Thread: The Filarmonica

Originally Posted by Phrank

Never would have known that in a million years....thanks....will keep my eyes open.

Managed to grab this wonderful addition, a Filarmonica EPBD the other day, and now my Filarmonica's have their own drawer, right beside their Sheffield friends, and I blame you for this Jamie!

This just arrived in the mail and the term, "slightly used" was totally incorrect.

This blade has never been touched before, it is unused. I know the term NOS doesn't apply thanks to the great article by SRP member lz6 (on the SRP homepage) because the package is opened, so I'll use the term, "brand spanking new".

There is just the factory edge on the blade, and everything else on it is brand new...it's a 6/8.

The Ferrari of straight razors!

What about all the ones from Japan are they true Real Filarmonicas or copies?

Originally Posted by mwnc252

What about all the ones from Japan are they true Real Filarmonicas or copies?

I purchased one of those from japannippon and it was NOS, was a Filly #13 7/8, very nice blade - no complaints.

Originally Posted by mwnc252

What about all the ones from Japan are they true Real Filarmonicas or copies?

If you mean the seller on e-bay, definitely real. I don't think anyone would go to the effort of faking one, but there is no doubt the quality of the finish varied a lot toward end of production.

Well, the joys of growing up near Solingen and knowing some of the old craftsmen there...

1. Called Herkenrath, asked them who made the #14 blanks. They did, no one else. First mystery solved.
2. Ascertained that they made blanks for the Latin markets. Second mystery solved.
3. Called a few of the old hands, asked them if they knew anything about the Latin #14 blades. Learned more than I cared for, but here are the highlights (further mysteries solved):
   
   1. Filarmonica, Palmera and other Latin market razors were ground and etched in Solingen. Quote: "Well, yes, export quality. Like those laughable Dubl Ducks which our apprentices ground, and most Puma [censored]." One has to keep in mind that this used to be a world leading industry with craftsmen who took pride in their products and who did not suffer even mediocre products gladly.
   2. Logos were designed with a single purpose in mind: Sales (oh, really?). Quote: "Well, nobody spoke a word of Spanish, so we put on them what would thought would sell well... Yes, it's a bit shameful, but back then, nobody cared..."

Funnily enough, I recently came across a few (approx four dozens) of Juvenia #14 blades. Aimed at the Latin American market. Much thinner grind with well pronounced ridges, ie the best you could get back then (and, in all likelihood, today).

So, that was fun. And easy to do. I wonder why nobody else ever bothered before. It might have saved a lot of people a lot of money, given that decent #14 blades from more reputable (quote, but also my personal experience) makers can be had for €15-50, if you know exactly what you are looking for.

Robin, as usual, is a wealth of useful information ... in his own inimitable style.

Originally Posted by RobinK

Well, the joys of growing up near Solingen and knowing some of the old craftsmen there...

1. Called Herkenrath, asked them who made the #14 blanks. They did, no one else. First mystery solved.
2. Ascertained that they made blanks for the Latin markets. Second mystery solved.
3. Called a few of the old hands, asked them if they knew anything about the Latin #14 blades. Learned more than I cared for, but here are the highlights (further mysteries solved):
   
   1. Filarmonica, Palmera and other Latin market razors were ground and etched in Solingen. Quote: "Well, yes, export quality. Like those laughable Dubl Ducks which our apprentices ground, and most Puma [censored]." One has to keep in mind that this used to be a world leading industry with craftsmen who took pride in their products and who did not suffer even mediocre products gladly.
   2. Logos were designed with a single purpose in mind: Sales (oh, really?). Quote: "Well, nobody spoke a word of Spanish, so we put on them what would thought would sell well... Yes, it's a bit shameful, but back then, nobody cared..."

Funnily enough, I recently came across a few (approx four dozens) of Juvenia #14 blades. Aimed at the Latin American market. Much thinner grind with well pronounced ridges, ie the best you could get back then (and, in all likelihood, today).

So, that was fun. And easy to do. I wonder why nobody else ever bothered before. It might have saved a lot of people a lot of money, given that decent #14 blades from more reputable (quote, but also my personal experience) makers can be had for €15-50, if you know exactly what you are looking for.

Please check your info before posting.
I have friends in my country that are V-th generation Solingen grinders...they never ground a Filarmonica blade. Also know a lot of people in Spain on the spanish shaving forum...The Filarmonica blades were !!!NEVER!!! ground in Solingen as long as Jose Monserat Pou lived.

After his death it is possible that the family tried to cut costs and tried outsourcing to Solingen thus the quality drop in the late years.

Solingen has its fame for many great blades but unfortunetly Filarmonica is not one of them. It is ignorance to claim so.
Again...the no 14 was specific to spanish razor markings...they had te no 10,12,13 and 14.
When solingen razors vere exported they used similar shapes and markings....to encourage people to buy them...please look at guilermo hope no 14 made by henckels especialy to rival with the spanish no 14.
It was hard to compeat with a good filarmonica those days...and it is true some of the no 14 blades were ground in Solingen....but most of them did not make a name for themselvs.
If you ever shaved with a Filarmonica it is easy to uderstand that we are talking about diffrent steel, temper, geometry, edge....and the shave they give.

If Filarmonicas were made in Solingen they did a damn fine job and imho they should have made more and keep making them...
but sadly they were made and ground i Mataro Barcelona Spain.

Some Palmeras were made in Germany (Juan Vollmar)

Quite honestly, I fail to see what warrants your aggressive response. Filarmonica razors are good razors. I was only offering some hard and fast information where previously there was hearsay. But let us go through your arguments one by one.

Originally Posted by ovidiucotiga

Please check your info before posting.

Okay, I just did that. Thanks for reminding me. It is unchanged, and cross checked several times.

Originally Posted by ovidiucotiga

I have friends in my country that are V-th generation Solingen grinders...they never ground a Filarmonica blade.

With thousands of people employed in the Solingen razor industry at any given time, this proves nothing.

Originally Posted by ovidiucotiga

Also know a lot of people in Spain on the spanish shaving forum...The Filarmonica blades were !!!NEVER!!! ground in Solingen as long as Jose Monserat Pou lived.

Second (or third, or...) hand information from unknown forum sources. I would not necessarily call that proof.

Originally Posted by ovidiucotiga

After his death it is possible that the family tried to cut costs and tried outsourcing to Solingen thus the quality drop in the late years.

At the time of his death, tens of thousands of migrant workers came to Germany from Spain because their country was one of the poorest in Europe. By simple logic, the only way to cut costs would have been to outsource from Germany to Spain. It was tried, but mostly failed because of the lack of quality assurance.

Originally Posted by ovidiucotiga

Solingen has its fame for many great blades but unfortunetly Filarmonica is not one of them. It is ignorance to claim so.

Personally, I doubt that personal insults will strengthen your argument.

Originally Posted by ovidiucotiga

Again...the no 14 was specific to spanish razor markings...they had te no 10,12,13 and 14.

Ask Herkenrath. It really is that simple.

Originally Posted by ovidiucotiga

If you ever shaved with a Filarmonica it is easy to uderstand that we are talking about diffrent steel, temper, geometry, edge....and the shave they give.

Steel, temper and geometry are courtesy of Herkenrath. The grind plays an important role, as any owner of a modern production razor (Dovo, Wacker, Böker and so on all use identical Herkenrath blanks these days, because Herkenrath is the only drop forge still in production) will tell you. But compare any Filarmonica to a Juvenia (if you can get hold of one), or several indeed lesser knowns Solingen makers, and you will see the difference in grind.

Originally Posted by ovidiucotiga

If Filarmonicas were made in Solingen they did a damn fine job and imho they should have made more and keep making them... but sadly they were made and ground i Mataro Barcelona Spain.

Some of them were ground there. Whether any of them were actually forged there remains a mystery, but given the uniform quality of Filarmonica blades across an extended period of time, I severely doubt it.

Can we get back to a slightly more civilised tone of conversation, please? Thank you!

Have fun,
Robin