first real job. I also have my old neighbors first stanley thermos as well as several old friends miners buckets. I guess I accumulate things from the golden age of the working man. Heak I have my grandfathers barber license and razors. Man am I lucky.

Don