Thread: Filarmonica Especial Sello de Oro

This is the first time that I've seen this razor. It was in excellent condition when I received it and I polished it to a bright mirror finish with Maas. I took off most of the gold seal but what the heck, I'm going to keep it anyway. Let me know what you think.

I´ve just had one of those beauties for a few days of testing and polishing it.
Same Blade number 14, american head, the etching on the blade was a little different though.
Should turn out to be a great razor! Losens sharpness a little too fast but still is one of my top-notch brands to look for.
The blades were german made as far as I know?
Even though they definetly stamp a "Made in Spain" on it.

Pretty nice polishing-job.
What is "Maas"? Some kind of metal-polish-cream?

regards

The blades are made from Toledo Spanish steel and are Spanish made. The one you have probably says Double Temple Which means double tempered. This one is an Especial Sello de Oro, Special Gold Seal, that's what's so rare about it, it's the first one that I've seen.

That's a beauty alright Rich. These are my favorite razors. I have a few and all hold their edge impressively.

Sello d'oro I think just means 'gold stamp' and I don't think it's a particular model, just a trademarked phrase Filarmonica puts on all their stuff. Far as I know, there are three models of Filarmonica: the "doble temple", the "sub cero," and the "medallón taurino."

Scarface Germany, I've never heard of filarmonicas being made in Solingen. Filarmonica/Monserrat makes not only razors but scissors (esp. hair scissors) and kitchen knives and so on. The steel is forged in Toledo and the manufacturing plant itself is near Barcelona if I'm not mistaken. I've never heard of Germany having anything to do with it but maybe you know something I don't.

Where'd you find it Rich?

I buy direct from a woman in Argentina who owns an antique shop. This Especial is a special model that is super rare. It is just beautiful!

As soon as I have descent pitures taken and found a way to place them here I will post a few to compare them with each other.
The only model I could compare by now was a 8/8 "Doble Temple" Filarmonica by José Monesrrat Pou with a # 14 slug/blank.
Maybe it has been a quick draw of mine but there are pretty similar slugs/blanks from a Solinger factory.

What is the correct word for the not ready ground blade or the status when they were sold to other companies to be further worked on?
Is it slug or blank or something else?

Originally Posted by Scarface Germany

As soon as I have descent pitures taken and found a way to place them here I will post a few to compare them with each other.
The only model I could compare by now was a 8/8 "Doble Temple" Filarmonica by José Monesrrat Pou with a # 14 slug/blank.
Maybe it has been a quick draw of mine but there are pretty similar slugs/blanks from a Solinger factory.

What is the correct word for the not ready ground blade or the status when they were sold to other companies to be further worked on?
Is it slug or blank or something else?

Blank I think is the word used.

That's interesting, maybe you're right. But Toledo steel's pretty well-known in its own right.

Rich, I don't mean to be a wet blanket but all six of my fillys plus the pair of filarmonica scissors my wife uses say "sello d'oro" on them. That's also what written on the company logo stamped on the boxes the CS fillys come in. On the other hand maybe you're talking about the "especial" part?

I know you're going to hate this story.

I was touring the fleamarkets & antique stores in my area, and came upon what apeared to be an older Filarmonica than yours, with etched stuff in spanish, with what looked like whatever little gold wash had survived...

BUT

You could tell that the (idiot) guy had decided to "RESTORE" the razor himself...

Geesh..I think he used 60 grit sandpaper or something really gross, he had literally DESTROYED the etching and the gold, and left behind deep monster sanding gouges on the surface of the blade....deeper than the etching...

When I told him that he had literally destroyed the razor, he cracks an totally idiotic grin, and says all proud of himself...

"Well, I got rid of the rust didn't I?"

There was still the original handle with silver/nickel/brass bolsters, the filarmonica logo in brass/nickel inlay

Then he said he was getting ready to do some similar work on the handle!!!!

He said we wanted to "Sand off the green stuff!"

This guy was an antique dealer!!!!!!!??????

When he said that was thinking of maybe trying to sharpen the razor as well, I decided to put a stop to the WHOLESALE murder, and I gave him my card & ordered him to CALL ME FIRST before he even touched any more razors, and FORBADE him to do ANY MORE resotration work on any razors that he might have coming into his antique shop in the future!!!!!!

Some of these guys are just a menace!!!!!

Tony

Originally Posted by rgdominguez

This is the first time that I've seen this razor. It was in excellent condition when I received it and I polished it to a bright mirror finish with Maas. I took off most of the gold seal but what the heck, I'm going to keep it anyway. Let me know what you think.