Why is an Escher label so important to some?

Have another thread going about my yellow/green stone we'll say. I'm curious as to why it is important to have the label? I mean it's a rock, it's not man made. I can see it with name brand man-made things. There is another thread that just started about "fake hones, how common are they".I'd lose my mind if I paid x amount for a piece of paper, only to be duped because scammers have realized they can make a quick buck. To me it seem they lost out on hard earned money because someone decided the label is the cool thing. Just curious as to people's thoughts/reasons on this.


Enjoy the day,
Benson

Well its a normal collectors thing, and nothing special in the end.....why are vintage cars much more expensive if they have original Parts.....

The paper label is a documentation of its origin and stands for a very good Quality....Escher already did a good job promoting the stones in the old days the business started and the Name today still stands for a Premium Quality, thats why people pay for it.....

Supposedly the labeled Escher's were hand selected for quality so the labeled ones were possible more consistent

I can see the collector point of view. I barber hones that suck but are a barber hone.

The car reference doesn't make sense to me. Yes a classic car is worth more with original parts because it's all original. They are man made though.

It has been stated that Escher just bought the stones and put a label on it. Was there an inspector of some sort, testing for quality? Or is it just smart marketing?


Enjoy the day,
Benson

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Originally Posted by rodb

Supposedly the labeled Escher's were hand selected for quality so the labeled ones were possible more consistent

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Now this I can dig and get behind. Thank you!


Enjoy the day,
Benson

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Originally Posted by BWH1980

The car reference doesn't make sense to me. Yes a classic car is worth more with original parts because it's all original. They are man made though.

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Well it makes sense and that a lot...its the same like asking what an Label or sign of Origin is relevant for....would you pay a lot of money if on a Rolex watch the word "Rolex" wouldnt be stamped in....in the end it would only be a watch....its the same with an Escher...if there would be no label on it, its what it is just a stone and no "Escher"

Its irrelevant if its men made or natural made and then brought to market....a Trademark on a Product which is known for Quality will always make a better price then a product without any reference....

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Originally Posted by BWH1980

It has been stated that Escher just bought the stones and put a label on it. Was there an inspector of some sort, testing for quality? Or is it just smart marketing?

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Cant tell for Escher itself, but doing a lot of research i can tell you that Quastenberg himself who had a direct connection to the family...Severin Robert Droescher and also delegates from Pike Manufacturing regularly visited the Quarries and it seems they also had to choose the quality of the future stock they wanted to bring into the market...those visits are documented...i cant tell what in detail they did visiting the Quarries....They also did it with the old Belgian Quarries....

These Visits were also marketed in some papers as an advertisement...that the stones which will be sold soo in Furure were hand selected and this was proven or controlled with a personal visit of a delegate of those companies...

When I first began fooling with Eschers in 2007 they were relatively scarce. An average price was $500.00. When people were selling unlabeled stones claiming them to be Eschers I couldn't be sure, so i made it a rule to always buy labeled stones. Even now I frequently see 'Escher ?' on ebay. I like to know what I'm buying, especially when paying a premium.

The prices of Eschers ebb and flow. I've seen them high, medium, and low. I was fortunate in that I sold mine when they were either high, or very high. Nowadays they are low, relative to the highs. Will they stay low ? Remains to be seen. I've got one left that I use and fortunately got it 'right' in a trade.

Label or no label, if it is a good hone that is all that matters. :gl:

It's all about the Provenance - if it doesn't have the label, it could be any quality of Thuri, if even it turns out to be a Thuri.

As mentioned, Escher's were hand-picked stones, that meant a certain quality, and mined at a certain time.

I see way too many stones on eBay marked Escher, and they're nothing of the sort, they may be Thuri's, but without the label they are not Eschers.

Even stones in an Escher box, if there is no label on the stone, then all I know I'm buying is an Escher box....Provenance is everything, and you deserve to get what you paid for.

Thank you gentleman. I have a bit of a better understanding now as to labels. For collectors it makes sense, even from a honers standpoint it would make sense. If they hand selected for quality. So from the standpoint of they selected for quality, do the private label Escher command a higher price? Or is it just the Escher label?


Enjoy the day,
Benson

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Originally Posted by BWH1980

Thank you gentleman. I have a bit of a better understanding now as to labels. For collectors it makes sense, even from a honers standpoint it would make sense. If they hand selected for quality. So from the standpoint of they selected for quality, do the private label Escher command a higher price? Or is it just the Escher label?


Enjoy the day,
Benson

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Well that's very hard to say. If you have the $ by all means use them. But really what is a good hone? For me, that's a fast hone. I like to hone, but I'll like to finish a razor in less then 30 min.

I like soft hones, and the soapy feedback they provide.

I like a smooth finish, when shaving. I don't care about mirror finish.

Having many thüringians and 5-8 Eschers, I can tell you exactly which ones the best.

One two-toned one, and a green bout, and finally a labelled Escher.

These three are by far better, then the other labeled Eschers.

And I would have paid top dollars for them.

If I should use 4-500$ on a hone, I'll try it first.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BWH1980

Thank you gentleman. I have a bit of a better understanding now as to labels. For collectors it makes sense, even from a honers standpoint it would make sense. If they hand selected for quality. So from the standpoint of they selected for quality, do the private label Escher command a higher price? Or is it just the Escher label?


Enjoy the day,
Benson

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Its also a Factor of rareness of the different types of stones manufactured during different periods....this means special Editions produced like the Barbers Delight or the Barbers Gem or Stones in huge sizes around 10" or above are another factor building up a high price....as rarer the item the more $$ the market request....

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BWH1980

Thank you gentleman. I have a bit of a better understanding now as to labels. For collectors it makes sense, even from a honers standpoint it would make sense. If they hand selected for quality. So from the standpoint of they selected for quality, do the private label Escher command a higher price? Or is it just the Escher label?


Enjoy the day,
Benson

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IME the most often seen Eschers were the 7"x1&5/8"X3/4" (IIRC) and of those the yellow/green were the most desirable. The blue/green was more often seen. The light green was somewhat scarce, and I've only seen one 'grau' (green). The dark blue was the least sought after, and not uncommon, though they are good hones IME. The boxed Barber's Delight became the grail amongst the Eschers. They are 6x2&1/2x7/8" IIRC. There is also the Barber's Gem as well as others that are similar, if not identical. Those seem to have been the most sought after by razor honers. The really large ones, I think 10", or maybe 12", in a wood fitted case, with a 4" slurry stone (also in the fitted case) are scarce and bring big $. I've never had one.

Very good to know thank you gentleman.

Doing a bit of looking around to expand my knowledge. Found a link to an old thread you made JimmyHAD. None of the pictures come up, but you stated you would load them to the wiki so headed there now. It was titled" Escher boxes and other distinguishing marks"


Enjoy the day,
Benson

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Originally Posted by BWH1980

Very good to know thank you gentleman.

Doing a bit of looking around to expand my knowledge. Found a link to an old thread you made JimmyHAD. None of the pictures come up, but you stated you would load them to the wiki so headed there now. It was titled" Escher boxes and other distinguishing marks"


Enjoy the day,
Benson

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Dunno why no pix showed up. Here are some of them ;

Attachment 269858Attachment 269859Attachment 269860Attachment 269861Attachment 269862Attachment 269863Attachment 269864Attachment 269865Attachment 269866

and some others ..............

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Awesome thank you! I think some of the problems I've been having, is do to the fact I've been using Tapatalk. I'm logged in to the website now, wow it's a whole different world lol

Feel free to check some of my Videos here...

https://youtu.be/0V00mnbMKCE

Man that Tapatalk app was killing my whole experience with this place. doorsch I now see why you were so adamant in the other thread, my apologies I did not know you are who you are. I will be watching those tonight thank you!

Heading up to Hamburg in three weeks where three follow up companies had its business running during different time periods...one of those has quite good amounts of still available documents which can be researched....booked four files for further more research, haha this gets funny having 6 hours time for 4 files you dont know the number of pages *laughs*

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Originally Posted by BWH1980

Man that Tapatalk app was killing my whole experience with this place. doorsch I now see why you were so adamant in the other thread, my apologies I did not know you are who you are. I will be watching those tonight thank you!

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Dont mind everything fine....

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Originally Posted by doorsch

Heading up to Hamburg in three weeks where three follow up companies had its business running during different time periods...one of those has quite good amounts of still available documents which can be researched....booked four files for further more research, haha this gets funny having 6 hours time for 4 files you dont know the number of pages *laughs*

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That is awesome! Man I wish I could do such things. I really enjoy digging and learning.

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Originally Posted by BWH1980

That is awesome! Man I wish I could do such things. I really enjoy digging and learning.

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Well it always depends how experienced you are also in doing online researches fex...you wont believe whats available online today....if youre interested in that kind of stuff feel free to shoot me an PM....

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Originally Posted by doorsch

Well it always depends how experienced you are also in doing online researches fex...you wont believe whats available online today....if youre interested in that kind of stuff feel free to shoot me an PM....

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I'll do that sometime. Thank you that offer is much appreciated!

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Originally Posted by doorsch

Feel free to check some of my Videos here...

https://youtu.be/0V00mnbMKCE

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Watched many of these video's and loved each and every one...was the inspiration and guidebook for me on using my Eschers.....;)

I got real lucky and bought a Escher that is 7" x 3". It came in the original box to show it was authentic. I use it under running water to remove some of the sharpness of the edge. Usually 5-10 laps does it. I would never sell it. It is part of my honing to adjust the edge when I feel the edge is to sharp.

A 7" x 3" Escher? I've never heard of one in that size before. Any pics?

Sorry I meant to say 3 x 5

I have purchased a few Eschers both with labels and with the labels removed or partially removed. The one that worked the best for me was one where the guy admitted to removing the label out of ignorance of the collectability.

Suits me fine as I sold the labeled ones for $$$ and kept the best one which happened to be one of those that had the label removed!