Thread: Ralf Aust vs Filarmonica vs Dorko vs Other vintages.

Hello all I'd like to ask for a little of help about purchasing a vintage razor. Basically I have a 7/8 carbon steel Ralf Aust which I love but sadly don't use quite often as I have been quite busy and don't even have time for shaving. Hopefully this will change but I was thinking of buying a cheap gold dollar or a vintage stainless steel razor to make things easier unitl then as they require less maintenance.

Problem is, after looking for a razor.. I want to buy ten. For example I can buy this stainless steel dorko which looks like new:



But I can't avoid getting attracted to these two carbon steel filarmonicas (which could be complemented with a cheap stainless steel gold dollar for quick shavings on the rush):

Fil 1:



Fil 2:








The are also some other filarmonicas and some french/german vintages used in worse condition but often cheaper: Rasseti, Mann and Federlein, Kabeso, Manos, Koufman, Henckels, Wester & Butz, Edel Stahl, Focus, Diamond Steel -this one looks nice', Albero Hoppe, Gerb Weyersberg, a rusty Puma and others. I know some of these are considered good ones but can't spend that much time getting a master degree on vintage razors right now (also I have to buy fast for many reasons..).

So the questions:

1. Do any of the used/shortened/rusty ones could be considered "special" enough to buy instead of the filarmonca or the excelent looking Dorko which seems ideal to use as the main every-day shaving razor? Also I have to say I have stones to sharpen an a dremel if needed to restore. I know many others brands can be found internationally but the shipping, taxes and exchange rates makes them prohibitive for me.

2. Will one of those filarmonica shave better than my Ralf Aust? Of course, I'd like to have one just for the joy of having one, but would they "teach me" something new about shaving? Because having a nice ss vintage for every day use is also attractive and buying both a filarmonica and the dorko would be too much money I think. I'm not a millionaire or collector as for now.

3. Is the Dorko a really good one? Or is just a regular one and buying a much better filarmonica + gold dollar is clearly the way to go? They cost the same. Are these filarmonicas really good ones? Better than the Dorko?

4. Can the stains of the filarmonicas be cleaned without damaging the gold coating? Removing stains and gold completely but leaving the rest intact maybe could be ok. I preffer my razors to look like new and the stains kinda screw it a bit.


That's all I think. Thanks a lot, hopefully I can get more into this hobby and participate more on the forum.

Dorko Filarmonica and Henckels are great brands. Other brands I do not know from personal experience.
Good, better best: a matter of personal preference.
You will have a hard time preserving the gold print of the Filly.
Gold Dollars are hit and miss.

The 13 Filarmonica JMP DT with blue scales, last photo, looks like it is a first generation and just may be the best of the bunch. Just send it out for a good honing. My two cents from your current situation comments and photos shown.

Nice, thank you. Definitelly I'll get the Dorko and maybe the Filarmonica too because it's very rare to found them here. Only because of covid and our economic hell, people start selling souls and razors. Bye bye money.

PD: Still, does it makes sense to buy a CS Filarmonica when having a nice CS Ralf Aust? Of course it would be very nice to have one in the collection, but in terms of shaving and honing, it's going to be more or less the same as the Ralf Aust? That Aust It's the only straight razor I ever used.

Excelent, thank you ajkenne, I'll take that. There are also older FIlarmonicas available but far more costly or rusty.

This one also looks very good but I don't like that green very much. It costs the sames as the others.

There are certain well known German vintage straight razors which have a cachet attached to them and command a premium. That ignores literally hundreds of lesser know vintage Solingen makers.

https://www.archivingindustry.com/cu...azormakers.htm

I have a number of those made by the lesser know makers and can find no fault with them and the shave is equal to the well known makers that I have. Personally I would not discount the lesser known ones out of hand.

Vintage stainless steel razors have one big advantage and that is they do not rust as quickly as a regular carbon steel razors will if mistreated. Stainless steel Vintage stainless steel razors still need to be honed on occasion and stropped regularly just the same as a vintage regular carbon steel one would.

With vintage razors condition is everything and I would get one in the best condition I could afford. As always a vintage razor of any make can have factory flaws just as it is true of currently made razors. Pretty does not shave so you will pay extra for gold, etching and so on over a plain blade of the same maker but the blades all come from the same process.

I do not own a Gold Dollar razor as I have read their quality control is hit and miss.

Bob

Nice, thank you. And yes, when I search those names I found nothing but nice comments. Sadly it's not possible to fully study them all and even then it would be a lottery. And those rare models are mostly used and/or rusty.

Originally Posted by usu

...I was thinking of buying a cheap gold dollar or a vintage stainless steel razor to make things easier unitl then as they require less maintenance.

What makes you think that a vintage stainless steel razor or Gold Dollar would require less maintenance?
As such assumption is in itself incorrect, there can be no correct answer to your question.

If you want a straight razor that requires as little maintenance as possible, you would be well served by another Aust, but this time a stainless steel one - and possibly in a somewhat niftier, more manoeuvrable size like 5/8 or 6/8.

If anything, vintage razors require more maintenance and Gold Dollars seem to have wildy varying tolerances that may require significant work and expertise to get them shave ready.

There are quite a few excellent stainless vintage stainless steel razors out there, Henckels Friodurs and Filarmonicas in particular, but none of these requires less maintenance than a stainless steel Aust.


If you want minimal maintenance, you might also want to consider the Feather Artist Club DX razor.
This is a replaceable blade razor, but unlike Shavettes and other replaceable blade razors (including the Feather Artist Club SS) the Artist Club DX model handles and feels closely similar to a traditional straight razor, but eliminates the need for honing and stropping.


Hope this helps...



B.

As said above. Go the the Feather S.S. model if you want less maintenance. Any real straight needs maintenance, honing, stropping. Its part of the game. SS or not. And IMO stay away from the China made piece of trash called the Gold Dollar! Its not worth the postage. IMO!