As my collection grows I've started to acquire razors for reasons other than the usual. By that I mean I'm not just buying the name brands, e.g., Dovo, Wade & Butcher, Dubl Duck, etc. or razors that have unique appearance. I've been collecting pieces that have some sort of meaning behind them.

My last two acquisitions are good examples. One was an unknown brand named "Perfecto". It was made in Germany and marketed by a little company that makes beauty and barber equipment in Moravia, Iowa. The town is only about 80 miles from me (near Ottumwa, the home of Radar O'Reily) and the company is still in business. It'd be a nice motorcycle ride and I hope to visit it one day.

The other is a Simmons Keen Kutter. These are all over the place and I've been waiting to grab one at the right price. Well my $20 chance came along. I used to sell Simmons hardware products. I am a woodworker and collect antique hand tools, as such I am very familiar with the Keen Kutter line. I also have a Nineteen-Teen's Keen Kutter food grinder that I use frequently.

So call it nostalgic or romantic or whatever but I have deeper reasons now. What about you.

Pelkey