Thread: Filarmonica expert needed

Originally Posted by lindyhop66

I recently bought a Filarmonica 13B (Japanese ebay seller's notation). It's in the black "Sello Oro" box. The gold wash isn't exactly parallel to the spine or blade.

I'm sending it to Glen Mercurio in the morning to see what he can do.

The blade doesn't look warped. Typical very thin grind of Filarmonicas, but it does't feel quite right on the hones.

First VERY gentle attempt (5-10-Nakayama) was a complete and utter failure..

The blade "Sounds" weird when strummed, the bevel looks "Off" too, will attempt a slightly more corrective approach tonight and see what happens...

So i apologize i was not able to shave with it as soon as i liked do to school, but when i did look at it a little closer i realized the toe was not taking an edge like the rest of the blade. So i went back to the hones on the bevel setter and was cutting hair all the way at the toe. I went through the routine and it is now shave ready. The shave this morning was good, but i think it can be better so im going to spend some more time on the hones. I have been thinking more about this and have some ideas. Im no expert so dont take this as hard facts. They seem to say that the sello oro without the JMP stamps are of lesser quality, with them being a hit or miss type deal. Mine has the black cello oro box and the lettering on the box is a goldwash in color. I have seen some on the bay that are the same box, same font style and size, but the lettering color is more of a bronze. Could be something, maybe not, im just doing some investigative thinking on the matter. I guess the answer will come soon enough from Glen.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

First VERY gentle attempt (5-10-Nakayama) was a complete and utter failure..

The blade "Sounds" weird when strummed, the bevel looks "Off" too, will attempt a slightly more corrective approach tonight and see what happens...

I'm waited with bated breath, as they say. I just read zigzagpapa's refund policy on ebay and he doesn't refund new blades, no matter the reason and this was NOS. I sent him a message telling him of my problems, anyhow.

Yeah those black "Sello Oro" box Filarmonica's can come with many issues best left alone in my view look out for the vintage blades with the JMP stamp worth going the extra yard to get hold of one.

Originally Posted by celticcrusader

Yeah those black "Sello Oro" box Filarmonica's can come with many issues best left alone in my view look out for the vintage blades with the JMP stamp worth going the extra yard to get hold of one.

Ive read a few times about Sello Oro Fillarmonicas that they can be a bit off, I must have been lucky, I got two from jappanippon a few years ago when I was a bit green and brought lots of razors on impulse. One a medallion tauring and a #14 doble temple, both great razors that produce amazing shaves. I think that its very much luck of the draw and I wouldn't take the gamble again.

Glen is sending back the Muleta. He thinks the grind is the problem.

Follow up -

Three tries with this razor and finally I gave it up,

#1 I posted above

#2 Started with a Chosera 1-5-10 from a full hard bevel set to straighten out the bevel and cut to new steel finished on a Zulu but again the front of the edge just would hold the edge

#3 Again Chosera 1-5 from a bevel set.. Added a second layer of tape and set a micro bevel with the 10 and the Zulu again the front of the blade had issues, but this was the best edge I got out of it..

Thoughts:
I think it is the grind, I could be wrong but that is the feel I get for it since the back half of the blade holds the edge and the front doesn't .. If it is the grind then more honing perhaps after a bit of breadkinfing might hit into a slightly thicker portion of the blade and the edge will hold..




One thing to keep in mind, out of thousands of razors, I have run into very very few Vintage razors that have not eventually popped an edge, an actual dud razor is pretty rare IME anyway.. In the words of my oh so smart friend here on SRP Jimbo "Glen that isn't a percentage it is a statistical anomaly" or some such smart guy words hehehe

Back in the day Glen,I could do alot of things I cannot do today,Your getting older my friend,perhaps you have lost your touch

Originally Posted by lindyhop66

Glen is sending back the Muleta. He thinks the grind is the problem.

Im probably stating the obvious but I'd contact the seller, explain the circumstances and try and get a refund despite what his return policy is. Ebay can also sort problems out if you want to go down that route.
Best of luck.

Originally Posted by markbignosekelly

Im probably stating the obvious but I'd contact the seller, explain the circumstances and try and get a refund despite what his return policy is. Ebay can also sort problems out if you want to go down that route.
Best of luck.

I did message the seller and he just said thank you for the information. As Glen says, the razor is new and was not advertised as shave ready, so I don't know that ebay would do anything. I've bought several NOS Japanese razors for good prices from the same seller and they are wonderful razors.