Filarmonica 14 doble-temble NOS

Gentlemen:

Today I got myself the bargain of the year! I guess... :)
I am moving to Belgium and I took this afternoon off to go and say goodbye to some of my trusted shop-keepers. I paid a farewell visit to my tobacconist (an old gentleman with a nice little shop) and to my supplier of strange shaving goods. While talking to him about lots of stuff, namely my strange fondness for straight razors I saw a little white box peeping out of some soaps and shaving brushes. On the box I read - filarmonica. I was immediately interested. He showed the razor to me - it was an enormous no.14 absolutely mint and NOS. He was asking 96 euros for it. He told me that, because it was for me he would sell it for 75 euros. I know, it might be expensive but it is a rare find and I figured that I would have to pay at least double for something like it on eBay. So I jumped the gun... This shop doesn't sell straight razors and the owner bought this from one of his stockists thinking of me. He also said that he was so very keen on selling it to me because I would use it and care for it. He's so right! :)
After that I said farewell and he came out from behind the counter and hugged me. When he went back behind the counter I noticed that he was a bit teary-eyed and all choked up... I was moved. This goes to show that there is no treatment like the one you get from real shops, not those gargantuan shopping malls that are faceless and brainless. I will miss my little town shops...
And because this thread is useless without pictures, here are some pictures of it. I'm happy! Tell me what you think. Did I do a good deal or could I have done better.
Sorry for the bad picture.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by fpessanha

Gentlemen:

Today I got myself the bargain of the year! I guess... :)
I am moving to Belgium and I took this afternoon off to go and say goodbye to some of my trusted shop-keepers. I paid a farewell visit to my tobacconist (an old gentleman with a nice little shop) and to my supplier of strange shaving goods. While talking to him about lots of stuff, namely my strange fondness for straight razors I saw a little white box peeping out of some soaps and shaving brushes. On the box I read - filarmonica. I was immediately interested. He showed the razor to me - it was an enormous no.14 absolutely mint and NOS. He was asking 96 euros for it. He told me that, because it was for me he would sell it for 75 euros. I know, it might be expensive but it is a rare find and I figured that I would have to pay at least double for something like it on eBay. So I jumped the gun... This shop doesn't sell straight razors and the owner bought this from one of his stockists thinking of me. He also said that he was so very keen on selling it to me because I would use it and care for it. He's so right! :)
After that I said farewell and he came out from behind the counter and hugged. When he went back behind the counter I noticed that he was a bit teary-eyed and all choked up... I was moved. This goes to show that there is no treatment like the one you get from real shops, not those gargantuan shopping malls that are faceless and brainless. I will miss my little town shops...
And because this thread is useless without pictures, here are some pictures of it. I'm happy! Tell me what you think. Did I do a good deal or could I have done better.
Sorry for the bad picture.

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You did very well.:)

Lucky bastard!

Congratulations my friend. What a score :tu. Now, I don;t mean $$ here...what will make this Filarmonica of yours EXTRA special is the "emotion" factor associated with it. Every time you shave or look at it, you will remember exactly where and how you acquired it (and the shopkeeper friend). That, more than anything else, will cause this thing to be "priceless" in your book.

As the infamous MasterCard commercials would have it:

Move to Brussels: €2,000 (or whatever...just made this up)
Filarmonica Razor: €75
Memories of Filarmonica: priceless

Keep us posted about your first shaves with your priceless Fili#14 DT when you get to Brussels. Have a safe trip and talk to you soon

Thanks for the replies, guys.
After I posted this I went into the bathroom so I could play with my new toy. I took it out of the box and gave it a try on my forearm. The hairs just popped... However I gave it a few licks on my vintage coticulle (oh, yes... that! :) I didn't tell you this but my grandmother gave me my great-grandfather's razor - a RUGRA -, his hone - yellow coticulle - and a little pot he used to make lather) for safe measure. Then I stropped it as I would any razor and went for my normal shaving routine. Normal lather, normal stubble - a fabulous shave. The best EVER! 2 passes and I was BBS. Of course, I was extra carefull because, being used to a 5/8 size (all my razors happen to be 5/8) this 8/8 is a giganting, gargantuan, enormous axe! But it is a jolly giant. Very jolly indeed. I love it!
And yes, It is mine to keep. No it is not for sale! ;) And yes, it is now... priceless.

Great score...Great razor. Congrats!

Very nice razor. :tu Best of luck on your upcoming move.

What a nice old boy! You did get a bargain.

Tremendous score and a story to tell for the ages! Enjoy the Fili in good health and best of luck on your move!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bonusmarple

Lucky bastard!

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100% agree

A good acquisition and an even better story!

One of life's greatest treasures is to know you have warmed someone's heart along the way, and it sounds like you've done that with your shopkeeper.

Another treasure is pleasant memoies of the places you've been and the people you've known, and those memories of Portugal will be encapsulated in your Filarmonica for you for all time.

May you find hearts as warm in your new home in Belgum.

What a nice story i hope you enjoy the razor for many years and always remember the nice old man who sold it to you :)

ian

I'm a Filarmonica Fool, and I like the story even more than the razor! You got a gift with this one, a Filarmonica with a 3rd pin, no less. Congratulations.

crazy awesome score!!

Thanks for sharing your experience with us and enjoy your Filly shaves for many years to come.

Congrats on developing a relationship with your supplier and a story that will last a lifetime! Thanks for sharing.

It doesn't get any better than this, does it?

Great razor! Great story! Enjoy!

That is a fine story. I love old school stories like that. I really long for the old days when you shake a man's hand and that was a business deal.

I am also very happy for you on the No. 14 Double Temple. I tried to win one on e-bay, and the price just got too high so I bailed.

I did just win this No. 12 Double Temple. I broke my rule as to how much I am willing to pay for a single razor because Sea Foam Green is my very favorite color. My Fender Guitars and Basses are Sea Foam Green. I paid $113.00 for it.

Again - nice story, thanks for posting it.

Congratulations!

That story is fantastic. Enjoy the shave from this woderful razor, it is woderful because of the heartfelt manner in which it came to you.

All the best to you in your move to Belgium.

Lu

A great razor and a great story! Thanks for sharing! :)

All the best for your move to Belgium! Oh, and be sure to enjoy the beer there, IMO its the best in the world..!

-S-

Congrats! Wow what a fantastic score. Enjoy the fine shaves.

Hello, fpessanha:

What a sweet story. That it comes with a gorgeous Filarmonica makes it a memorable story. Congratulations on the razor. It is well deserved, sir.

Regards,
Obie

Dear fpessanha,
Thank you for sharing this beautiful story with us. You made our day!
Namaste,
Morty -_-

Thank you for sharing this story and pictures. We can't take anything with us when we leave this life, so gift giving is one of the things we can do to brighten other lives, and in the end, does not cost us anything, if you think about it. You have a wonderful Filarmonica, but I would venture to say, having owned both those and Rudolph Grah razors, that the Rugra will shave even better than the Filarmonica, especially with a coticule edge on it. Sure won't look as good, though! Congratulations.

I just can't believe you got that razor for that price. Lucky Dog. Congrats

I teared up when I saw the picture!

I have a NOS DT 13 that I got for $150 on ebay (very lucky - most going for twice that at the time) - it's the best of my 32 razors.