Thread: Another find at a new to me local Antique Store 9/28/2011 3:30pm

As we near the summer ending up a bit here and the clouds rolling in along the Central Coast, I decided to go shop a local Antique Dealer that I had yet to visit. Asking if they by chance had any Straight Razors available to look at, I was greeted with a very promising, "why yes I have several". Turns out, just less than 3 weeks ago, a daughter brought in all her since passed father and grandfathers tools of their trades, barbers. I felt my anxiousness heighten. Furthermore, she said as we walked towards the back of the store, they are all twenty five dollars but we could do better if I was interested in more than one. Turns out the pictures I'll upload tonight, I believe are the best of the bunch.

Available are:

-Boker Red Injun
No. 101

-Adoration 292 & also a 293
by Geisen & Forsthoff Solingen Germany

-Thornhill
144 New Bond St.

-Boker & Co.
No. 2086

-Black Diamond
Grah & Plumacher Solingen Germany

-Feinster Silberstahl Solingen Garantie

-Wester Bros.
"Chiesledge"

Photos will post below and I encourage any feedback on whether these ring true as blades deserving of purchasing. I did however purchase the RED INJUN on the spot for twenty dollars. She and I hit it off so well, she gave me a discount and is currently holding four other blades for me till my research into them in concluded. She allowed me to take pictures to share with my mates here in the forums and I especially am looking forward to Glens feedback from Custom Gems. Glen has been amazing at honing my finds and even restoring a few to amazing condition. Because of all of you and especially Glens time and patience, i have embraced and thoroughly enjoy shaving with a passion.

The striking thing about all these blades is how sharp and clean they are. No nicks, damage, rust, broken scales, just purely beautiful. The Red Injun Scales have beautiful metal or inlay on them and are my first non standard scales I've purchased. This gentleman took fine care of his tools and I knew that I had to make a purchse, set a few on hold for a mild twenty dollars, and get the word out here for some support.

I respect everyone's opinions and eagerly look forward to hearing from you all. Going to hold off a week to pick up the remaining ones until I get a good feel about them. i own the book, "Standard Guide to Straight Razors", 3rd Edition and it helps a bit with appraisal and dating, but it is no substitute for the years and years of honest experience available on my group forums here.

Respectfully,
Ron

Those all look to be in excellent shape...they're...so beautiful.
I'll wipe the drool now. As those are almost all bokers? I'd go for it. Under $30 it would be worth it (in my opinion anyway) just to own them as Bokers are usually exceptional. I believe the rule goes that almost anything from solingen is worth it. That safety razor looks cool, just as a conversational piece.

Yeah, they were well kept and I love my other Boker vintage, "King Cutter", great find too.
As for the safety razor, it's a confusing one for sure and may be for some other collector. I enjoy my Merkur if I'm in a rush and cannot designate the proper time for a st8 shave. Think the Rolls Razor was in quite nice shape too, just not my passion. Thank you for the feedback and the your pricing suggestions were right on. They originally wanted 25.00 per Str8. However, in our relationship building as salesman to salesman, er shop keeper to shopper, the pricing has come way down and I will be able to pick up the remaining blades for under twenty each.

Another fine point is the leather barber roll that holds all his blades and he used to travel with his tools back in the day. When the daughter sold the entire set off it came in the roll. Now pieced apart, They've offered thirty for the leather holder and I feel that's a dang fair price not only for the holder, but the history it shows and carries.

I will be giving Glen Mercurio of Gem Star Customs a bit more work with my new blades. He's capability to hone, set bevel, and do restorations has made many of my purchases well worth the investment and his invested time.

Respectfully,
Ron

Nice scores. That Thornhill is a very nice looking straight.

Nice catch. I agree with johnmrson, the Thornhill is beautiful.
Congrats!

Originally Posted by effx

Available are:

-Boker Red Injun
No. 101

Little hone worn but even wear and still has many years of shaving left...

-Adoration 292 & also a 293
by Geisen & Forsthoff Solingen Germany

#293 looks in decent shape, depends on the deal you get
#292 Awesome shaver and looks to be in great shape

-Thornhill
144 New Bond St.

Yes Yes and Yes

-Boker & Co.
No. 2086

Pass

-Black Diamond
Grah & Plumacher Solingen Germany

Yes, In a heartbeat

-Feinster Silberstahl Solingen Garantie

Is that the one under the #2086 Boker ???? if so, yes get it

-Wester Bros.
"Chiesledge"

Don't see a pic????

Respectfully,
Ron

That is what I see from the pictures Ron hope that helps

Originally Posted by effx

Another fine point is the leather barber roll that holds all his blades and he used to travel with his tools back in the day. When the daughter sold the entire set off it came in the roll. Now pieced apart, They've offered thirty for the leather holder and I feel that's a dang fair price not only for the holder, but the history it shows and carries.Ron

MAN, I am so jealous. You got what I would consider a priceless set. 7 blades, and a roll, all vintage with the story attached. You sir have one hell of a 7 day set in the making. I feel you got an amazing deal considering what other people would probably shell out for something like this with just the story attached to it. "Antiques" value goes up when there is a story attached to them, that you have first or second hand from the seller. It adds a feeling of history and lasting durability. Think about all those things those blades have seen in their lifetimes from when they were forged, through till now. Not even just the lives they had as happy blades shaving every day faces and heads, but the shape the world was in and how society evolved through the time periods. Did they see the birth of the second industrial revolution? The roaring 20s, the depression, world war I and II? Korea, the first flight and mass produced car, the first manned flight to space, the moon landing, the civil rights movement, temperance movement (thank the lords above that failed), the 70's, 80's 90's and now...If objects could speak and give us their collective wisdom from what they have seen, what would they say about us in the now? If your razors could speak...maybe they could get our economy fixed! They have almost 100 years of wisdom!
Anyway, I would recommend if the roll is in good shape, get some saddle soap, rub it in with a soft cloth and wipe it away after a light buffing, then repeat 2-3 times, then get some leather preservative (neatsfoot oil works well in a pinch but there are good leather conditioners out there specificially designed to "breath new life into old, cracked leather"). If it is in fair condition I would still do this, just gently and slowly. If it's half way to falling apart...then wrap it in news paper with some of those siliciate packs that come in almost anything (they suck the moisture out of the air) put it in a shoebox...or something that would fit it, and then place it somewhere dark and cool. You could also slather it in leather preservative before doing this and after 2 weeks check on it, the leather preservative should have slowly been absorbed into the leather. Doing this 3-4 times will slowly reopen the damaged pores in the leather and make them pliable. The reason to do this is so that it will be gradually and that the leather won't be damaged from too fast of a restoration. Leather is made from an animal, and while that animal is dead, it's skin still functions (albeit in a greatly reduced state) as it did when it was on the animal. The pores dilate and take in and release moisture. If the leather hasn't been cleaned and treated regularly, they won't reseal and will slowly leech all the moisture out of the leather, drying it and cracking it out. I really hope the leather roll is in good condition, it's so sad seeing leather bomber jackets from world war II turned into moth eaten rags. History should be taken care of, so that we can remember it and learn from it! Good luck!

can i come visit and go to the antique malls with you???


we don't have ANYTHING down here..... and IF we do find something they want 2.5 times retail....... :/

Well everything seems to be working out perfect on my lil RADS adventure yesterday. Finding a hidden, underground antique shop and a glass case filled with a barbers roll, revealed some nice finds. As previously posted, I have several str8's adding to my collection.

This one, Bokers Lil Injun I just had to have. All my Bokers are reliable and have left me with some amazing BBS's. So, after some minor MAAS cleaning and stropping this baby is cool. Love the scales, blade, weight, just a nice lil razor and with no faults or damage,

Just sharing...
Respectfully as always....
Ron

I really like those adoration axes. gentlemen's pair?