Thread: My Day At the Flea Market

Gentlemen,

Today I did something new. I went to the flea market. I was in a nearby town, walking around to clear my head, when I heard the town was having its annual flea market.

Several hours later I drove home with 12 straight and two double edge razors. The DE's are Gillettes, probably from the 1950s, one a Fat Boy, I believe. They both need major cleaning up, but everything on them seems to work.

The straight razors are the typical flea market and antique store razors in various forms of disrepair. I think there is hope for some of them with a good dose of refurbishing. This is what I ended up with:

1. 5/8" full hollow manufactured by the Crown Razor Co. The etching on the blade is clear, but the pivot pin is shot.
2. 3/8" with okay scales. Probably a barber razor. The blade is in a good shape. I can't make out the manufacturer.
3. 5/8" spike by Swanson & Swanson, Sheffield. Heavy hone marks. I think it has potential.
4. 5/8" barber notch by Geo Wostenholm & Sons, Sheffield, England. The blade needs work. The scales, I think, are white bone.
5. 4/8" spike by W. Autenrieth. It probably needs to be rescaled.
6. 3/8" with S.M.F, Solingen, Germany, on the shank. Scales are mock tortoise shell, scratched up, but passable.
7. 5/8" spike, Burrell Cutlery Co., Ellicotville, NY. Not bad shape. Pivot pin is loose. White bake light scales.
8. 3/8" spike. I can't make out the manufacturer. Scales and pins are okay, but the razor needs a good rehab.
9. 5/8" round point manufactured by Crown & Sword (crown and sword markings on the shank and embossed on the scales). It has potential
10. 4/8", King Midas, made by the King Razor Mafg. Co., Indiana, PA. The scales are patched up, but the scales are passable, and the pins tight.
11. 5/8" spike by Sosmo Mfg. Co., Germany. Needs work.
12. 5/8" spike by Mizzoo Mfg. Co. Needs work.

The prize I could have had was an old Boker with ivory scales. Hah! But when I opened the razor, there was a big chip in the middle of the blade.

I have no idea what I am going to do with these razors. I could try to work on them myself, but there are two problems with that. I would have to learn — do I have the time? Also, I have no tools. Or I could find an expert at SRP and have him work on them. For a fee, of course. In that case, will the overall cost be worth it? Or I could sell the whole lot as is.

What are your thoughts, gentlemen?

Regards,

Obie

we need pics.
and I am pro restore attempt for the ones that are salvageable.

My dear Stefan,

You probably don't know my relationship with this computing machine thingie. I know just enough to get by — word processing, Internet research and e-mail. The last time I tried to post photos, even will all the fine directions by the SRP gentlemen, I almost blew up the computer, which also would have meant losing the novel I am working on.

So my apologies. No pictures. My general description will have to do.

Many thanks.

Regards,

Obie

I am also running into the same situation. I recently purchased, 9 razors that need a little TLC. I do not have the tools to do this but, luckily I do have a few friends who are lending me theres.
I plan on hand restoration, but if you are short on time, I would think a Dremel would be the way to go. Both of these methods seem to have a learning curve. The way I will combating this is to restore the razors that look the easiest and progress up the ladder to the hardest. I do plan on sending a few out to the pros. These will be the ones that I don't think I can restore, at my skill level, or I want to ensure they get a proper restoration.

The total cost to send all of your razors out to be restored may equal the total cost of all the equipment you would need to restore the razors yourself (of course I am by no stretch of the imagination an expert). You would also have this equipment for the next time you decide to go out and buy a batch of razors.

All of my razors will be going out for honing, after they have been cleaned, and restored.

I hope this makes sense to you, I'm extremely tired so it may not.

nate

Originally Posted by Obie

My dear Stefan,

You probably don't know my relationship with this computing machine thingie. I know just enough to get by — word processing, Internet research and e-mail. The last time I tried to post photos, even will all the fine directions by the SRP gentlemen, I almost blew up the computer, which also would have meant losing the novel I am working on.

So my apologies. No pictures. My general description will have to do.

Many thanks.

Regards,

Obie

I think razors deserve a second chance depending on the condition. Can't say whether to restore them yourself or just sending the pick of the litter (those you really like) out. Your call I guess, depending if you are interested in restoration.

One other off-topic thing I wanted to comment to you was a song you've probably heard a million times. It goes "backup, backup, backup". Electric thingamabobs can fizzle out without any advance warning and there's always a distinct possibility of programs messing with the files. I just hate a good chap going . I've lost few harddrives and always ended up something irreplaceble (school projects, design work).

There's so many ways to backup, that there's no reason to not do it. Unless information security is paramount, USB-drives are nice. Buy 3-5 (or a 7 day set ) and use them sequentially to save your files (I'd recommend adding the files after adding a date, rather than overwriting). If you want, you can deliver one even to a secure place in case of fire/flood/burglary.

Hi Obie,

Thats quite a haul..! You seem to be developing a severe case of RAD..!

You can actually restore them with fairly minimal kit, assuming there are no major regrinds or anything that need to be done.

All I have is a Dremel, the Dremel polishing kit, some sandpaper and a tube of MAAS. That'll basically take care of the blades, although if there is anything more major you might need more heavy duty kit.

You can clean up the scales with MAAS as well, but if there is more serious/ irreparable damage then you might need to take the scales off or replace them. Then you'll start needing repinning kits and scale materials, plus more heavy duty tools.

The Invisible Edge in the UK sells new scales and repinning kits at this link below, and they ship worldwide.

Razor Scales & Pin kits

So you could buy new scales for some of them and do them up that way! They also sell just the pins and wedges so you could try your hand at making your own scales. I guess it just depends on how much you want to spend (both in terms of money and time) on restoring them.

The other way to do it of course is to send them out to be restored.

I guess I would suggest buying the tools etc... if you are going to buy vintage restoration type razors on a fairly regular basis because then the capital expenditure becomes worthwhile (you can tell I`m an accountant!). If this is just a one off it might be cheaper in the long run to just send them out, plus you dont then have to find storage space for a load of tools you're not using!

That said, it is fun to restore blades and hone them up yourself. I've done one so far, and it was very satisfying to shave with it afterwards! I just wish we had more flea markets/ reasonably priced antique stores over here! Guess you find me back on the 'bay! And if you do decide to sell any of them, please let me know, I'll be more than happy to give them a good home!

Best,

Stuart

Originally Posted by Obie

My dear Stefan,

You probably don't know my relationship with this computing machine thingie. I know just enough to get by — word processing, Internet research and e-mail. The last time I tried to post photos, even will all the fine directions by the SRP gentlemen, I almost blew up the computer, which also would have meant losing the novel I am working on.

So my apologies. No pictures. My general description will have to do.

Many thanks.

Regards,

Obie

Then I stay behind my words, try and revive the ones that are worth it an use the spare parts from what's left.

Dear Obie,

I am new at this straight shaving act, but I am most definitely interested in restoring razors and/or making scales. I have the tools needed for scale crafting (or at least they are on the way here), and I have a rough set in walnut waiting to be assembled. I do not, however, have the necessary equipment or experience to hone a razor.

That being said, if you are willing to trust a prized flee market find to a novice such as myself, I would gladly give it my best go at creating new scales for a blade in need. Free of charge of course, as I am new at this and my work will most definitely not be at the level of the true masters here such as Glen and Max.

I also only have walnut right now, as the cost of acquiring more exotic woods is prohibitive to a college student such as myself. I don't know if you are willing to give it a go with a newbie such as myself, but if you are I would absolutely love the practice.

Thank you
Drew

Gentlemen,

Stefan, Nate, Stuart and Drew, thank you for your thoughts and suggestions. Stefan and Drew thank you for the proposals and offers. I might take you up on them.

Let me do some thinking. Stefan and Drew, please drop me a private message.

I have never worked with my hands. Around here my wife is the fixer. I kid you not: once she asked for a sander for Christmas. Say what? A sander. I bought her the fanciest one I could find. Another time she asked for a complete tool box. So there, too, I bought her the fanciest one I could one. I had money in those days.

On the other hand, I might take up the task of refurbishing some of these razors myself, not only to learn the skill, but also to use the process as therapy. Time, of course, is the problem, and this project I must definitely squeeze in.

Here is what I have going on these days in my life:

1. I write seven days a week, and currently working on my second novel.
2. Sometime this week I have to conduct a phone interview for my article on straight razor shaving with my shave guru Lynn. I must call him and set up the interview.
3. Wednesday I start teaching a class on the history and appreciation of classical music at a local educational institution. This is a user-friendly class I designed some years ago; it's called "Mozart and Other Good Guys." It's a fun class.
4. Now and then I get requests for voice narrations, which requires rehearsing and recording. I have a narration gig set up for next week.
5. I alternate nightly studying two languages on my own. Being a full-blooded Assyrian (now Assyrian-American), I speak the Aramaic language, but I never learned to read and write it. I hold a regular class for myself. Alternating with Aramaic, I also am studying on my own the Farsi (Persian) language. I studied it in school a long time ago, so this is more a refresher. One night Aramaic and the next Farsi — I have the tenacity of a shark and the discipline of a Spartan.
6. Oh, I also do all the cooking here.
7. I suppose it won't hurt to add refurbishing straight razors to the lineup.
Should I decide to do so, I will post a daily diary on SRP, hoping I don't bore you gentlemen to death.

Regards,

Obie