Thread: Grinds my Gears: "Antique Stores."

Yes, it's amazing what you can find on E-Bay, was mentioning to Voidmonster after the Jonathan Crookes razor thread, popped onto E-Bay on my phone when I was at the in-laws, bored, and did a search, found a Jonathan Crookes located on E-Bay Canada, even in Ontario, auction was ending later that day, I bid $20.00 figuring there was no way I'd win, it was the blade only, got home, logged on, and lo and behold, I'd won this fascinating blade with the pistol and the heart stamp on the tang!

The stores and E-Bay can be a strange place, you'll never know what you'll find, and I'm not surprised anymore if I see a piece of junk for high dollars or a gem going for cheap, sometimes it's just being in the right place at the right time....cheers!

I hit 'antique alley' in NH yesterday. I went to about 20-25 stores. I bought a Henckels stamped to someone in NH ( i lived there for 13 years) and a 'king of all razors' or something like that made in Boston. $28 for both. I passed on a Kropp with a broken scale and an Oxford with a mint box. I also passed on a 3 razor lot because only one of the razors was worth a damn and the guy wouldn't split them. I also passed on a really, REALLY, nice looking razor with rose inlaid scales and George Washington crossing the Delaware etched on the blade because it had a good chunk out of the heel. Then just for good measure, the last store I hit (3 minutes before they closed) had a Gillette TTO for $4. So out of 20-25 stores, I bought stuff from 2. It was a long 8 hour day (3 of them driving) but I enjoyed the hunt I did find some other interesting items such as Joseph Rodgers knives, a Wostenholm folder with I-XL on the blade, and a couple of stones that were arkys, I believe. All in all, a good day...but I've had many more 'empty bag' days as well. Definitely a hit or miss game!

Chris

I have bought many razors from antique stores and yes many are way overpriced, but I have also had great success in educating the owners or store operators of values.

Recently I spotted a blond horn bug bitten, rusted Wade Butcher in a store priced at 75 bucks. I showed the owner the scales and rusted pivot and explained the restoration process and how much time it would take to recondition, hone the blade and re scale, then made an offer.

As said most of these antique stores are renting space so there are several vendors and while one may be high priced because they saw one on EBay sell for big bucks, they do communicate and advise each other on price. Many are grateful for the information and I have received calls when they get razors and other shaving paraphernalia in stock. Many are happy to turn their inventory quickly. So don’t be afraid to leave a contact number, it has paid dividends for me. I have cherry picked my share of collections.

Oh and that Wade Butcher… 15 bucks. Educate, make an offer and leave a contact number.

Ive gotten all my razors but 2 (i think i'm up to 14 now) from antique stores and the most i've paid is $32 for a dubl duck. the thrill is in the hunt and finding a good deal. i'd rather be able to see what i'm getting first hand than to rely on pictures. As for educating the store owners i have mixed feelings. i'd be afraid of losing out on potential good deals (like my 18 dollar fat boy or 12.50 wostenholm). though nothings more aggravating than an overpriced piece of junk.

Originally Posted by TonyFranklin

I have the same issue with the antique stores around here. There are 2 that I can actually deal with. If you get frustrated with the people who want to charge 500x's over retail of a piece of junk try this. Good luck.

That's great advice I'm going to put that to use! Thank you. I live in the Nashville area and we have an influx of hipsters right now all buying vintage stuff and making it cool and I'm pretty sure that's why it's so expensive at some of the antique stores I've been to.

We could start a new game with this though. Start posting the most ridiculous over priced DEs or straights you can find out there!

Originally Posted by Jmmullins

We could start a new game with this though. Start posting the most ridiculous over priced DEs or straights you can find out there!

I saw a WB box for $150. Not a razor with the original box, but just a box.

Do I win?

Originally Posted by Amenrab

I saw a WB box for $150. Not a razor with the original box, but just a box.

Do I win?

I saw that box, it was actually a somewhat rare box for a paired set of Wade and Butcher razor's. Haven't seen too many boxes like that...but yes, at a $150.00...either there's an invisible super razor in there or he was dreaming in color. Here's an old listing of what actually came in a box like that!

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Straight-Razo...-/111299492174

Originally Posted by Phrank

I saw that box, it was actually a somewhat rare box for a paired set of Wade and Butcher razor's. Haven't seen too many boxes like that...but yes, at a $150.00...either there's an invisible super razor in there or he was dreaming in color. Here's an old listing of what actually came in a box like that!

Straight Razor Matched Pair Fine India Steel Wade Butcher Original Coffin | eBay

That's actually quite interesting. Would be useful for a weekend trip maybe.

Yet you could buy an Alembicase, much better storage for more razors, and have $100 left over!