Bought my first Vintage Razor!! Geo Wostenholm & Son I-XL

[joepa150]

I currently own two new razors that work well. I recently purchased a few stone so I figured it was time to start buying vintage razors. I don't really know what to look for. I try an look for little or no chips, rust, or pitting. I also look for scales that appear to be in decent shape. I also look at razors either made in Sheffield or Solingen. Obviously I look at price too.

Vintage Geo Wostenholm Son I XL Straight Razor with Box Sheffield England | eBay

How did I do on this one?
Will some flitz and honing bring this razor back to life?

Any way to clean/restore the scales?

Thanks

[souschefdude]

I would say you did quite well. I would say on a scale of 1- 10, 10 being the best deal, you scored an 8.5
It seems to be a more recent Wosty. Should clean up well and shave nice.
I never used Flitz, so I cant say.
The scales look pretty clean already. I would polish them with your favorite car polish.
Get inside the scales with a microfiber cloth with some polish/wax on it.
Doesn't appear from the pics to be active rust at the pin, so no need to depin to clean it.

Beware, those scales are yellow. Yellow celluloid is the culprit in Cel rot, though I can't say these are Celluloid.

[joepa150]

I would say you did quite well. I would say on a scale of 1- 10, 10 being the best deal, you scored an 8.5
It seems to be a more recent Wosty. Should clean up well and shave nice.
I never used Flitz, so I cant say.
The scales look pretty clean already. I would polish them with your favorite car polish.
Get inside the scales with a microfiber cloth with some polish/wax on it.
Doesn't appear from the pics to be active rust at the pin, so no need to depin to clean it.

Beware, those scales are yellow. Yellow celluloid is the culprit in Cel rot, though I can't say these are Celluloid.

Thanks for the help.

What exactly is cell rot?
If it has cell rot, what are my options?

[souschefdude]

Your blade shows no signs of celluloid rot.
Celluloid breaksdown, I think in the presence of heat and or water. Some colors were more notorious than others. Search here on SRP for Cel rot or cell rot or celluloid rot, there are many good pictures. It pits the blade...alot. There weres ome sclaes that were a mix of colors, and the blade only is pitted where it sits next to certain colors.
The only real option if yours was to have it, which I think yours does not, is to rescale it. There are people on here who can do it for you at a reasonable price. Or you can buy a kit and do it yourself.

Barring rescale, just make sure to keep yours away from heat, and keep it dry.

[AirColorado]

Here's a few links about it all

http://straightrazorpalace.com/googl...=2282j808604j8

[Airportcopper]

try blue magic cleaner on that razor will make it look like new and u can also use it on the scales..