Thread: Evidence of Filarmonica Manufactured in Solingen?????

Originally Posted by cariocarj01

But, any final answer to the question: Was Filarmonica made in Solingen?

The consensus is it seems somewhat difficult and arduous to ascertain!

This question reminds me of a quote from author Allan Watts regarding what is Zen Buddhism ?

"Those who know don't say, those who say don't know." ................

A gangster I once knew always said: "I could tell ya, kid. But I kinda like ya".

Originally Posted by cariocarj01

Very interesting thread.

But, any final answer to the question: Was Filarmonica made in Solingen?

I think so and I am an expert!

Originally Posted by 32t

I think so and I am an expert!

"Been nice knowin' ya, kid"

Originally Posted by Magpie

Just to keep this debate moving along, here are some photos of a German made Gens razor looking very very suspiciously like a Filly. And dont forget folks, there is an entire razor club on this site devoted to #14 razors!

Attachment 188191Attachment 188192

Yeah, that guy's on eBay with the username "melodyfromthriver" claiming to be in Miami, Florida but is really in Japan!

Originally Posted by cariocarj01

That was very nice from Birnando!!!

Enjoy your EPBD engine46.

Very interesting thread.

But, any final answer to the question: Was Filarmonica made in Solingen?

Thanks,
I look forward to getting it & cleaning it up!

I can think of many razors, the blades of which bear a resemblance, but they are after all, razors. Some guy comes along and says an 80 year old grinder told him that whasstheirname made all of them, from Filly to puma, dovo, duck ......... Kayser-Ellison and what not, doesn't make it so in my book.

When these blades that are so coveted were being made, the primary buyers were professional barbers. They wanted a good product at a reasonable price. The manufacturers didn't see these as collectibles which guys, 50 years later would inspect with magnifying glasses to examine whether Filly 14 tang stamps had varying fonts.

Actually, from a marketing standpoint, Filarmonica would have had an advantage to stamp "Solingen" on their razors. Spain may have had a reputation for swords back in the Toledo steel days, but Solingen and Sheffield were the most highly regarded razor manufacturers in the twentieth century. I seriously doubt Filarmonica would've gotten their razors made in Germany, had them stamped 'Made In Spain' and broken treaties by doing so. It sort of defies the idea that they would've done it out of national pride, if it were based on a lie.

These obscure objects of desire were the equivalent of a hammer or a screw driver to the barber that used them. People my parents age (depression era) and previous to that didn't have drawers filled with razors and shaving brushes. Believe it or not when I was growing up no one had credit cards and people saved their money to buy essential things. They rarely bought frivolous items, it was considered an extravagance. Along came the baby boomers and Dr. Spock. (Not the one from Star Trek) My point is that these things sold for a few bucks in the 1950s and no one could have imagined someone paying hundreds of dollars for one decades later. They were like a potato peeler, or a can opener. You bought one to use.

So this might be fun to speculate on, a mystery...... it is a mystery because the people that made them attached such little importance to them that they didn't think it was anything someone would want to read or know about. Where are the volumes on "My 30 Years Grinding Razors In Solingen" ? As far as the alleged 80 year old guy who knows where the bodies are buried, my grandfather told me 56 years ago, "Believe half of what you see, and nothing that you read." So much for "evidence."

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Where are the volumes on "My 30 Years Grinding Razors In Solingen" ? As far as the alleged 80 year old guy who knows where the bodies are buried, my grandfather told me 56 years ago, "Believe half of what you see, and nothing that you read." So much for "evidence."

"Bonjour" ...if it is posted on the internet then it must be true as some say.