Thread: A hunting we will go . . .

Pics will follow, but here is the trip report.

SWMBO and I left at around 0900 for a day of cruising the antique malls within an hour of home. I came away with the following purchases:
45x loupe with both LED and UV bulbs. Not the greatest piece of kit, but it does the job and, for $15.00, it'll do.
Razor #1 - Unknown maker - blade is etched with the following: "Americans give the hand of fellowship and universal brotherhood to all nations. Blade etching is about 75% solid. This razor is a 5/8 barber's notch wedge (1/4 hollow?) with either acrylic or bakelite scales. Scales are in decent enough shape that I do not think they need replacing just yet. I will be sending this out to have the blade honed and made shave ready. It does not need much in the way of cleaning. Very happy with this one.

Razor #2 - Challenge Cutlery (Bridgeport, CT) 6/8 full hollow, square point razor. This was purchased as a practice razor. Blade edge looks okay, one small notch in it, lots of cleaning required, the scales look old and faded. This one was purchased with an eye towards allowing me to work on restoring it to shave readiness myself, including honing.

Both razors cost a total of about $60.00. I might have paid more than what they are worth but, considering the rest of the goods on offer, and the prices asked for same, I think I did okay.

The thing I found most disappointing today was the basic fact that EVERYTHING was, to my mind, overpriced. Safety Razors with asking prices double if not triple what I paid for the identical item less than two months previous. Several safety razors in their cases asking $50+ (Valet brand, Travel Tech, Schick, etc.) As far as Straights go, this would be indicative of the day. In the second stop of the day (Southworks in Cambridge), I actually came across a Wade and Butcher "Celebrated" Straight Razor. Looked to be about a 5/8+. The engravings were very worn, and the scales were broken on one side, warped on the other. Basically you would be buying the blade only. Asking price? $65.00. Now, for someone who can do their own restorations, that may be a good price, but not for me.

We visited the Freelton Antiques Market, Southworks Antiques, and the St. Jacob's Antiques Market. St. Jacob's was the most disappointing, as they had no staff on the floor to open cabinets, meaning you had to constantly schlep back to the cash, wait until one of them was free and then go back to see what you wanted, make a decision and move on. then start the whole process over again five minutes later.

That sucks Orville. I hit the 2 saint Jacobs ones quite often. Their 10 min away from my work. South works I also hit and they usually have some good stuff. I've got some beauties out of that place. I have noticed prices going up. It's persistence that pays off at those places. You gotta just keep going and going. I hear you about the saint Jacobs malls. There's never anyone around to help.

Next time you go to London, pass through a town called Kintore. There's an antique store right at the main intersection. The girl in there always has good blades, and safety razors for a decent price. I can almost guarantee she always has good stuff.

She only takes cash, and is one reason I can never clean her out. that sounds weird but you know what I mean.....

I haven't tried the antique shops for some time for the same reasons Orville.
Find the help ain't much help and the prices are as if the blades are already restored.
At least it was a nice day outing for you and the missez I hope?
At least you snagged a couple, looking forward to the pics.
Cheers

There is one shop that I hit on my annual drive that always has nice stuff and well displayed. The rest of the shops are hit and miss, mostly miss, what keeps me doing it is just the hunt. I do love the hunting part, and evil bay is not the same experience. My annual drive takes me from Prince Ruper, east to Edmonton, then south through Calgary and then doglegging to Vernon, north to Prince George and home. It is a beautiful drive.

And that is why it is called Hunting… if it was easy, it would be called finding.

You can always make an offer, worst case if you really want it, you pay full price. Most antique dealers expect to get 10-20 percent less than the asking price. I start at 50 percent, and go from there.

Occasionally you will find the pot of gold in the wild, but you never will, if you don’t get out and look. Enjoy the hunt…

Originally Posted by Euclid440

You can always make an offer, worst case if you really want it, you pay full price. Most antique dealers expect to get 10-20 percent less than the asking price. I start at 50 percent, and go from there.

Actually, no, you cannot. Woman at southworks told me it is part of the vendor contract that NEITHER side will/can accept less than the tagged price.

Like I said, if you really want it, you pay full price.

Recently I bought a Walnut Gerstner tool box in excellent condition marked $400 “ND”, No Discount. The store keeper said the owner never discounted her items.

I told her I would be willing to pay $200, cash, really expecting to pay 300.

She begrudgingly made the call. Now I was making several other purchases that she was holding for me at the counter, so the store keeper knew I was a buyer.

The seller accepted the $200. It was near the end of the month, perhaps that had something to do with it.

I have found with all kinds of negotiations, you don’t get, if you don’t ask. And in the end, if you really want it… you pay full price. The cost to ask is nothing.

Originally Posted by Orville

Actually, no, you cannot. Woman at southworks told me it is part of the vendor contract that NEITHER side will/can accept less than the tagged price.

I've heard that it has to be over $300. Then, they will get them on the phone and you can make an offer. But I believe that was at the saint Jacobs ones.

Pics as promised.