Thread: Antique market finds: 8/8 WB, Engels, Tuckmar

So i went into an antique market today, basically a collection of vendors, looking for some razors. I found one display with about 10-15 straights, and some DEs. All the straights were marked at $95CDN, and some were good and others were not. So I found a 8/8(measured right there) Wade & Butcher "For Barbers Use" and I asked the price since it wasnt tagged, she said they were all 95, but the owner wasnt there that day so she wasnt sure. I offered $40, and she said "Thats fine with me" so I was happy with that. Its in great shape, no rust, pitting, very little hone wear, and no cracks on the scales, just a bit worn and they blade needs some clean up, maybe a polish. It actually passes the HH test as good as any razor I own, so it was probably recently honed. The box is in good shape also.

Then I went to another place and picked up a beautiful 11/16 Engels Special in perfect condition with a brand new looking box. $20CDN

Then the guy told me about another place down the road, so I went there and picked up a Tuckmar 7/8 in great shape, the guy wanted $30, but we got to talking and I mentioned I do HVAC(heating and A/C, refrigeration) so he asked me to have a look at the heater in his shop. Fixed it up for him for $50 + the razor, and hes got a Puma at home hes going to sell me for $40 next saturday. A pretty good day overall.


Any thoughts on cleaning/refinishing the scales on the WB? The pins arent great but not bad either, should I keep them or replace them?

The Tückmar is particularly nice. It is also not in the SRDB...

Originally Posted by BeBerlin

The Tückmar is particularly nice. It is also not in the SRDB...

Meaning I should add it?

Excellent score!!! gratz on the finds

Originally Posted by burns420

Meaning I should add it?

By all mean, yes. The SRDB is a community effort, and it's stalled when Walt ran out of razors...

Congratulations on your good fortune! What luck..which one do you you think will be the best shaver? My guess is the Engels-I have found them to be at least as good as Bokers. I do admire that Tuckmar shoulderless blade, though! Hey, did you ask them if they have a bunch of old worthless Escher hones in a box somewhere?

No eschers, but the first guy had a nice Swaty. I bought it for $55CDN not fully knowing what they go for. I guess I paid average price, but it's in very good shape. I think the Engels will shave great, but the Tuckmar looks nicest to me. I'll send those 2 out for honing and clean up the WB myself then send I off. My honing skills aren't great yet so I try and practice with the cheaper blades.

I guess things have a way of evening out for me. In my usual, can't ever win way I put a nice crack in the WB about an hour ago. It's about 5mm straight up from the edge, right in the centre of the blade. I did this using a buffer wheel. The blade gt caught and at first I thought it just nicked the edge then I looked closer and felt that way you do when your pet dies. It's not the cost of it, I could have spent 10x that on gambling, women, drugs etc... But it's just that I spent it on a beautiful blade and I broke that blade. Its the second WB I've ruined this week, the other being a nice 6/8 that fell out of
the washroom cabinet and broke in half. And it's now the second 8/8 or bigger barbers use I have that is cracked, although I bought the other one knowing it was cracked. FML

that's unfortunate. on the plus side they're not rare, so you'll find another one

Save the scales and pins. Might find another chopper needing a new pair of pants at another shop down the road.