Thread: Today's antique finds

Went antiquing today with the wife and child. Found no good razors today; they were all telling stories of a guy willing to pay $30-60 for what I consider garbage. Oh well to each their own. What I did find were a mug and scuttle. The scuttle is english, but that's all I know. The mug looks homemade and has "TM" on the bottom. I probably overpaid for them, but I hate going to these places and leaving frustrated it negates the point in going. There were also a lot of garbage brushes for way too much money.

We all strike out from time to time. I enjoy the pure hunt myself. Being a licensed Auctioneer and Estate Appraiser, I deal with antique dealers and collectors quite often. Outside of their field of interest and expertise, ie Fenton glass, Lladro, Limoges etc, dealers know very little about straight razors. They expect them to have some value, but they honestly view them as a bathroom decor display item often times.

Calling ahead to an Antique Mall, shop, or store and simply ask if there are a number of dealers housed there who have display cases of "smalls" this is the term in the business for the type of collectible our interest entails. If there are a large number of glass enclosed display cases, you will usually find razors. Rarely do I ask if they have straight razors, on occassion I will but Ive been told NO before and then walked in and found a handful of suitable blades at prices more like $15-20 which I believe is fair. Good luck on your next trip and have fun!

Thanks I'll try that. I feel if I can purchase a shave ready here on the forum for the same price I won't purchase it unless it is something special. They all said no when I called, but most had something I actually find more at the thrift shop for our local mission than anywhere, but they keep them for me as they won't sell knives for liability reasons. Every store here has over priced brushes and occasionally I'll hit a vein of shave mugs, I keep telling myself to buy them and sell them here so they get used, but I never do.