Thread: Old timers, what have you seen change over the last ---- years?

The main question arose as I was contemplating the "popular" razors of today, Wade & Butcher, Filis, Dbl Ducks, etc. But is this a new phenomenon or fad or have these companies always been this way? What were the coveted blades 10 years ago? Has popularity of different blade widths changed? Popularity of a certain scale material....

Since I'm a newbie, wondering how the hobby has evolved.

By the way, I say old timers as a term of respect, not a pejorative.

In my opinion 10 years ago I preferred Puma, M. Jung, Griffin. I think preferences change over the years. Razor popularity comes and goes. Give it time and some other brand will take the lead.

I am also a relative newby.
This is what I have seen over the years and gleaned from friends who started many years ago.
The guys used to collect fancy scales and blades. Large collections were usually at a knife store, supplier's, or some restaurants. I remember prices of a buck a blade... unfortunately before I started accumulating. ~A.D.2000.
Even a few years ago there were less than 100 straights on the 'bay. Now the other night listed 700.

Yes there is a "Fanboy" thing going about certain relatively common blades. There were a LOT of W&B and Wostenholm blades made. About 12 gross a week ( 1700+) per fitter up man during the production years.
Or about 1.5 million a year per factory!
That is without the somewhat commonly underrated blades by other manufacturers with nearly the same production of blades.

A given blade will, for some reason, be touted till it prices high and still touted by folks who want their money back with serious interest. I do know of folks who did buy cases of razors from factories going out of business overseas and their retirement is assured.
Blade width is pretty much and individual thing. I see mostly American and German blades in my area of about 9/16ths. Perhaps the barbers liked them? Re-enactors seem to have driven the heavy width 1850's look and collections.

All that is my opinion and I like to shave with most anything that I come across including a semi disaster with knapped obsidian.
The blades seem to be getting saved for newer generations and I see a lot of labor going into making them worth the saving. If it takes two hours to renew a blade and another two+ to hone it to shave ready or near that, yes, the prices are higher than a buck a blade. I have also put in about 60,000 miles driving, finding and hitting antique stores over the last few years.
YTMV
~Richard

Supply and demand seems to be escalating prices on the international market. The price of razors just keeps increasing. Especially the Japanese razors. Maybe something to do with the strong American Dollar compared to other World Currencies.

I may be getting to oldtimer status, or not. I have had some observations over the years. There are a LOT more guys into them as I began about 15 years ago. Forums such as this have spawned much more restoration and blades, scales are being combined and saved. Lots of scales being made and sold, collars and such custom made. If you consider Ebay, there seems to be a plethora of retired guys restoring and selling razors where there were few back then.
Even the amount of custom-makers are abundant as few were making back when.
As I began collecting, I bought a lot from a local guy and got to know him. He had been piling them up since way before the internet for a buck apiece. He said it was the best investment he had ever made. Nobody wanted them! Now, we have Japan opened-up and Henckels, which were rare, are now abundant, albeit Japanese models.
I have plenty, but cannot compete on Ebay anymore. A tough row to hoe for someone just starting out. Hones/strops reflect this trend as well.
My advise would be to not buy willy-nilly. No buying for a dollar and selling for 50 down the road anymore.
Buy quality and condition. Scales here, blade there. Learn to clean, hone, and pin.
Skills are the ONLY way I can afford nice razors these days. Unless I pay dearly, of course! Even then, They cost too much!
I suppose I could say that Filly's, Pumas, Ducks, and Butchers have always been in favor.
The internet is showing how many jillions are out there and folks think some are worth a fortune while being worthless. Things which were rare, are not. Interesting to study it a bit.

I am just going to add 1 thing. Something of a phenomenon is custom made razors and new small production makers.
I don't see any of this slowing down. People are hunting down all the old razors for profit, new guys making them, And once you have (properly) learned to use one you don't want to change.

I like old horn and bone, ivory, and I use razors with acrylics.
I like wide blades sometimes, narrow for a change from the medium.

If you look into the history of razors you will find trends all along. I think it's part of it. If you love one thing over another your limiting yourself. Some may want just that.

I am not an old timer, but I think the world has gone grit and abrasive crazy. What grit is that natural? 8K that is a good medium grit stone?

It is kinda like "we need more cow bell" "we need more grits"

Charlie

Yep, you must really get a custom contemporary blade a few times. These guys are making Gems!

Originally Posted by spazola

I am not an old timer, but I think the world has gone grit and abrasive crazy. What grit is that natural? 8K that is a good medium grit stone?

It is kinda like "we need more cow bell" "we need more grits"

Charlie

All we need are more smiling Lewis razors. That's all we need!

Before it was the Coticule craze that seems to be quieting down. People want higher finish on their edges.

There was the Escher craze, now we do not talk much about those anymore but they are still very sought after. Prices are steady and not going down as far as I can tell.
There was the J-Nats craze. Still a lot of people use them and buy, but with price hikes it is hard to afford a full size stone. People still get them but I so not see many posts about new J-Nats anymore.

Now we see all kinds of naturals pop up a lot not very good for razors, but many shavers are looking for cheaper natural hone so money is being made out of people that do not know how to grade hones and know no better.

For razors, I think Japanese straights are still on the rise, Filarmonica craze seems to be quieting down. Not sure about WB not following the trends, I think only the choppers still command high prices, might be wrong though.