Thread: In over my head?

What have I done?
I came across an advert by a gentleman who's grandfather was a barber in the 20s-40s and he was getting rid of his old barbering supplies. Now for (relatively) little money I am in posession of 11 straight razors--to add to the one I have been telling myself to get honed for months. Also a huge leather/canvas double strop, half a dozen stones, plus a worn-out brush, some scissors and clippers but who cares about them?
I'm not even a newbie yet, so I'm going to be bothering everyone here for a while. I'll get pictures and everything up soon, but I wanted to at least put up a quick list of some of the makers and see what people know about the overall quality of my new collection. Most are in great shape. A couple have some issues that may be serious. I convinced The Lady that this is a great investment and I still think I'll make my money back easy...except now I've got all of them in front of me and they're like my children. Or dogs, which would be harder to part with.
all are made in germany, are half-hollowish, 5 or 6/8 and unless noted have celluloid/bakelite scales (I think) and spike points.
Razor Roll Call:
Bismarck Razor Works. 3 count: 2 yellow and one black scales
Up-to-the-Mark/ F. Kratz Chicago. edge a little wavy. nice inlays
Wester Bros Anchor Brand. Bone scales, 4/8.
G.R. Droescher / Sweep. Yellow.
F.W. Engels. Yellow scales warped, nice metal inlays
Ontario Cutlery Co. Red/white psychedelic plastic scales.
Herold Bros Co. Cleveland/ Blue Steel Special. yellow scales.
D. Corrado / Corrado's Cutter. Black scales.
Premier Cutlery Inc / Premier 518. Yellow scales.

9 of these are in an old, worn, what looks to be alligator leather pouch.
Which ones ring any bells? What should I get pictures of first? I think I can get at least four friends of mine to try straight razor shaving, but otherwise I'll be looking to send the bulk of these to good homes...
when I pick my favorite(s). Nothing mind-blowing, but razors that must have proven their shaveliness to be used professionally for years. Look out beginners, I'm gunning for us!

oh, and a round point More Co. "Karnak" St Louis Mo. I've had in a closet for... too long.

I think you have set the record, straight to aquisition disorder without even a shave. Most of the razors are very well known brands around here, you seem to have gotten a great bunch, but sooner or later your going to have to use them, or atleast start calling yourself a collector. Pick one, send it off to get honed and quit procrastinating.

Originally Posted by dotanuki

Bismarck Razor Works. 3 count: 2 yellow and one black scales Not sure without pics of these...
Up-to-the-Mark/ F. Kratz Chicago. edge a little wavy. nice inlays
Wester Bros Anchor Brand. Bone scales, 4/8. Great Brand...
G.R. Droescher / Sweep. Yellow. SR Droescher many fantastic shavers from them...
F.W. Engels. Yellow scales warped, nice metal inlays Excellent shavers..
Ontario Cutlery Co. Red/white psychedelic plastic scales. Had a few of them go through my hands, good shavers, not in business under that name very long...
Herold Bros Co. Cleveland/ Blue Steel Special. yellow scales.
D. Corrado / Corrado's Cutter. Black scales.
Premier Cutlery Inc / Premier 518. Yellow scales.

Keep in mind without pics I have know idea of what you really have, I am just going off of the Brand Reputations...and my own experience with them..

Please don't leave the scissors and clippers out! I may be alone in this, although I know there is at least on barber on the board, but I definitely care about vintage shears and clippers!

no kidding, jason... you've politely said what everybody else i'm sure will be thinking in less kind terms. I'm off to find my camera and start a days-long photo shoot.

Here is a shot of the pile. I'll break it down into pieces, and have already started, but have a question of etiquette--does the considerate poster keep all these photos of different razors in one superthread, or make a million seperate threads? I'll certainly post these hones in the proper forum, and admit some excitement based on what I was able to gather from the wiki...
The more I'm handling and looking into these, the more appreciation I'm getting for the sheer amount of history here. This wasn't some guy's razor, but an entire barbershop--or at least one chair in a barbershop. Thousands of men's beards, regular customers, lives lived and shared in that chair on the edge of the razor. Lots of skill, craftsmanship, friendship and trust in this picture. Stories I can't even imagine.

I'd post the pictures of the hones in a thread in the honing section. It looks like you might have a coticule (or two) in there and the green stone could be interesting too. Let the experts there determine what you have.

The other blades could be posted in one main thread.

Originally Posted by dotanuki

This wasn't some guy's razor, but an entire barbershop--or at least one chair in a barbershop. Thousands of men's beards, regular customers, lives lived and shared in that chair on the edge of the razor. Lots of skill, craftsmanship, friendship and trust in this picture. Stories I can't even imagine.

Yes, it's very humbling when you think about this having been someone's very social livelihood. I'm not surprised it took a couple of generations before someone was willing to sell this collection.

You do have a bit of history and some quality razors and hones in that lot. It is fun to imagine what the barbershop looked like in its heyday. I look forward to seeing individual pictures of the razors as you post them. Bismarck razors are absolutely excellent shavers, and all your razors may turn out to be keepers. Look at their monkey tails to see if they are stamped "Registered". I have found Bismarck razors so stamped to be very superior shavers in comparison to other Bismarks I have had the chance to hone and shave with. Your new hones do deserve special consideration, separately in the honing section. You have two coticules for sure, the green one looks Thuringian, and the chocolate colored hone looks like it could be a Swaty. Of course, I try to see only the best possibilities in pictures like yours! Congratulations.

They are all three stamped registered, and in fine condition to my eye. Some rust/oxidation on the decorative metal tip of one near the tang, though that razor looks nearly unused. Here is the other side:



The black razor seems in essentially identical condition to the top of this pair, though it's stamped 508 while the yellow are 507:



There are a few other closeup pictures of these razors at the photobucket site, bismarck pictures by fastestforklift - Photobucket . Feel free to click around, all that's on my account is razors so far.

The others are up there too but don't have the detailed closeups yet. All in all these razors are in great shape from what I can tell.