Thread: My sister found an old Shumate Barber

She was going through an old box of stuff from my grandparent's and found an old Shumate in decent condition. The pins are all good, the scales are in superb condition and the only thing wrong with it was a bit of patina, which is no big deal. All it needed was a new edge, so I pulled out my various stones and got to work. It only took about 15 minutes, and wow, will that thing go through hair. I shaved with it the first time today, and now I know why some people really like them.

I tracked down the possible dates of manufacture based on the markings and it was manufactured somewhere between 1904 and 1920. This means that it was likely either the eldest of my great uncle's or my great grandfather's razor. It could possibly be the second eldest of my great uncles, but I tend to think not. My great grandfather passed away in 1914 and the eldest of my great uncles was born in 1900. The second eldest was born in 1903, so it's possible, but less likely.

I also found some adds for Shumate razors in old publications that listed the price as $2.00 in 1920. While not a perfect indication of what they'd cost today, gold was $20.67/oz back then. It's somewhere around $1200 or $1300 today.

Very cool find! Pretty neat to be able to use something like that which was used by your great uncle or grandfather.

Mike

You should take a couple of pictures and post them

Originally Posted by garand555

She was going through an old box of stuff from my grandparent's and found an old Shumate in decent condition. The pins are all good, the scales are in superb condition and the only thing wrong with it was a bit of patina, which is no big deal. All it needed was a new edge, so I pulled out my various stones and got to work. It only took about 15 minutes, and wow, will that thing go through hair. I shaved with it the first time today, and now I know why some people really like them.

I tracked down the possible dates of manufacture based on the markings and it was manufactured somewhere between 1904 and 1920. This means that it was likely either the eldest of my great uncle's or my great grandfather's razor. It could possibly be the second eldest of my great uncles, but I tend to think not. My great grandfather passed away in 1914 and the eldest of my great uncles was born in 1900. The second eldest was born in 1903, so it's possible, but less likely.

I also found some adds for Shumate razors in old publications that listed the price as $2.00 in 1920. While not a perfect indication of what they'd cost today, gold was $20.67/oz back then. It's somewhere around $1200 or $1300 today.

Don't use any precious metals as any comparison. Razors mostly go up with the natural rise in prices with some exceptions of course. Precious metals swing wildly in addition to the natural increases. If gold sold in relation to it's rarity at todays prices you could get an ounce for around $500 at most.

Shumates shave very nicely IMO .ymmv of course.shave on !

Originally Posted by Blistersteel

Shumates shave very nicely IMO .ymmv of course.shave on !

I second the opinion - easily as good as any of my Gencos.