Thread: Filarmonica's- What am I missing?

Originally Posted by richmondesi

Are they better than the 7/8 Friodurs? My Friodur, my NOS Pumas, as well as many others are just fantastic and all cost much much less than that. In fact, I've gotten all of them for the same price as one of these NOS Fillies. I'm sure they are great, but I'm just curious as to what makes them so much more expensive than these other brands.

I have both, and the Fillys are better than the Friodur, IMO. The Friodur is a great shaver, but the Fillys (one is #14 EPBD, the other is Doble Temple #13) are really awesome. I would never ever pay $300 for one, though.

s.

Originally Posted by richmondesi

This is the best example of rescaled Filly goodness that I've seen. Done by our very own, Max. It is sexy, no doubt.

It shaves as good as it looks.

I have to admit that the aesthetic appeal of the Filly was a big factor in my recent purchases of this one, and also a #13 which is currently being madeover by Max.

The Filly's themselves aside, I think there is an appeal to vintage razors - particularly the NOS variety. People know that they are getting a quality product with certain vintage NOS varieties of razors, and unfortunately this is not always the case with the new stuff.

In a recent article I read, the CFO at Classicshaving.com said that straight razor sales were up sevenfold in the past four years. People have noticed recently that the quality of Dovo razors produced in that time might not always be quite up to par with their older stuff. Trying to keep up with demand sometimes means loosening the reins on quality. Its a shame, but it could be that a lot of people just want to make sure they're getting something that works very well.
Let me say though that I got a Dovo razor last year and its a really nice shaver. The pins are a little loose, but it shaves well.

Anyway, you know what you're getting with Filly. Add that to the recent hype and you have a recipe for demand.

My 2 cents.

EDIT: Oh, and I absolutely adore the ghost jade. diff'rent strokes...

Originally Posted by DPflaumer

I can't be the only one who REALLY doesn't like that Jade Ghost, on any blade.

Can I?

I dont like any synthetic materials at all enough to own them, while I can still admire them....from a distance

Originally Posted by persco

I have both, and the Fillys are better than the Friodur, IMO. The Friodur is a great shaver, but the Fillys (one is #14 EPBD, the other is Doble Temple #13) are really awesome. I would never ever pay $300 for one, though.

s.

Did the same person hone both the Fillies and the Friodurs?

I have many razors, Including some big old Wade and Butchers, Customs, Ducks, etc...
The Fily's shave every bit as good, if not better than most. The closest that comes to it would be my Livi NOS, Coincidence? Both NOS. Also, NOS implies limited availability.
That will always drive up price, like a Duck. Are there blades out there to be had that shave just as well? Yes, Why didn't the Revisor's take off like the Fily's? Are they not NOS too? The scales on the Fily's do leave something to be desired. On the 14's, the balance is terrible, but steel is awesome, There is no getting around that.

Originally Posted by richmondesi

Did the same person hone both the Fillies and the Friodurs?

No. What's incredible is that the Fillys were bought NOS and needed nothing more than a few swipes on CrO pasted strop. The Friodur never shaved well until it was re-honed by Dan (Floppy shoes). Then it was really nice. But the shave from the Filly #13 and #14 is still a bit better. The Filly#14 is with Max getting horn scales, now, so if anything the edge will be even better. I also have a Palmera that shaves like the Fillys, but cost a lot less (or at least did...).

s.

Originally Posted by zib

I have many razors, Including some big old Wade and Butchers, Customs, Ducks, etc...
The Fily's shave every bit as good, if not better than most. The closest that comes to it would be my Livi NOS, Coincidence? Both NOS.

Not sure I can follow. What is the difference in quality between OS and NOS?

Originally Posted by zib

Also, NOS implies limited availability. That will always drive up price, like a Duck. Are there blades out there to be had that shave just as well? Yes, Why didn't the Revisor's take off like the Fily's? Are they not NOS too?

Maybe they haven't been sufficiently hyped yet. There are quite a few vintage razors out there that will shave as well, or better, than Dubl Ducks, Revisors, or any of the other big brand names. I think the trick is to have a number of razors out in the market that is high enough for a number of experienced users (or, in some cases, wannabe experts) to review them. Then demand will drive prices through the roof, because these razors are still relatively easily available.

I think that is ridiculous, but then again, I am after razors that work, not razors which somebody else believes to work.

Originally Posted by BeBerlin

Not sure I can follow. What is the difference in quality between OS and NOS?


Maybe they haven't been sufficiently hyped yet. There are quite a few vintage razors out there that will shave as well, or better, than Dubl Ducks, Revisors, or any of the other big brand names. I think the trick is to have a number of razors out in the market that is high enough for a number of experienced users (or, in some cases, wannabe experts) to review them. Then demand will drive prices through the roof, because these razors are still relatively easily available.

I think that is ridiculous, but then again, I after razors that work, not razors which somebody else believes to work.

My understanding, if it's correct is that Old Stock and New Old Stock are really the same thing. You're talking about unused retail stock items. Maybe I'm wrong.

You make some good points in your comments and I agree with you. I purposely fight as best I can, the fervor over "the latest" hot items because yielding to the fervor can drain my wallet.

You're so right though. Remember the Wapi craze?

Chris L

Thanks, Chris. I think another contributing factor is that the big brand names will usually get you consistent quality. Which is good, but in my opinion still does not make them good buys. Any vintage razor that costs more than USD 100 will have to be exceptional in some respect to justify its price, as it is up against new razors like the bottom line Dovos.

I think they're both quality razors, That was my point. They're both Old Stock basically. The Fily's were ready for retail and never sold. They were great shaver's out of the box, which is a rare thing. The Livi's were old stock, and reground I believe. Hype does drive the market. On here, it's like a drop of blood in a pool of sharks. One person with credibility can start a craze