Thread: The DublDuck Wonderedge myth

Originally Posted by Chrisl

I agree. If it was legit, and I was the nephew selling the razor, I would have had made a certificate and had my uncle sign it in front of a notary public. Then you have something. This razor with a true certificate of authenticity like that would be worth much more. I would have then set the minimum bid at $1,500 and let it go up from there. And, under those circumstances I bet it would sell for that or higher.

With that in mind, even if this IS legit, without a certificate of authenticity (since it's a foregone conclusion that this is a collectible piece due to its history) the "alleged" history doesn't mean anything. I picture 20 years from now for this razor the buyer appearing on Antique Road Show telling this story..........where's the proof?!!

Chris L

I saw the auction soon after it was listed, and although I wondered whether or not the story was 100% accurate myself (I try to research the origins of most of my own razors), as you said, the fact it's an unopened razor from a bygone era is the main reason it has value - you just don't see these every day. It's pretty freakin' awesome that one turned up like this. I fantasize about finding one in an estate sale. It wouldn't be sealed like this one is, obviously, but still.

I'm constantly surprised by how much people are willing to pay for things on eBay, but I still do wonder what a certificate of authenticity would actually do for a razor like this. On the Antiques Roadshow they frequently comment on how such certificates, like an oral history, require a level of trust, because forgeries of certificates keep people guessing....such as with baseball memorabelia.

If a Dubl Duck found its way to the Roadshow, it's my guess that they'd give a frank estimation of its actual value, and then comment on the zealous collector's market. Those razors use nice steel, but in that respect, they're no different than thousands of separate razor makers or independent cutlers in England and Germany (and America or France, who used imported steel, I guess) over a couple hundred years. Their scales are plastic and they were almost always sold individually, with very little ornateness. I think this particular sale is really awesome, and I'd love to own it myself (assuming what's inside is in perfect condition, as it is implied), but I doubt a certificate on a subject like this would matter too, too much, especially since it's impossible to validate. It might be one of two razors from the company, but who's to say some old, generational hardware store doesn't have a whole closet full of the things in their boxes from back in the 50s? If you can distance yourself from the endorsement, hype and perception of scarcity, what is the Wonderedge, anyway? Well, one of a number of Dubl Duck models which, if it weren't for the label(s), would not be discernable from the others - save for tell-tale varying sizes in the makes.

So I'm a bit skeptical. Whoever buys a razor like that is obviously into straight razors in general, otherwise there'd be no reason to get it. But what do they do with it? Do they leave it sealed in the box, or bust it open for an experience no one here has likely had: to shave with a brand "new" (unused, anyway) razor from over half a century ago?

Well,

I guess the price of the Goldedge just went up significantly.

I have heard many stories that the DD Wonderedge, Goldedge and Satinedge were prized by barbers in the old days for their shaving quality. Mine are all still fabulous shavers.

Beauty, shave and price are all in the eye of the beholder.

Have fun,

Lynn

I know a little about antiques sales, and antiques with a valid certificate are always worth more. Even if there is no question about authenticity, the certificate itself makes the item even more rare because the manufacturer handled it and the certificate personally.

Also antiques dealers and auction houses are used to working with certificates. I guess it would make an item easier to accept in certain circles where antiques get sold for $$$.

Now if only my antiques market hunts would land me a NOS Wonderedge or a YG Escher for 3$...

Originally Posted by Blade Wielder

I'm constantly surprised by how much people are willing to pay for things on eBay, but I still do wonder what a certificate of authenticity would actually do for a razor like this. On the Antiques Roadshow they frequently comment on how such certificates, like an oral history, require a level of trust, because forgeries of certificates keep people guessing....such as with baseball memorabelia.

If an affidavit was notarized, the notary would have to be licensed. Unless collusion in faking a certificate for this razor in my hypothetical scenario was on numerous levels, the notary's license could be cross referenced. The person signing the document would have to prove their identity to the notary while signing in their presence. Could the steps in my scenario be faked/forged? Absolutely. But since we're not talking about the Mona Lisa, my point was simply that some form of documented written authenticity other than a screen print from some Ebay listing where the seller says the razor is historic in that way would increase it's value. Just theororizin'

Chris L

Oh, I understood. I'm also very aware that a documented history for an antique is usually beneficial, especially if there's ever a need to question its authenticity. But with a razor like this, we know where it came from, and as I said, its value is more to do with hype and talk. I like Dubl Ducks myself, but to an Antiques Roadshow person, they probably wouldn't see the final days of the Dubl Duck compay to be any more significant than the last time any ol' forgotten razor company stamped their last blade.

True.
A certificate would make it accessible to people outside the wet shaving audience, and probably fetch a higher price.

Originally Posted by Blade Wielder

Oh, I understood. I'm also very aware that a documented history for an antique is usually beneficial, especially if there's ever a need to question its authenticity. But with a razor like this, we know where it came from, and as I said, its value is more to do with hype and talk. I like Dubl Ducks myself, but to an Antiques Roadshow person, they probably wouldn't see the final days of the Dubl Duck compay to be any more significant than the last time any ol' forgotten razor company stamped their last blade.

I see what you're saying. Agreed. But see, in my fantasy world, one of us would be the roadshow expert and every person from the public that would come out to that roadshow would bring nothing but razors & other barber antiques.....................

Chris L

The only problem here is if the razor is in a sealed unopened package the exceptional price is partly owing to that fact. As soon as you break the seal the value of the razor has just dropped probably by 40-50%. So does the owner open it to look at it and fondle it or keep it in the sealed package as a collectable and sell it in 20 years and hope to get double what he paid for it? The Wonderedge I have came in a sealed package but I opened it and use it and I didn't pay anywhere near the price of this one.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

The only problem here is if the razor is in a sealed unopened package the exceptional price is partly owing to that fact. As soon as you break the seal the value of the razor has just dropped probably by 40-50%. So does the owner open it to look at it and fondle it or keep it in the sealed package as a collectable and sell it in 20 years and hope to get double what he paid for it? The Wonderedge I have came in a sealed package but I opened it and use it and I didn't pay anywhere near the price of this one.

I'm a shaver, that package would be opened almost before I could get the shipping envelope open. but then I wouldn't spend that much on a blade either.

Even assuming the seller is who he claims to be, I thought these were made under contract by a manufacturer in Germany who made the razor to order for Dubl Duck (much as China or someone makes the new Dubl Duck dog clippers etc etc)
So, I somewhat wonder about the lack of difference claimed in the blades. There may be none, but one wonders how much Dubl Duck actually knew about the manufacturing, which took place long before the internet, in a foreign country...
I'm very curious about this.

John P.