Thread: Rogers Manufacturing Company - Good Buy?

I'm a new guy here. I'm looking to buy my first straight edge razor that I'm actually going to use (I had a few "failed" stories). I found a local guy who restores and hones straight razors. He's offering me an old razor that he restored. It's from the Rogers Manufacturing Company, apparently from Hartford, Connecticut. That company was apparently in business between 1865-1898. I didn't find that company's name either on the black list or on the good one...

I know you guys all love pictures, but I don't have any... Does 85$ seem like a reasonable price for a first (shave ready) razor?

P.S.: I like the idea of buying local from a guy I'll be able to go back to for more razors and for tips and help. For 50$, he would also sell me a strop made locally as well.

Thank you much for your thoughts!

Suppose I said it was worth $150 ... and another guy came along and said no .... Its worth $50 maximum. Guy 3 says it is worth somewhere in between. That is why we don't do appraisals.

Tell me you have a whatever for sale and I don't see a picture I don't even consider it.

I never heard of the maker of that razor. Doesn't mean it isn't good. Restoring and honing razors is sort of a combination of art and skill. Same situation. With no images no one can even say that the guy's work looks good, bad or indifferent.

Check out the SRP classifieds for vintage razors members have restored here and IMO stay away from any "sight unseen" deals.

Thanks Jimmy. Your comment is fair enough. I knew it was coming from what I've seen on other threads.

I apologize for being awkward in my question: my fault!

Here's a question that will be closer to my main concern and easier to answer, maybe: I want to know if anyone knows about that company or not. For those who do, is it total crap or half decent in your opinion? The price was not the main object of my question...

If I had asked about a great deal for a razor from Pakistan, you would have had a ready answer for me about the general quality of it. That's kind of what I'm looking for here, not a price tag.

Sorry if I caused trouble, I wasn't trying to be irritating on purpose...

Do you know if the razor is marked USA or Germany ? A lot of outfits back then had razors made by various well known makers and had their own company name stamped on them. There are a few guys on this forum who are encyclopedic in their knowledge of razor manufacturers. Maybe one of them will be along and able to shed some light on it.

mayb some relation here i dont know though .
The Rogers Brothers Manufacturing Company, Hartford, Connecticut (silverplate and goldplate) Printed by Henry B. Ashmead, George Street above Eleventh, Philadelphia. - David Rumsey Historical Map Collection

Silverplate Marks

maybe one of these places had a razor made for them ???

William Henry Rogers

• Born: 15 Nov 1832, Hartford CT
• Died: 1896, Hartford CT

General notes:
Silversmith and plater
Events in his life were:

• Apprenticed c 1847 to William Hazen Rogers in Hartford CT

• He was a partner from 1857 to 1861 with William Hazen Rogers in Hartford CT as WILLIAM ROGERS & SON. ³

• He appeared on the 1860 census taken at Hartford CT, listed as a jeweler.

• He was a partner from circa 1863 to 1865 with Edward R. Fifield in Hartford CT as E. R. FIFIELD.

• He was a partner from 1865 to 1869 with William Hazen Rogers, William Henry Watrous, Thomas Birch, and William J. Pierce, in Hartford CT as WILLIAM ROGERS MANUFACTURING Co. ³

• He was a partner from 1869 to 1873 with William Hazen Rogers in Hartford CT as WILLIAM ROGERS & SON.

• He worked from 1873 to 1878 as a silverplater in Hartford CT

i noticed a joint ownership in W. Rogers Manufacturing Co.

Originally Posted by Porcupop

I'm a new guy here. I'm looking to buy my first straight edge razor that I'm actually going to use (I had a few "failed" stories). I found a local guy who restores and hones straight razors. He's offering me an old razor that he restored. It's from the Rogers Manufacturing Company, apparently from Hartford, Connecticut. That company was apparently in business between 1865-1898. I didn't find that company's name either on the black list or on the good one...

I know you guys all love pictures, but I don't have any... Does 85$ seem like a reasonable price for a first (shave ready) razor?


P.S.: I like the idea of buying local from a guy I'll be able to go back to for more razors and for tips and help. For 50$, he would also sell me a strop made locally as well.

Thank you much for your thoughts!

If you like the look of it and if it shaves well then it's up to you if it's worth it or not. Being able to get from someone locally is good too I wish I had someone like that around here. I have to go to ebay, or get sight unseen deals which may be cheaper but theres a gamble involved.

Also, the classifieds on here are a pretty safe bet. Maybe you should ask the seller what he bases the price on? then maybe he could refer you to some info on the history.

Thanks, Jimmy. I'll ask about the USA vs Germany thing. I did not know that!

Thanks, Goose. Very interesting stuff! I don't know how useful it can be, but very interesting regardless!

Thanks, Saitou. Good idea to ask how he figures the price. Right now, I haven't seen it. Buying a razor from an extinct and unknown company sounds as much an act of gambling as buying one of those "sight unseen" razors (just found out about those through another thread).

Originally Posted by Porcupop

Thanks, Jimmy. I'll ask about the USA vs Germany thing. I did not know that!

Thanks, Goose. Very interesting stuff! I don't know how useful it can be, but very interesting regardless!

Thanks, Saitou. Good idea to ask how he figures the price. Right now, I haven't seen it. Buying a razor from an extinct and unknown company sounds as much an act of gambling as buying one of those "sight unseen" razors (just found out about those through another thread).

http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...pic-heavy.html btw i got these on ebay and I payed about a total of 120 for all 5 of them combined, the pair was bout 35 dollars and the other 2 were about 30 each the last one was about 25 inc. postage. I am still waiting on a sight unseen deal from whipped dog.com and I will let you know how it goes and post a pic, but I'm quite happy with my dealings with Larry from there.

The razor is secondary, what is important is if you trust the seller or not. If you do, it fits in your budget and you like the way it looks go for it. Everything else being equal a local guy is a huge advantage.