A fine find (Otto Deutsch)

I was checking out a local antique place that I have not been to in a bit last week and while leaving someone mentioned a case that had skipped my eye when I was going through. There were a number of nice condition razors in it, though most were a bit higher priced than I wanted to pay. In it though was this beauty. Almost mint condition, but not quite with the original case in fantastic condition as well. The worst, which I forgot to photograph, was a bit of rust around the pivot area, but that cleaned up with a bit of metal polish pretty well. I have not honed it yet and am debating what to do with my great score.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_5wOEQxYJBIU/TB...%20%281%29.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_5wOEQxYJBIU/TB...%20%282%29.JPG

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_5wOEQxYJBIU/TB...%20%283%29.JPG

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_5wOEQxYJBIU/TB...%20%284%29.JPG

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_5wOEQxYJBIU/TB...%20%286%29.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_5wOEQxYJBIU/TB...%20%287%29.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_5wOEQxYJBIU/TB...%20%288%29.JPG

You can see higher resolution images here

Very cool razors! I always wanted to get one of these, they have some of the nicest scales I've seen so far. Thanks for sharing! :mace:

Very nice find. That's a lot more fun than putting a bid in on eBay!

Make sure you keep that razor in the open air rather than sealed up in a box. I seem to recall reports that those scales have a greater than average tendency toward celluloid rot.

(See, I just had to get even with you for finding such a great razor!)

Oh, and did I mention that I'm still looking for one?
:)

Gorgeous razor! Wanted one for ages. They're just that bit cooler than a duck.

They are indeed quite prone to celluloid rot and this one is showing the signs. Not the slight pitting along the spine but the early signs of discoloring along the edge. Oil it up good, store it out of the box and in open position if possible and hope for the best. Also quarantine it from your other razors. I have two that have scales in beautiful condition but the blades continue to deteriorate regardless of what I try. Good luck with yours I hope you do not have any problems.

WOW!!

Nice find!

Aren't local finds just GREAT!! Congrats on an excellent score. What's to debate? Hone it up and put it into service. :tu :tu

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Originally Posted by wescap34

They are indeed quite prone to celluloid rot and this one is showing the signs. Not the slight pitting along the spine but the early signs of discoloring along the edge. Oil it up good, store it out of the box and in open position if possible and hope for the best. Also quarantine it from your other razors. I have two that have scales in beautiful condition but the blades continue to deteriorate regardless of what I try. Good luck with yours I hope you do not have any problems.

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I'm pretty sure I've gotten that type of discoloration from lather. I'm especially confident, since it was on a wapi, which has metal scales.
Still, it makes me nervous to think about all the celluloid scales I have...

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Originally Posted by heirkb

I'm pretty sure I've gotten that type of discoloration from lather. I'm especially confident, since it was on a wapi, which has metal scales.
Still, it makes me nervous to think about all the celluloid scales I have...

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I guess it doesn't look like cell rot to me, but I've never tracked a case from the earliest stages. Time will tell... I wouldn't worry too much in the mean time.

I've seen that discoloration come from lather too. OTOH, like Utopian, I've seen more of the green scaled ODs with cell rot than not. I agree about open air being better for avoiding problems...... and I am also still looking for one of those. :) Congrats, you did great on that one.

Personally, I don't see any overt signs of celluloid rot. I was just warning of the possibility.

On the bright side, if you do start to see, or smell (that's right, sniff those scales), you can always have them rescaled. Some of our better restorers have gotten pretty good at transferring the bolsters and logos onto new scales and it should be possible to find some kind of plastic material to match the current scales. However, I think it's highly doubtful that you are going to have to worry about this at all in the next couple of decades if you keep that razor out in the open. Given how pretty it is, that's were it belongs anyway!

Did I mention I'm still looking for one?

Enjoy your new toy.

sweeet... i gotta find one of those, very cool!

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Originally Posted by Del1r1um

sweeet... i gotta find one of those, very cool!

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Well, you're just going to have to wait. Disburden, Ben-mid, JimmyHad, and I have already called dibs first.:mace:

Very nice score and it does not look to have cell rot to me! Congratulations.

Absolutely gorgeous!!:tu

Nice score...enjoy it

Be sure to let us know how it shaves?


Silver2

Great find! I love these, I finally got a pair of original green scales (very nice donation from a member here, thanks again) to go with my blade. Some pins and a bit of cleanup and it should look as good as yours...hopefully. Do you guy prefer black or green scales? I like the green myself.

Why.....WHY must you tease me with my unicorn razor???? I've gotten so close to snagging one but it just seems to slip away every time :(.

Awesome find, enjoy! Should shave as good as it looks.

Great find. :tu Enjoy.