Thread: Vintage DE"s

I recently bought an old luxury gentlemen's travel set from the ebay. It contained and old (looks like nickel) open comb DE razor.

I though I would give it a try, I added a new Astra blade, I soaped up with some Fauldings shave cream and off I went. I was carful not to apply pressure and to let the weight do the work. I have to say on the whole I got a BSS shave just with two passes but was left with weepers in three areas. I'm going to give it another try tonight.

I must say I did enjoy using a really old razor. I have a couple of vintage straights I use and to be honest there is not much difference between them and my new straight IMHO except of course the history is nice.

I was wondering as I see so many different types of razors on the internet, like Rolls razors, Gems and many other vintage DE's. I wonder what they are like to use compared to modern razors?

Now that you have started wondering you are on another slippery slope. I wondered that too and ended up with a few examples. Trust me, they will all give you very close shaves and are a different experience than a modern DE safety razor. The Rolls and Darwin razors are just so different and so darn interesting because of that. Best of luck handling your newly forming AD.

Bob

I've never used either a new DE, or a new straight razor, but I know this much: nothing gives me "weepers" like a DE -- which never happens with a straight razor.

I'd love to see some photos of your new acquisition -- perhaps you'll favor us?

Smooth shaving!

Originally Posted by JBHoren

I've never used either a new DE, or a new straight razor, but I know this much: nothing gives me "weepers" like a DE -- which never happens with a straight razor.

I'd love to see some photos of your new acquisition -- perhaps you'll favor us?

Smooth shaving!

Here is the travel set I got for $3.20 plus postage, you can see the little open comb DE in the front. The set is missing a comb but I have one from around that time I can add.

Nice buy Kev, and great price. Im guessing you may be able to use one of the silver tubes for your arko?

Now that is a good looking travel set. When is your court date for theft?

Bob

Originally Posted by AndrewJM

Nice buy Kev, and great price. Im guessing you may be able to use one of the silver tubes for your arko?

Yep one for the Arko (It has a push up bottom) and one for my wee badger and the nice bottle for some AS….

Originally Posted by BobH

Now that is a good looking travel set. When is your court date for theft?

Bob

At $3.20 I have to admit it felt like robbery….. The guy didn't leave me any feedback either…lol

Of my Safety razors 95% of them are vintage. There are so many differences it's hard to compare. My most recent is a Merkur 37C Slant.

I have a Russian adjustable that compares well to my FatBoy and Black Beauty, but the quality of the vintage razors is better by far.

My NYSC TTO quality is great and performance was nearly identical to my vintage Gillette TTOs.

My DE89 is one of my favorites, it and the Merkur 37C have no direct comparison in the Vintage Razors I have.

That being said I think my favorites are SEs. My Valet AutoStrop and 1912 Ever-Ready.


I received a Rolls Razor in a shaving lot over a year ago. I pulled it out a couple days ago and looked at it carefully. It looks to have been very lightly used.

The simple test on my forearm makes me wonder why I never decided to try it before now.

My weekend plan is to clean it up hone it and give good weeks run.

The vintage razors are the best, quality was built in not inspected into the product, back then things were made to last.