Old Razor - New To SRP & Shaving

I was going to post this in the Newbie section, but I wanted an opinions from the regulars on the brand and quality of the razor.

I'm new to straight edge shaving and my uncle was nice enough to find me a vintage razor from a widow he did some work for. (I believe those are his initals on the blade, but I'm not 100% sure)

Anyway it came in the original box and reads "Electric Cutlery Company Dept No 10 Newark NJ"
Questions are...

1. Is the brand any good? I didn't see it on the Quality Razor listing.
2. Does the condition look OK? Some rust on the inner handle.
3. If not, what needs to be done to restore it? Who do you recommend?
4. Good for a newbie?

If you have other thoughts feel free to include them. Thanks in advance. :-)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3571/...0fa1038440.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3553/...f11de6f3ab.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3561/...8bccbcd18c.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3425/...463af2026a.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3561/...02c7205b9c.jpg

Close-ups --> Mystery Razor - a set on Flickr

Welcome to SRP ! Yes I believe it is a good razor. Long time forum member mparker has one branded Electric Razor and speaks very highly of it if I am not mistaken. I am not sure it is the same company but it probably is.

One way or the other you will need to have it honed to 'shave ready'. Even if it looks good to the naked eye and feels sharp to the touch it probably isn't sharp enough to shave close and comfortable. Here is the member's services in the SRP classifieds which has members who offer honing services.

Here is our Straight Razor Place SRP Wiki with every thing you need to get you started in the right direction. Here are some videos and here is a good post to follow for your first shave. :gl:

According to the Standard Guide to Razors 3ed, Electric Cutlery Co was 1873-1920. It has an above average base value, for what that's worth.
I'm sure it'll clean and hone up nice. The blade itself looks to be in decent shape and I'm sure is completely salvageable. Follow Jimmy's links and send it out to someone for a quick cleanup, or read in the wiki if you want to take on the cleanup yourself- it really shouldn't be too hard. Then send it out for honing.
Good luck!

So just a cleaning and honing?

Just wanted to add some better closeup photos as there seem to be stains on the blade that might be rust. And the third pic has a good shot of the rust on the part under the initials. (don't know the name for that part of the razor). :-)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3638/...067766c5e4.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3602/...627700fa3d.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3585/...fb8afeae7c.jpg

Looks awesome! Better condition than the first razor I shaved with. Send it out for a hone, and a polish if ya really want. Hone should only be $15 or so. Check out the classifieds for a honemeister. Tons of awesome ones out there! Good luck!

From the photos it looks like it will clean up nice. I take razors in that condition and rub a little semi chrome or flitz metal polish on them and hone them up and strop and shave. Some guys have a razor like that shining like a new dime in a goat's a$$ in no time.

Just noticed that the markings on the razor don't match your Electric Razor comments. Had that suspicion earlier. "Original" boxes rarely are. What does it say there (on both sides of the razor)? Something from PA? A.B. Garner maybe- no record of anything like that.

Engraving reads "A.B. Garnier Easton, PA"

My uncle got that from a lady in Easton PA. But your right there are no markings on the Razor that say Electric Cutlery. I was going by the box. I'll have pics of the box in a few.

So the box is a mismatch. It is probably a 'good' razor. Back in those days most of them were. The only way to find out is have it honed up and try it. :gl:

Ozmotear

Whatever it's provenance it looks like a blade that I would gamble a few bucks on. There is little corrosion or hone wear and no chips in the edge, so cleaning and honing will be enough to get you started. Also, the grind is very symetrical, which leads me to think that it is a pretty good quality blade.

Goshawk

Thanks to all for the suggestions/comments. Here are the box photos as promised.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3442/...114474e539.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3419/...d513bfc0b8.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3541/...72cef9ddd5.jpg

Razor appears to be in good condition. People always mix up razor boxes with razors, no big deal. Should hone up and shave nicely.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

shining like a new dime in a goat's a$$.

---

Where do you get this stuff, Jimmy? :roflmao

Those scales look like they may be ivory :hmmm: . Do you think they are ?

I was going to say that the scales look like bone.If they are,care should be taken when closing the blade.Old brittle bone cracks easily.

Most American razors used celluloid scales. So the odds are they are celluloid. However, they certainly do look like they could be ivory or bone, I would expect bone to be slightly thicker though.

It is because they are so thin that I beleieve they are ivory . Celluloid would also be thicker . I would bet money that they are ivory .

Its interesting that may of you picked up on that. My Mom looked at it when I first got it and suggested it might be Ivory as well. I sent it off to get cleaned/honed, so when it gets back I'll find someone to look at it and confirm the handle material.

:-)