Quote Originally Posted by Unicorn View Post
It's real - no doubt in my mind.

Filarmonicas were made as a cheap alternative to other razors. That is a why the scales often are of poor quality and the grind can be a bit off. If anybody would make a fake razor at the time this razor was made you would think they would have made a fake Puma or other high end razor.

Given the prices Filarmonicas go at now I would be more reluctant bying a "like new" Filarmonica from an unknown source.
I have read many disparaging comment about how "cheap" Filarmonica scales are and "what were they thinking" by not using a luxury material to match their superior steel and grind.
My understanding is that Filarmonica understood their market place in the world and did the best razor they could given economic constraints.
My reasons for thinking this are based on these observations:-

i) Filarmonica started making razors and other cutlery items in 1917, where as their competition in Solingen, Sheffield, Eskilstuna, Little Valley NY, etc had between 100-300 years of expertise, prestige and reputation by that time. This put them at a great disadvantage, so how could they command the same prices as the world famous marks?

ii) I am yet to see any one brand of Spanish razor (and there are many) that used a luxury material for their razors. In contrast it is of no surprise to see German and English razors made with scales of ivory, turtle shell, bone, horn etc etc including hand etching and precious metal inlays. I have a copy of documentation of a guild of cutlers from 1834 numbering 90 odd members from Barcelona/Catalunya alone, but not all of these were razor manufacturers.

iii) Around this time Gilette was introducing the disposable razor in the US which was marketed as being cheaper, easier and as good as a "real razor." Again this created economic pressure on all razor manufacturers.

iv) I make a distinction between "cheaply made" and "cheaper" scales. While the earlier model Filarmonicas used bakelite almost exclusively (at least from what I have seen), they changed to the more modern/low cost plastics around the 1950s. Most people who own and use Filarmonicas, even if they donīt like their original scales would agree that they are fully functional and well balanced for comfortable shaving.

v) I would agree that the later model Filarmonicas are more likely to have "flaws" in how well they are finished (eg grind marks, imperfections in the jimping etc) which are rare in other manufactureres. Again my guess is that this could be due to financial/market pressures of the time.

I am posting these observations only to give some balance to the "Filarmonica bashing" that some people adhere to.
If these razors were "cheap" in every respect it would be ludicrous to pay big money for a razor no different to a Gold Dollar for example.
Just my €0.02