Thread: Filarmonica Nomenclature

HI Memorael! NIce razor you've got! JMP - Jose Monserrat Pou..AKA Filarmonica..I think that was 3 diferent trials of the medallon taurino..i have one of the first edition n.14 7/8 bought for 35€ - no "sello doro" - I've allready see yours in another place..i think it was the second trial - it was made the "sello Doro" in this fase - this improvements were made to achive the best razor in terms of steel, balance and "look" and had its "climax" with the Medallon Taurino 13 6/8 that Leon has in his place..take a look www.vintagescent.com.
Dont know the price that your razor can go..but if you want to sell it.. i will PM you.
Since this razor was made to the bullfighters of Sout Spain..this first razor have a "Sevilha" Dancer in the scales original made! I like pretty much this detail..im going to restore this razor in next week!
But like i said..dont know for sure the story..
regards

Fillies are made from Toledo steel, the world's finest steel. It is the oldest steel in Europe dating back to about 700 AD. It is one of the greatest gifts that the Arabs gave to Spain. Palmera razors are also top shelf razors, very similar to Fillies but and less expensive. I would like to make a comment about razor prices. I don't subscribe to all the moaning, groaning, lamenting, weeping and gnashing of teeth about razor prices. I also don't subscribe to all the from ignorance commentary spewed out on this and other forums about price as if there is an intrinsic value in things. The price is defined by the marketplace in a free economy. I recently got some Fillies from a friend of leon who i believe is tcharah. These razors are in the most spectacular NOS condition that I've ever seen. So what are they worth, well some people here paid $300.00 or more for one razor. Personally I think that's a great deal because the razors are perfect and none will ever be made again. I bought a Peres razor from Lynn off this site. It is equally splendid and NOS, I only paid $50.00 for it. So you see, worth or value are relative terms and not absolutes. It's kinda like why are van Gough's paintings fetching hundreds of millions and mine aren't. The explaination lies in the minds of buyers not in the intrinsic worth of either painting. I actually prefer my paintings over van Gough's!

This explanation of value is inspirational. To think that some day my razors will be worth milllions.

Or is that only if I get them painted

Originally Posted by blaireau

Fillies are made from Toledo steel, the world's finest steel. It is the oldest steel in Europe dating back to about 700 AD. It is one of the greatest gifts that the Arabs gave to Spain. Palmera razors are also top shelf razors, very similar to Fillies but and less expensive. I would like to make a comment about razor prices. I don't subscribe to all the moaning, groaning, lamenting, weeping and gnashing of teeth about razor prices. I also don't subscribe to all the from ignorance commentary spewed out on this and other forums about price as if there is an intrinsic value in things. The price is defined by the marketplace in a free economy. I recently got some Fillies from a friend of leon who i believe is tcharah. These razors are in the most spectacular NOS condition that I've ever seen. So what are they worth, well some people here paid $300.00 or more for one razor. Personally I think that's a great deal because the razors are perfect and none will ever be made again. I bought a Peres razor from Lynn off this site. It is equally splendid and NOS, I only paid $50.00 for it. So you see, worth or value are relative terms and not absolutes. It's kinda like why are van Gough's paintings fetching hundreds of millions and mine aren't. The explaination lies in the minds of buyers not in the intrinsic worth of either painting. I actually prefer my paintings over van Gough's!

Couldn't agree more! ..i'm suspicious, but this Fillys are something..!!!

as always you see the humor that is in everything. yes, do get your razors painted, but be sure you get van Gough to do it. if i paint them the value will certainly go south

I just want to present my new #14 Filli







It is a quite simple one, made of carbone steel, no blade etching, no decorated spine etc. It is not declared as a "Doble Temple", "Novodur" or "Sub Cero" either. The words "Jose Monserrat Pou" or "fabricacion Espanola" are missing, too. The razor came in a cardboard box from a Spanish cutlery and perfumery. I own three Fillis, a #13 Doble Teple, a #12 Doble Temple and the #14 shown above. Does anyone know something about my #14? Is it some kind of an unspectacular cheaper budget model?

Regarding terms of steel quality:

- The # 13 has been my favourite razor for a long time, just until I got my Böker King Cutter. It is a superb and smooth shaver. It's sharpness has gone a bit over the last time. I think it was hone on some kind of diamond film, instead of on water stones. Maybe if it was honed the traditional way, it would have kept it's extreme sharpness a bit longer. By the way I have extrem tough stubbles, I don't expect razors to hold their edge as they might could do with people having less corase beard. I'll give it a touch up soon

- The #12 was honed by myself. Honing went quick and easy, it took an sharper edge as the #13, but was a little bit aggressive in the beginning. Now it shows the great smoothness, Fillis are famous for. I did not use this razor much, so I can't comment on it's ability to hold an edge

- My newst one, the #14 was really painful to hone. Because of a nick at the point, I had to shorten the blade for about 2mm. It is now nearly 8/8" broad (2,3cm). Shortenng the blade on the 1k hone did not work well, I had to use 240 grit sandpaper. Honing took several hours. The massive tang draws the blade away from the stone, so you have to pay an enormous amount of attention, the blade touches the hone's surface all the time. An even greater problem was the hardnesse of the steel. It tokk several hours to set an initial bevel, able to cut hair from my arm. I succeeded in finishing it the second day. After chromium oxide and leather, the edge nearly felt dull on skin of my thumb. Well, I tried shaving with it the next day and that worked surprisingly well. Meanwhile, after the third shave it finally passes the hanging hair test. It is a decent and smooth shaver, but my Doble Temple models a little bit better.

Having lots of 4/8" blades, shaving with the heavy #14 with it's dangerous spike point was a little bit tricky at the first shave, but I can handle the blade quite well now.

Nice save! I have one of those..but i have to restore it...i can see that it will be a hard task! This ones were the early ones / first ones - anyone correct me if im wrong - that came out of the JMP factory. Untill now the best razors that i have / shave with are the Barbas Duras 14 and the Medallon Taurino 13 6/8! They are very easy to hone!

Originally Posted by Moleman

I just want to present my new #14 Filli

Nice, thanks for sharing.

They are wonderful razors.

Originally Posted by tcharah

Untill now the best razors that i have / shave with are the Barbas Duras 14 and the Medallon Taurino 13 6/8! They are very easy to hone!

+1 on that. I thought it was just beginners luck, but I have a few shaves with my Barbas Duras under my belt and this thing took an amazing edge SO easily. My honing experience is very limited, I have a great teacher, but I didn't expect it to be so easy!

Originally Posted by FatboySlim

.

They are wonderful razors.

Indeed, they are!

Here some pics of my new '#14 Filarmonica:

It's an "Especial" model. The engraved eagle on the tang I have never seen before

I was lucky and could get this razor for very little money, but my happiness quickly disappeared as I unwrapped the package.
The razor everything else but in mint condition











- The scales are cracked, the blade doesn't close centered
- There is massive honewear at spine and edge
- The broadth varies from 6/8" to 7/8"

Restoration:
I have glued the scales. After cleaning them, I'll have to try to repin the blade. Unfortunately my replacement scales don't fit, because the blade is longer than usual. Let's hope, that the glued original will last.

I tried to polish out the honewear with 150 grit sandpaper. That worked quite well, but it still needs a finer finish.

In order to save the etching, I dipped a toothpick in green acrylick paint (contains ChrOx) and started to polish in between the etched notes. You cann still see some some scratch marks of the toothpick/1000grit paper combo.

Lust but not least, I'll have to hone it.