Thread: Antique Shop Finds

Went to a few antique shops today. Came across three razors at prices I couldn't pass up. Just looking to share

the first is a Boker with an embossing of "World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago 1893". I think this razor celebrates the 400 year anniversary of Columbus' arrival to the Americas. I could be wrong. Some patina is evident, and a bit of rust along the edge, which made me hesitate to buy it. But I thought it was just cool - a piece of history that I wanted to add to my collection. Also a generic "Warranted Razor Sheffield England" razor. The scales appear to be bone. I could be wrong here. Wondering if the scales are original? If not, the scales really don't appear to be new. They don't have the feel of wood, or plastic for that matter. However, they look more hand-crafted...not molded or factory made. And the wedge between the scales looks to be hand made too.

Finally, I found what I believe to be a Frederick Fenny's Tally Ho Razor. The tang is stamped with a crown and the letters V and R and Silver Steel. Also, the blade is embossed with the Star of David, and what looks like possibly Free Mason symbols. I'll have to hit it with MAAS and see if I can get some better pics. However, no mention of Frederick Fenny is apparent on the razor itself. It did come with a F.F. coffin though.

Anyway, just thought I'd share these pics. I'll try to restore to the best of my abilities, and put them to the hones...

Thanks, and looking forward to any thoughts you all have!

Jeff

Great finds! I love to hear about guys getting out there in the "real world" digging through the antiques store or the flea market or the yard sale and coming up with cool shaving stuff. You never know what's there unless you go check. They look like they might clean up nicely, I see some junk happening near the edge of the Tally Ho but that wouldn't have stopped me from jumping all over it. Maybe it's just light rust and you will get a good bevel I'm sure. Nice score!

Great finds!!, all will give exceptional shaves.
Lots of steel on the T.H., shouldn't be a problem at all.
Enjoy.!!

I got the boker shined up with Maas and a bit of polish. Put it to the hones 4/8 Norton and then green lapping film then crox on leather. Stropped 50 times and what a nice shaver! Very pleased

The tally Ho is a different story. I honed thru a bit of rust near the edge- you can see it in the pic. But having a bit of issue getting the heel to take a bevel. I'm using a rolling x, but just doesn't seem to hit the hone right. Trying some other gymnastics to set a nice bevel.

The Sheffield blade has an uneven bevel. I started with two layers of tape, now trying three in an attempt to get a nicer straighter bevel. Strange to have an uneven bevel because there was no hone wear to begin with on the spine, and hardly a bevel to begin with. The razor saw minimal use in previous years.

Originally Posted by relli1130

I got the boker shined up with Maas and a bit of polish. Put it to the hones 4/8 Norton and then green lapping film then crox on leather. Stropped 50 times and what a nice shaver! Very pleased

The tally Ho is a different story. I honed thru a bit of rust near the edge- you can see it in the pic. But having a bit of issue getting the heel to take a bevel. I'm using a rolling x, but just doesn't seem to hit the hone right. Trying some other gymnastics to set a nice bevel.

The Sheffield blade has an uneven bevel. I started with two layers of tape, now trying three in an attempt to get a nicer straighter bevel. Strange to have an uneven bevel because there was no hone wear to begin with on the spine, and hardly a bevel to begin with. The razor saw minimal use in previous years.

Sometimes its not the razor causing uneven wear, it might have been the hone that was previously used.
(Not lapped, humps, dished out, ect.)
Wouldn't be the first time I've seen this.
Did you try large swooping strokes?

WOW some nice looking razors their, congrats.

Nice pick up. I've hit a few shops with nothing shaving related in them.

Sent from my VS990 using Tapatalk

Nice razors, I especially like that Boker! I hope you get them honed up right, I agree that it sound like some wonky stones were used in its past...

I get almost everything related to straight razors except my water hones from flea markets, antique shops & garage sales. I see no reason to pay big $$$$ for a new razor that won't shave any better than the ones that I paid $20.00 at a flea market.
I have paid from 0 to 35 dollars for my razors. I got a Shell Horsehide Koken strop for $12.00 & a Jager Barber Supply Shell strop for $5.00 at a garage sale. Got my Coti for $3.00 at a flea market. The stuff IS out there!!

Slawman

Originally Posted by Slawman

I get almost everything related to straight razors except my water hones from flea markets, antique shops & garage sales. I see no reason to pay big $$$$ for a new razor that won't shave any better than the ones that I paid $20.00 at a flea market.
I have paid from 0 to 35 dollars for my razors. I got a Shell Horsehide Koken strop for $12.00 & a Jager Barber Supply Shell strop for $5.00 at a garage sale. Got my Coti for $3.00 at a flea market. The stuff IS out there!!

Slawman

You betcha..!!
Got drawers full of um. And to be honest, they all shave better than the modern made blades, of today. With the exception of custom blades.