Additional opinions on Filarmonica razors

Gentlemen,

I read an excellent review of the Filarmonica by Maximilian. Well done, sir. Although I do not own this razor, I have had my eyes on the brand for several years.

Yes, it's pricey, especially today — so what else is new?

Vintage Scents offers a whole collection of the Filarmonicas. I have ordered products from this vendor, as have many of you, and like the prices and the services. He has a lot of unusual products, which I like. I have never met the owner via e-mail, but I am sure I will like him, too.

Anyway, a question to you experts: what are your thoughts on the Filarmonicas Vintage Scents offers? Even though I am tapped out right now, should I want to buy one in the coming weeks and months, what do you recommend? My preference is for 5/8 and 6/8. Obviously straight razors are personal, as are smoking pipes, cognac, single malt Scotch, and many other good things in life. Still, I would welcome your learned thoughts and suggestions on these Filarmonicas.

Many thanks from this straight razor pilgrim.

Regards,

Obie

Obie,

I have several vintage Filarmonicas and they are amongst my best shavers.

You really cannot go wrong with any Filarmonica. Be it the doble temple, sub cero, especial para barba duras, taurino,...

The Palmera 14 is also a razor that I have high praise for. It gives me an equally smooth and sharp shave as my beloved Fil14. True, it comes with cheap white or black plastic scales but boy does it perform and at a much cheaper price (for now) But it's a 7/8.

Basically you'll end up choosing your favorite grind and whatever your budget can stretch.

I haven't had the pleasure of a Filharmonica, but I hardly doubt it will be that much better then my Sheffield's or my prized FWE's. I think you get to a certain level in blades/steel and you kinda "get there."

cheers
D

They are simply one of the best razors ever made, the older ones are quite easy to hone, the more modern ones classicshaving sells have been troublesome to some. I only ever shaved with a dobe temple with gold wash (the more vintage one) and that one was really easy to hone and a great shaver. Prices have gone up since I bought mine.

I was lucky enough to snag a Vintage Filly 14 in a lot of razors, so I didn't have to shell out the big bucks to get her. Mine is also a gold washed double temple (like Kees), and I also found that she took an edge very easily. The shave was very smooth and the blade felt very forgiving as she neatly took all the hairs off my face. A full hollow blade, but she didn't make all that much noise - sharp and smooth.

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Originally Posted by Obie

Gentlemen,

I read an excellent review of the Filarmonica by Maximilian. Well done, sir. Although I do not own this razor, I have had my eyes on the brand for several years.

Yes, it's pricey, especially today — so what else is new?

Vintage Scents offers a whole collection of the Filarmonicas. I have ordered products from this vendor, as have many of you, and like the prices and the services. He has a lot of unusual products, which I like. I have never met the owner via e-mail, but I am sure I will like him, too.

Anyway, a question to you experts: what are your thoughts on the Filarmonicas Vintage Scents offers?

Many thanks from this straight razor pilgrim.

Regards,

Obie

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I purchased a Filly #13 Doble Temple (NOS) from Bruno and Filipe at Vintage Scent. The razor was perfect and they were incredibly professional to deal. It's a beautiful razor. I also managed to find a Filly #14 para barbas duras and a Palmera #14 from a different source. The spanish razors are awesome.

s.

A thread I cant resist! :-) Agreed with all above - Fillys are wonderful especially if you have a really tough beard or even heavy spots in it. They are not loud even though they are hollow ground and larger than 5/8 in most models.

The only complaint I have at the moment is the cost to buy them from outside the US. Exchange rates are killing the dollar right now so if you are US Dollar-centric and have to buy in Euros or Pounds it's quite a shock. But if you can find one that seems worth it to you, you will not regret it at all! My only regret is that I didn't find Fillys on day one! I'd have bought nothing else!

My advice is to get or try out a #13 and a #14 and see which feels more comfortable and then get 7 of that type. As Max points out and I agree, I can find no difference between the shave or sharpening of a Filly versus a Palmera - in fact, until I looked closely I thought they were the same! And Filipe is certainly wonderful to work with at the online store. A gentleman and very flexible about working out a deal.

Gentlemen,

Your expert comments on the Filarmonica razors are enormous help. This is important in my decision to buy one of these well loved razors.

Now, when finished at year's end, if my novel becomes a bestseller, I'll buy a seven-day set of the Filarmonicas you gentlemen have suggested. Wouldn't that be sweet?

Thank you again for taking the time to share your expertise.

Regards,

Obie

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Originally Posted by AirColorado

no difference between the shave or sharpening of a Filly versus a Palmera - in fact, until I looked closely I thought they were the same!

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So if all those that want to try a Spanish razor start buying Palmeras they will be unaffordable very soon.

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Originally Posted by Kees

So if all those that want to try a Spanish razor start buying Palmeras they will be unaffordable very soon.

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Indeed. :rofl2:

I started the Fil 14 frenzy, might as well start the Palmera 14 frenzy :)

I have six NOS filarmonicas (yep, 6) and love every one of them.. But I do believe that the real reason for this love is feeling that they are NEW. Nobody shaved with them before you, and they are amazing quality..

Combination of this 2 reasons give you what you hardly can get today – outstanding old steel and new razor. Of course you can get new razor any time.. but nothing can compare with OLD and NEW razor at the same time :)

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Originally Posted by Maximilian

Indeed. :rofl2:

I started the Fil 14 frenzy, might as well start the Palmera 14 frenzy :)

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As I said in another post, Palmera's are underrated in my humble opinion. They just don't have such a prestigious brand like Filarmonica and the scales are poorer than Filly's, but other than that, the steel quality is near Filly's.

Max, you just help me choosing the straight razor for next shave, thanks :)

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Originally Posted by Kees

They are simply one of the best razors ever made, the older ones are quite easy to hone, the more modern ones classicshaving sells have been troublesome to some. I only ever shaved with a dobe temple with gold wash (the more vintage one) and that one was really easy to hone and a great shaver. Prices have gone up since I bought mine.

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The bigger Filarmonicas are expensive beyond all reason now, but they are so, so sweet. Snagged this Para Barbas Duras a while back, and boy it's nice. Like a modern, more refined descendant of the mid-19th century Wade & Butcher "For Barbers Use" choppers.


http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j2.../Fil-BD-08.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j2.../Fil-BD-05.jpg

OHHH, dats nice Tim!

I like my #13 Doble Temple so much I purchased a second (this is becoming a bad habit, I did the same with a Weltmeister model, something about a brace of razors!). Fine razors, but they must be in dwindling supply for NOS examples. Make your move soon.

I don't know about anyone else, but my 13s are 13/16ths rather than 6/8ths as often advertised. I happen to like that size anyway, and it is not much of an adjustment from a 6/8ths for those that are accustomed to a 6/8ths.

Just got through a Filarmonica batch from a Brazilian vendor. One of the them has a heart crushing nick, but I guess the restoration is doable. Maybe I could get my 7 day set of Filys down here.