Thread: Antique Stores / Flea Market Hunting

Hello.

I began to browse some local antique stores and flea markets and I just "scored" 2 razors worth rescuing. The large majority of the razors I pick up to take a good look are so unbelievebly crap that I start to wonder if the store clerks know anything about razors in general.
I feel I need to write what I found in a local antique store and to ask you if the antique stores in your area are run by complete fools.
I entered the store and I spotted 2 razors near the entrance and 3 more near the clerk. I thought "Well, at least one of those should be worth something, I guess". After asking the clerk to take a good close look at all of them, I realised that they were in the most terrible condition a razor wishes to be. Completely covered in brown dirt and rust and with huge hone wear. It gets better - the price? 10 Euros each!
Who in his perfect mind buys a razor that's so beyond any possible restoration for 10 Euros?
During my vacations last month I asked the local tourism office if there where any flea markets and in the following Saturday there I was, browsing and asking... I grabbed a nice Henckels 60 without any hone wear and with minimal rust. It came with the original case. That was my best grab yet. Sweet.
I'm yet to find a NOS razor... someday, oh yes... that's going to be cool.

I've managed to acquire a few good razors from the few antique malls I've visited:

This place had 7 razors, these were the only 2 worth bringing home:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/show-...ique-mall.html

This place had about 40 razors, again, only 2 worth bringing home:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/show-...-goldedge.html




The ones I didn't buy were either: overpriced, in unrepairable shape (to my abilitles anyway), or both.


As I get better with my restoration abilities, I'm sure I'll pick up some rougher looking ones, but for now, those seemed to fit my abilities as well as my pocketbook

Originally Posted by Blazed Monkey

As I get better with my restoration abilities, I'm sure I'll pick up some rougher looking ones, but for now, those seemed to fit my abilities as well as my pocketbook

I can restore a slightly used razor, but when there's major hone wear in the spine and in the edge there's nothing you can do...

My point here is that the antique store clerks here aren't aware of the fairness in the razor condition/price ratio. The few I have visited seem to label a junk/crap/beyond salvation razor with a 10 Euros tag and a much better looking one at the same or slightly higher price. It seems they tag a razor in the 10 Euros price no matter what its condition is.

It is swings & roundabouts with the prices
If they knew enough not to ask £5.00 for a worn out razor then there would be no bargains.
I went to a market & scored 4 identical razors in fair to good condition for £2.00
Good job they didn’t know their real value.
I frequent 2 of the biggest antique fairs in England every 2 months
One time you can pick up a cased pair of Ivory scaled razors for £15.00 then the next one you see wants £12 for a rusty worn no name with hard rubber scales.

Tony H
taylors1000

Originally Posted by portal5

One time you can pick up a cased pair of Ivory scaled razors for £15.00 then the next one you see wants £12 for a rusty worn no name with hard rubber scales.

Wow, what a grab...
I'm yet to grab a razor with some fancy material other than celulloid or bakelite. Bone, some fancy wood or ivory would be great

Originally Posted by Leon

Wow, what a grab...
I'm yet to grab a razor with some fancy material other than celulloid or bakelite. Bone, some fancy wood or ivory would be great

When searching the markets you have to remember that your jewel in the crown razor is some ones granddads old knife he scraped his face with, it will most likely be in the wrong box & it certainly won’t be in pride of place on the stall.
I have found some real gems in crappy boxes & some real disappointments in a good case.
Keep your eyes peeled & check everything out!

Tony H
taylors1000

Last weekend I got a Red Imp (the "132" flavor) for US$20.00 (they were asking $22.50) in excellent condition (damn near "like new") at a traveling flea market in Wisconsin.

It honed right up and shaves great.

The other 6 razors in the cigar box were in pretty scrappy condition ... broken scales, and a couple with barely any blade left or covered with rust. The Imp looked to be in the original box/tube-thingy.

I was at a flea market in my home town awhile back, and saw a few straights. Red Imp and a Double Duck. Both looked fine to me. However, at the time, I wasn't interested in straights and let them go...oh well, live and learn I guess.

But generally speaking, most people don't see the value in old razors (DE or Straight), therefore they are less likely to keep them shiny. It's amazing any are still left to fix up.

Happy Shaving,

-- Gabe

Been out to an antique fair this morning, got some razors & thought you would like a preview!
seven1.jpg - Image - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
The guy selling them has always been too expensive & many of his razors have been in poor condition. I have seen him many times at other fairs & just had a cursory look.
As the weather has been crap this weekend I had another good look, I picked 7 out of around 30 razors (looked in every box) & he knocked me £10 0f the total.
So if that expensive razor is hanging around for a long time just ask again & they may drop their price.
Tony
taylors1000

7 good looking razors for 10 pounds? Lucky you.

I haven't been in many flea markets yet, but the ones I went to don't provide razors in quantity nor quality - I haven't spotted nowhere near 30 razors for sale.
I'm googling the local flea markets schedule in the nearby towns and I've already scheduled 2 spots I'm yet to browse - tomorrow I'm going hunting in a nearby town and in 2 weeks from now I'm going to another town also.

Let's see what I got.