Thread: 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.


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.


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.

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.

looks clarly broken or cut to me.

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.

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

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.

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