Please help with item currently on eBay

Hi All,

I stumbled upon a razor on eBay I may be interested in buying. To know my background, I am Australian, and would love an Australian brand razor (I am new to this and just starting to acquire a couple of razors).

I saw this razor (Platypus) which I understand is an Australian brand but with blade made in Solingen... any thoughts? is this something I should bid on? If so, how much should I pay? (1 $AUD is approx $US 0.88 so around 12% more expensive than $US)

I would really appreciate help with this, as I am too new to know my elbow from my undercarriage. Id pay a slight premium over true valuation just to get an Aussie razor, but don't want something rubbish. Id love to be able to get something like this if its decent, and Im sure the other Aussie guys I meet on here would appreciate a look/touch/shave as well.

Kind Regards, Andrew

Don't know if you can consider it Australian, at least to me, when it's made in Solingen, it's German, and a you basically cant'go wrong with a vintage German as long as the blade isn't chipped or defect in any other way.

What you should pay? Let me put it this way: How much is it worth to you?

We don't do valuations here as the value is completely in the eye of the beholder, a razor might be worth $2000 to you but to me it's only worth $50 :)

Thank you. I understand the position about valuations, one wouldn't want to advise it is worth $x if it in fact turned out to be rare and worth 10x, or vice versa... A legal disclaimer for anyone wishing to comment... I will not take any "valuation", for lack of a better term, to be any form of recommendation, nor would I be upset if "valuations" are WAY off, even if by a factor of x100, nor would I believe it to be, in any shape or form, to be an official position of this site, its sponsors or members. I just don't know enough to be able to form any opinion at this point.

I also understand what you mean by "Don't know if you can consider it Australian, at least to me, when it's made in Solingen"... but it raised an interesting point for discussion, if anyone knows... If you were an Aussie and wanting to get something from your home country, what would you consider regarding brands, models etc.

Thanks heaps for your reply.

Andrew

Well, it looks to be in decent shape, and would look better with a bit of polishing. It doesn't appear there is anything functionally wrong with it, so I'm sure it could be made to shave just fine. Just a matter of how much having this kind of razor means to you versus any other razor of similar quality.

Hi Andrew,

you can't really consider these razors as Australian but they do have local interest. I guess this might have been the reason for the high price I saw on one at the Woolloongabba Antique centre about 18 months ago, i.e. 70 or 80 dollars from memory. Old Bengalls and suchlike seldom go for anything like that. Mind you, I have seen prices above 50 bucks for specimens with 10c piece sized bites out of them :nono:

A couple of thoughts. The razor appears in those pictures to be in save-able condition. I understand your thought on wanting the razor. I bought many and still couldn't tell you why I wanted them to begin with. As far as how high you should go that is personal. We all have to find our happy place on our own. Now that I have more razors than I need and less razors than I want I don't bid very high and I wait it out, if this one is too high another will come along eventually. I can't see that one going for big money, but it may if two guys want it really bad.

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Originally Posted by AndrewJM

I also understand what you mean by "Don't know if you can consider it Australian, at least to me, when it's made in Solingen"... but it raised an interesting point for discussion, if anyone knows... If you were an Aussie and wanting to get something from your home country, what would you consider regarding brands, models etc.

Thanks heaps for your reply.

Andrew

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I think there's been a discusssion about Australian made razors in the past, but I can't remember if anyone came up with any.

Even though Norway isn't the biggest country, there have been a handfull makers that made a few razors, they're not easy to find, but I've been lucky enough to get my hands on one. If there on the other hand didn't exist any, I would probably be happy with one branded by a Norwegian company :)

Of course a Norwegian razor would be fantastic, but not as fantastic as an Aussie razor :)

(Line dropped, now just waiting for a bite) lol

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Originally Posted by Zephyr

I think there's been a discusssion about Australian made razors in the past, but I can't remember if anyone came up with any.

Even though Norway isn't the biggest country, there have been a handfull makers that made a few razors, they're not easy to find, but I've been lucky enough to get my hands on one. If there on the other hand didn't exist any, I would probably be happy with one branded by a Norwegian company :)

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by AndrewJM

Of course a Norwegian razor would be fantastic, but not as fantastic as an Aussie razor :)

(Line dropped, now just waiting for a bite) lol

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I don't know, I reckon an Aussie razor would be a bit too laid back to really be bothered shaving you, whereas a German razor would be very efficient, so this razor could go either way, it will be very good at not doing more than it had to, or really frustrated with it's own lack of motivation. My Swedish razor is great, but it does like listening to terrible europop.

Hi Ed, I was waiting for you to come to the party and give some good advice, you never fail to deliver... and in a very amusing way this time :) Cheers (or "soupy twist" to our English masters out there [fry and Laurie reference there] )... Andrew

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Originally Posted by edhewitt

I don't know, I reckon an Aussie razor would be a bit too laid back to really be bothered shaving you, whereas a German razor would be very efficient, so this razor could go either way, it will be very good at not doing more than it had to, or really frustrated with it's own lack of motivation. My Swedish razor is great, but it does like listening to terrible europop.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by AndrewJM

Of course a Norwegian razor would be fantastic, but not as fantastic as an Aussie razor :)

(Line dropped, now just waiting for a bite) lol

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I belive it would be a bit tricky to have a razor where the edge is where the spine usually is, probably would need to be honed on the underside of the stone too :P

Could probably get used to at least shaving with it though, it would be like driving a RHD car; you get quickly used to it, just have to bump into a couple cars first ;)

Shame neither of our countries can claim the Vade and butcher :) [Sorry , I actually had to google "Norwegian stereotypes for this comment., and it mentioned the "V" pronunciation... Ive never actually heard a Norwegian accent personally]. *** Disclaimer... this isn't a derogatory comment, I love that area of the world, such beautiful ladies, landscape and culture. Shame there are men there, or I might have a chance of picking one up... it's hard competition when there are so many tall slim handsome local men, compared to us toothless, crocodile wrestling, vegimite eating, boomerang throwing, penal colony thieves :)

*** I realised I must add... an Aussie way of making a new friends is to ridicule, purely in humour / jest, any possible trait of their new friend. It's weird in many parts of the world, but thats just how we do it "down under". Ask any Aussie, if they read my post they would realise my comment(s) are nothing more than a verbal extension of a hand hoping for a reciprocal handshake. ***

Platypus was a trade name used by C. Friedrich ERN. have not looked up the razor on the bay but if in fact it is by ERN you can't go wrong. Just depends on condition.

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Originally Posted by AndrewJM

Ive never actually heard a Norwegian accent personally

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I can help you with that: http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...st-2012-a.html at least two us have posted videos here, now you can both laugh at the Norwegians and learn something at the same time *BONUS*

Thank you. Im not looking for something rare or appreciating in value, although Im not against it for a cheap price... Really Im just after a nice usable blade which is a close to "Australian Made" as possible. I appreciate your feedback and information.

Out of interest, where are you located? It doesn't say on your profile. Im from Australia obviously, West End, Brisbane to be more precise.

Andrew

Seems to me there are more Bengalls in AU than anything! ;)

Hi, what are Bengalls? I did a google search and it showed razors, but I don't get the reference (over my head, Im a beginner). Im assuming its either a joke or reference to a brand/product/style Im not familiar with?

Cheers,

Andrew

Bengalls are Sheffield-made and ton's were imported into AU. I think that AU and England broke trade with Germany much earlier than the U.S. prior to WWII, hence less German razors back then. I have not seen an actual AU-made razor from the old days.
I do have one from Grace Brothers, but it is also Sheffield made! :D

Hi Andrew, I can't comment any further on the Platypus razor, but do have a few additional ideas. Plus I'm a kiwi, so you might choose to disregard what I say anyway ;)

Here's the original link regarding Australian brands: http://straightrazorpalace.com/down-...or-makers.html

I've also read about a Sydney company, "Jno Baker", started by William Jno Baker, that used to sell its own branded razors. I believe they only do cutlery these days.

Another option is to research razors manufactured overseas but especially branded for Australian retailers or barbers. They will be more rare, but I've found a few of the New Zealand equivalent and we're a much smaller market! One of my best buys (my profile picture) is a Solingen steel razor with every hallmark of a Gotta, only is branded "Tiki" for the NZ company England & McRae. Other examples would be etched or engraved blades with place names - I have a lovely Bengall with an etching "made expressly for..." and a NZ place name.

All the best in your searches, fully understand you wanting something with a local history!

Yeah, there's really no such thing as an Australian razor as far as I'm aware, not in the same way as for a German or US razor anyway. I believe we basically imported everything razor related, perhaps as was said with some rebranding to match the retail outlet. The only truly Australian-made razor would be a custom from one of the makers here like Stu.

That being said, "Australian" is in the eye of the beholder, and the view that "Australian" means made here is really quite a narrow one when it comes to razors (though not, according to our current Govt., when it comes to people - but I digress...).

So, for example, I have my great grandfather's razors, my wife's grandfather's razors and some of his barber's hones, and many many razors that have lived, for perhaps a century and more, here in Australia after coming here as "one pound poms" from sheffield or wherever. I consider these "Australian" razors.

But yeah, those "plectypus" (as my italian friend used to call them) razors, if in good condition, are OK razors.

James.

I think you were optimistic in your hopes of my input, Andrew, but glad you appreciated it. As has been said bengalls are a brand of razor, so no double entendre there from what I could read from it. I used to know a norweigan, he tried to barbeque a carrot, it failed. He also worked for immigration, I think people found being thrown out of Australia by someone with a foreign accent a bit confusing.

Yea, when it comes to razors I think all us colonials are in the same boat in that none were manufactured indigenously. About the best you can do is get a razor with the importer's/retailer's name on it. Mind you because of immigration there are a variety of razors originating in many countries to choose from.

Bob

Hi Andrew,
EBay is a fickle beast. you can get a good razor for $5 or pay $500. There are a lot more junkers out there in the same range. It is a gamble that can pay off or cost you.
Last year one collector, in South Australia by memory-but could be wrong, was selling off his collection on ebay bit by bit. There were many razors branded with Australian names, but prices always went too high for me.
Many Australian companies, Like JNO Baker, hairdressers/barbers, Grace Bros, etc, etc, purchased razors made in Solingen and Sheffield that were stamped with their business names and then sold them here.
As Jimbo said, i believe the only Australian made razors are the ones by a very few custom makers. Considering the huge amount of knowledge, work and skill that goes into making one, not to mention the cost of raw materials in Australia, they are expensive. But no where near the prices that reputable custom makers get overseas. The Australian Market just does not support that kind of spend usually. They are more a labour of love.
You need to make your calls and go for what you like personally understanding there is always risk buying something you have not handled. I wish you good fortune getting what you like,
Adam

Quote:

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Originally Posted by AndrewJM

*** I realised I must add... an Aussie way of making a new friends is to ridicule, purely in humour / jest, any possible trait of their new friend. It's weird in many parts of the world, but thats just how we do it "down under". Ask any Aussie, if they read my post they would realise my comment(s) are nothing more than a verbal extension of a hand hoping for a reciprocal handshake. ***

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I know I'm late to the barbie,,, buuut...

If my US-to-Aussie humor translation is accurate: "AndrewJM, You, my man, are in possession of a truncated member!" Did I hit the mark? :rofl2: ;)

Kind Regards,

Siguy

Well, I ended up buying the razor, and now need to look at restoring it. I posted a thread in the workshop, any advice would be great.