Filarmonica 14 doble-temble NOS

[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 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.

[HarleyFXST]

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.

You did very well.

[bonusmarple]

Lucky bastard!

[hi_bud_gl]

Lucky bastard!

100% agree

[mrbhagwan]

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.

[ianp1966]

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

[RKP]

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

[Obie]

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

[Croaker]

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.

[JohnnyCakeDC]

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