Getting to Know your straight razors

all right guys, am I missing something here? I know that we often don't like to say negative things about people in our same hobby, or possible a forum member. but there is a guy on ebay selling razors all the time, big claim to fame and expertise seems to be he authored said book, "Getting to know your straight razors".

I have not read this book. but wonder how expert he can be, he never includes blade size in his posts. I'm not badmouthing the guy, just asking the question: how expert can he be if he doesn't include the standard information we all want before buying razors?

Red

I know exactly who you mean. I bought from him once. Though I was not unhappy with the purchase, it was not as described. He stated is was some brand I had not heard of. It turned out to be a Torrey. He never mentioned that the edge had a slight frown and nick that needed to be ground out. He also did not mention that the MOP on the tang was broken; cracked in half. He never said that it was flawless, but his "bio" made it seem like these are things he would be aware of and would have mentioned.
http://www.mercconsulting.com/razors/torrey/mypearl.jpg

What I found really interesting was that the auction was a "two for one" where he threw in a "bonus" razor. Turned out that the "bonus" razor was a real gem. It had almost no hone wear. The edge was great. The scales where unique and in very good condition. It's my best shaver. How strange to toss in such a great razor instead of making it the headliner in an auction.
http://www.mercconsulting.com/razors/union/wedge.jpg

Anyway, I would probably buy from him again, but would definitely ask tons of question before hand.

well in my opinion it is too much work to ask a bunch of questions. I did notice he'll sometimes do that, pair razors, but I've noticed sometimes one seems like a real lame duck man.

I have the identical Torrey! Mine shaves good and aside from some polishing problems (somebody messed with it and it isn't all even) it is in great shape. pearl is perfect.

Red

The seller in question likes to sell razors in pairs. I have bought 2 pairs of razors from him and been very happy. One pair, which went for less than $50, consisted of a 7/8" Filarmonica in very good condition, and a Worcester Red Devil in great condition!:) Haven't read his book, so I can't comment on it. I would definitely buy from him again, if he had one of the razors I collect.

If you read his other book on Gillette DEs you will find a chapter where he gives his own method of shaving. He is not ashamed to tell the world that he shaves with cartridge razors. So he is a collector of shaving implements and not a practicing wet shaver either with straights or the DEs he wrote the excellent collectors guide for.

He has one up on ebay now here with what appears to me to be a broken monkey tail. He describes it as "Strange thing about this razor is the abnormally stubby tang and the somewhat “washed out” stripes on the “peanut log” striped celluloid handles."

It is item #380103499989 if the link doesn't work and you care to check it out. Makes me wonder if he is trying to put one over on someone. I can't see the razor and maybe if I had it in my hand I would agree with his conclusion but it seems to me to be obviously a damaged razor. :shrug:

Back when I was collecting vintage DEs, Krumholz's "The Complete Gillette Collector's Handbook" was a Bible for me. While it lacks information on fine British Gillettes, it was completely accurate on American Gillettes, without exception, period, end of story. And his "Getting To Know Your Straight Razors" is a very informative and entertaining read. So I'll admit I'm a biased fan, and respect him. He's kind of like Quentin Tarantino - whatever he's done since, Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction stand alone to give him big-time leeway in my book for whatever else he does. I'll look, at least.

Since switching to straights, I've put a lot of his two-fer straight auctions on my watchlist, but have never pulled the trigger. Good pictures are EVERYTHING, I don't go on reputation alone, as much as I think highly of Phil Krumholz. I'm disappointed that he'd miss something, since he generally sells on behalf of others. I'll still definitely consider his razors going forward, but will ask questions.

Honestly, as a general rule, if may radar goes up and I feel I need to ask questions before bidding, I just don't bid. But Phil gets lots of cool razors, so I'll keep an exception open for him. :o

looks clarly broken or cut to me.

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Originally Posted by FatboySlim

Back when I was collecting vintage DEs, Krumholz's "The Complete Gillette Collector's Handbook" was a Bible for me. While it lacks information on fine British Gillettes, it was completely accurate on American Gillettes, without exception, period, end of story.

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Tim, there are two things I can think of offhand. First he says that the flare tip Aristocrat was probably only made in 1910. I have had a 1911 and still have a 1916. He also in the section on Super Speeds mentions seeing a Tan Tip SS along with the familiar blue and red tips.

No one had ever seen a tan tip SS. This led to a big long thread on the B&B DE forum and it ended up with my corresponding with him. He finally said that he was not sure where he got that info (tan tip) and he couldn't recall if he actually saw one first hand or if not who told him it existed. Like I said, he is a nice guy.

Not knocking him, he wrote that book long before the web and ebay. His only reference being his collecting and communicating with other big time razor collectors like Joe & Betty Dial and Roy Johnson. I think he did great all things considered and maybe I'm nitpicking but when I said it had a couple of flaws that is what I was referring to.

Very good thread IMO. I always remember that these guys are razor collectors and only state what they THINK they know. Without serial numbers, etc. it is very hard (and never provable) to pinpoint a date or something else without some written proof. There is a related discussion going on in another thread about whether or not certain scales are tortoise or not. Despite the reference to one of these 'collecting books', they don't match any real tortoise I could find or have seen...

http://straightrazorpalace.com/show-...nce-shots.html

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Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Tim, there are two things I can think of offhand. First he says that the flare tip Aristocrat was probably only made in 1910. I have had a 1911 and still have a 1916. He also in the section on Super Speeds mentions seeing a Tan Tip SS along with the familiar blue and red tips.

No one had ever seen a tan tip SS. This led to a big long thread on the B&B DE forum and it ended up with my corresponding with him. He finally said that he was not sure where he got that info (tan tip) and he couldn't recall if he actually saw one first hand or if not who told him it existed. Like I said, he is a nice guy.

Not knocking him, he wrote that book long before the web and ebay. His only reference being his collecting and communicating with other big time razor collectors like Joe & Betty Dial and Roy Johnson. I think he did great all things considered and maybe I'm nitpicking but when I said it had a couple of flaws that is what I was referring to.

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Haha, yes! The old tan tip SS debate, I remember that one on B&B. I wondered where that legend had originated.

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Originally Posted by Philadelph

Very good thread IMO. I always remember that these guys are razor collectors and only state what they THINK they know. Without serial numbers, etc. it is very hard (and never provable) to pinpoint a date or something else without some written proof. There is a related discussion going on in another thread about whether or not certain scales are tortoise or not. Despite the reference to one of these 'collecting books', they don't match any real tortoise I could find or have seen...

http://straightrazorpalace.com/show-...nce-shots.html

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I started that thread, and perhaps I was overzealous, which I admitted later in the same thread. My limited experience and the needle test tells me it's probably tortoise. The scales are identical to thick vintage tortoise guitar picks I have handled. And I provided a reference to a well known book with a picture that I felt backed it up. But it seems to be giving you heartburn still, and now I'm being questioned in another unrelated thread. I'm still new here and I don't want a question continuing to dog me, and I sincerely don't want to give false information. I wasn't trying to pump or sell anything, I was sharing what I felt was a novelty, that I intend to keep. If I was wrong, I'll admit it.

I want to settle what the scales are, and put it to rest. I will ship you the pictured razor that I said has tortoise scales at my cost, wrapped in a $5 bill to cover return postage. You personally inspect it, and use whatever test you like to verify the authenticity of the scales to your satisfaction, including hot needle (as long as you don't mar the outside of the scales). You also have my permission to send it to anybody else you like for further verification, as long as I get it back.

I will go along with your professional judgment, without dispute either way. You have far more experience than I do, and have seen and worked with far more tortoise than I ever have. But I think you'll agree that a picture is just a picture, an opinion is an opinion, a book is a book - but in hand is different. One way or another, we'll all learn.

Sound fair enough? If so, PM me your mailing address, and I'll get it to you next week. I am being sincere here, I want to put this to rest.

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Originally Posted by FatboySlim

I started that thread, and perhaps I was overzealous, which I admitted later in the same thread. My limited experience and the needle test tells me it's probably tortoise. The scales are identical to thick vintage tortoise guitar picks I have handled. And I provided a reference to a well known book with a picture that I felt backed it up. But it seems to be giving you heartburn still, and now I'm being questioned in another unrelated thread. I'm still new here and I don't want a question continuing to dog me, and I sincerely don't want to give false information. I wasn't trying to pump or sell anything, I was sharing what I felt was a novelty, that I intend to keep. If I was wrong, I'll admit it.

I want to settle what the scales are, and put it to rest. I will ship you the pictured razor that I said has tortoise scales at my cost, wrapped in a $5 bill to cover return postage. You personally inspect it, and use whatever test you like to verify the authenticity of the scales to your satisfaction, including hot needle (as long as you don't mar the outside of the scales). You also have my permission to send it to anybody else you like for further verification, as long as I get it back.

I will go along with your professional judgment, without dispute either way. You have far more experience than I do, and have seen and worked with far more tortoise than I ever have. But I think you'll agree that a picture is just a picture, an opinion is an opinion, a book is a book - but in hand is different. One way or another, we'll all learn.

Sound fair enough? If so, PM me your mailing address, and I'll get it to you next week. I am being sincere here, I want to put this to rest.

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I think you're taking it the wrong way and I'm sorry. Oftentimes I sound very 'critical' in my posts and I admit that. Your razor is your razor and I really have little interest in the actual piece. It doesn't even appeal to me really. I just looked very carefully because you titled it as "tortoise scale reference shots" which is a big claim to make considering the differing opinions on the scales on that razor. I'm just trying to offer my differing opinion with whatever backup resources I can so that it isn't taken as pure fact. Again, you MAY be right.

Really, I don't have the time or desire to inspect and have others inspect the razor, but I appreciate the offer. Maybe someone else would get it done. :shrug: I've done similar things before and it was more hassle than it was worth. I also realize that in the original thread you said that you may have been too hasty in posting what you did, and that's great. I do agree that "a picture is just a picture, an opinion is an opinion, a book is a book" so I'll leave it at that. I just think that a lot of people see certain threads and all of a sudden may take them as fact– be it right or wrong. Sorry for the confusion.

Sorry about the :HJ

I find it puzzling when people collect things that they don't use. I have never understood that. i can see rich people and their investment collections, okay, putting your money in something. I get that. but everyday people that collect odd ball stuff and don't even use it?

Everything I've ever collected I've used, the ones I didn't use I sold. guns, pipes, knives, girls. ;)

seriouslly though, Lynn probably has as many razors as just about anybody else, although i doubt he'd sell many razors I'm sure he'd always give good pics and list the details and sizes.

Red

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Originally Posted by Philadelph

I think you're taking it the wrong way and I'm sorry. Oftentimes I sound very 'critical' in my posts and I admit that. Your razor is your razor and I really have little interest in the actual piece. It doesn't even appeal to me really. I just looked very carefully because you titled it as "tortoise scale reference shots" which is a big claim to make considering the differing opinions on the scales on that razor. I'm just trying to offer my differing opinion with whatever backup resources I can so that it isn't taken as pure fact. Again, you MAY be right.

Really, I don't have the time or desire to inspect and have others inspect the razor, but I appreciate the offer. Maybe someone else would get it done. :shrug: I've done similar things before and it was more hassle than it was worth. I also realize that in the original thread you said that you may have been too hasty in posting what you did, and that's great. I do agree that "a picture is just a picture, an opinion is an opinion, a book is a book" so I'll leave it at that. I just think that a lot of people see certain threads and all of a sudden may take them as fact– be it right or wrong. Sorry for the confusion.

Sorry about the :HJ

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Thanks, Alex. I apologize for taking your earlier comments personally, I get a bit wrapped up in this sometimes. My describing the pictures as "reference shots" of tortoise was a bit much, because I have learned at this point that there actually is no reliable "reference" photo of tortoise, genuine or fake.

(Please pardon the thread detour, all. Last time, I promise. :fim:)