Thread: Please pass judgement on these antique finds: ERN and JR&Sons

Went out to another place today and found a couple that interested me. The shop lists them at $30ea, I think $15ea is what I would pay.

I would like to know what you all would pay for either of these and whether you think they're salvageable.

ERN: Has a rust spot on the spine but otherwise looks badly polished.





Joseph Rodgers & Sons "The Master Razor #2": has a larger spot of rust on the spine near the head. Edge needed a lot of honing (chips) and that brown rust looking stuff on the edge rubbed off with my fingernail.





Thanks for your expert opinions!

You're gonna hear that we don't do valuations here so basically they're worth what you're willing or wanting to pay for them. The second one has some active rust at the edge that may or may not pose a problem but you won't know until you could clean it up and try honing it.

I have a Bur brand razor that, I understand is made by Ern and I think it is my favorite. I love the feel of the thing and it takes a nice edge. One of the cool things about our hobby is that you can have a nice shaver without spending a fortune. If you are happy with them then they worth a lot to you.
Shave on, Mike

Originally Posted by Catrentshaving

You're gonna hear that we don't do valuations here so basically they're worth what you're willing or wanting to pay for them. The second one has some active rust at the edge that may or may not pose a problem but you won't know until you could clean it up and try honing it.

+1

They look really cool, though that says nothing about their potential for being restored and used. That first one looks like somebody went after it with some 60 grit sand paper, that looks awful! If you pick it up, plan on spending a lot of time removing those scratches, and if it's a hollow ground it might not be able to be sanded down far enough to remove the scratches without making the blade too thin for regular (or any) use. If it's a wedge you should be in the clear though.

Good luck if you do end up picking them up!

From the pics the Ern looks saveable. The Rodgers maybe, with some work. It has some uneven spine wear & tho the rust on the edge may have wiped off only a view under magnification will tell you what's left. Coincidentally Ern made a Master razor also.

I'm liking the ERN. Has a cool look to it, and should clean up nicely. Think I would pass on the Joseph Rodgers.

I don't have many razors, but I'm already to the point where if I have to ask "are they worth XXXX" I don't bother. There are too many at the house waiting to be buffed and scaled. (By too many I mean 4 or 5)

It's my self imposed rule. Keeping my stress level down by only buying things that I want badly enough to not care about the price is worth the extra money I spend using what I've termed "conscientious impulse buys".


The 3 razors I buy using C.I.B don't cost any more than the 12 I buy if spend too much time on the bay and in flea markets.



Besides that, you've already answered your question.
If $15 is what you'd pay for them, walk in an offer $15. Be prepared to walk out if the answer is "no"...but you just might walk out with a grin.

The ERN will clean up easily. I'm not so sure about that Rogers. There's active rust on the bevel, which is never a good thing. Get that rust off of there and see what kind of meat is underneath. It may just need a little extra time setting the bevel, or it may be hosed.