My Free Filarmonica...

I have been trying to get a Filarmonica for about a year now. I know they are everywhere, but I didn't want to pay the crazy prices they are going for on the 'bay.

I have had a friend in Barcelona looking for a few months to see what she could find. One of her friend's bf is a barber, and he thought they could probably find something.

Long story short, she had only found a few #10s. That is, until she moved out of the city to a small town called Vilanova. Downstairs from her new flat was an old barber shop that wasn't really open. Occasionally, she saw some guys inside playing cards, and finally decided one day to talk to them.

She found that one of the guys was the old barber and owner of the shop. She asked him if he knew anywhere that she could pick up some Spanish razors. He suggested a place, and then got to talking to her about her strange search for something very few people use nowadays. She told him, she was trying to acquire one for an American friend, who had a love for straight razors. He became excited and said that if she couldn't find any at the place he suggested, to come back and he would take a look at some of his old razors.

She went to the shop, but again, only a Filarmonica #10. She knew I wanted a #12 or above, so she had just about given up. As she passed by the shop, the owner came running out and thrust 2 razors and a loom strop in her hand. He apologized for their rough appearance, but thought that I could get the Filarmonica in serviceable condition. She offered him some money, but he refused saying he was just happy that there were people still interested in the old ways, and was glad that his razor might get a new lease on life.

It is pretty rough, but I think I will be able to get it in rotation soon. Here are some quick pics of my Filarmonica #14 Sub Cero. With a little TLC, I think she will come out ok.

It looks like someone tried to engrave an "R" in the hollow. I thought it maybe the owner, as the box has "Rodriguez" and the city name on it.
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/v...DSC_1200-1.jpg

http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/v...DSC_1202-1.jpg

I really wanted to save the gold wash, but with the thick buildup on the edge and the spine, it is slowly fading with my attempt at removing the mess.

http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/v...C_1205-1-1.jpg

Unfortunately the pictures dont show up in my browser, but thats a great story! Thanks for sharing..! :)

Its nice to see that there are some genuine altruists out there still...!

Hope you enjoy the razor and be sure to post some pics once you've cleaned it up!

that"s a nice story and a nice razor
I don't think you will be able to save the gold wash

regards
Stijn

After a couple hours with maas, cotton buds, and toothpicks she started looking a bit better.

http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/v...DSC_1215-1.jpg

Edge looked pretty bad near the center and there was a bit of a nick/chip near the heel.
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/v...DSC_1216-1.jpg

http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/v...DSC_1223-1.jpg

That awful engraving on the face.
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/v...DSC_1231-1.jpg

Nice job! It is always a shame that the gold wash has to come off with the rust. I am a real gold wash fan.

Great score and nice to hear that there are such nice people in the world. Both the old barber and your lady friend. FWIW, since you didn't have to pay $ for it I know one member sent a razor to Thomas at Revisor and had the goldwash restored. I have no idea what this cost him but if you want to bring it back to it's former glory that is a possibility. I would just hone him up and enjoy the shave but just thought I'd mention it.

Decided to condition the edge a bit today and work on that chip. I was worried that whatever buildup was on the blade was causing the edge to deteriorate. Wanted to see how much the edge could take. No problems.

Started by lifting the spine and doing circles on 4k and 8K Norton, and seeing what that would do. Once I was sure the edge could take it, I moved down to the 1k, and slowly worked on the nick. Moved all the way up to the Chinese 12K. There is still a small remnant of the nick at the heel, but I decided to stop early as I am thinking of sending it off to one of the master restorers.

With the story behind it, and the fact that it seems to be taking a great edge, I want to see what can really be done with it. If it turns out great, I will definitely send some photos to my benefactor to show him she is loved.

Taking a nice edge. Bevel looks good. Can see the small nick near the heel. You can see the honewear, but I think that just shows that she was a good razor and got a lot of use.
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/v...DSC_1234-1.jpg

Gold wash slowly fading away. I think I will just give up and go for a mirror finish as I want to take that engraving off.
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/v...DSC_1233-1.jpg

Sorry for the bad lighting. May take some pics tomorrow if the sun comes out.
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/v...DSC_1235-1.jpg

Thanks guys. Yeah, thought it was such a nice thing to do. As you say, on both my friend and the barber's part. She just brought them to me in in Shanghai yesterday.

As I am getting married this year, she keeps trying to get us to come see her in Spain for the honemoon. Would be great to be able to go and thank the guy myself. Even cooler if I could take the razor post restoration, and see if he would be willing to give me a shave with it.

Thanks for the info Jimmy. Once I see what the restorer's think, I may consider that.

Nice turnaround & a great story! Those are some of the better Fili scales too.

Hello, Shangers:

Great find, and on top of that, the razor has come alive. Well done.

Regards,
Obie

OOh! And the candy-apple red scales too! I LOVE those scales!

What an awesome story... I think I would keep it pretty much as is, and let the wear and etching and whatnot remind of an older man, somewhere in Spain, who had used the razor as part of his livelihood and had chosen to pass it on to me.

Whatever you do with it, great story and great razor. Congrats!

Great story and great razor that you will always cherish. Of the people I know who have lived and traveled all over the world, many say that Spain is their favorite country. I always wanted to go there!

Congrats on a great score. It's refreshing to hear of people like you that are thinking outside the box when looking for straight razors. :tu :tu

Great job on the resto!

Great story. Looking forward to seeing the pictures when it is all done.

Congratulations on the upcoming wedding.

Nice find and a great job on the restoration!

Great story. +1 with Benjamin. I think that given the great story behind the razor, removing the etched R would take away from the history of the razor.
Hope it turns out to be all you wanted.

How was the other razor & strop??

Yay! Barcelona is the place to be at the moment I guess. Mucho congrats on your gift! The fact that it comes from a barber and probably has seen its fair share of faces makes it pretty darn cool I think.

Congratulations on your great find and your successful effort to bring that Filly back to life.

Well done my man...Well done.

Great story and wonderful friend you have. The old barber is real nice gentleman.

Great job on the restore so far!

Congratulations.