To Restore or Not To Restore

I am interested in people's ideas about whether a razor should be restored at all, or merely conserved in it's current condition. Generally, I come down on the side of restoration to service - meaning shave ready condition. I try to use the original scales if possible, if not, I will get creative and make new ones. I would not restore a razor if any of the following conditions are met:

• It was used by someone famous or has some historical importance. In these cases, I would stabilize the razor and scales so they do not degrade further.
• It is an extremely rare example from a noted maker. Again, I would stabilize.
• It is already in extremely good condition, in which case I would carefully maintain it.

At the risk of anthropomorphising metal and celluliod, I find a rusting old razor just plain sad (smiles or frowns notwithstanding). Razors that are used for shaving are happy razors - they are doing what they were born to do and, if properly cared for, will remain so for generations.

At least that's my opinion, what's yours?

I'm with you. I have had perfectly fine scales removed and replaced, but I'm not sure I would be so quick to have it done now. Not that I wouldn't necessarily, but just that I would think twice.

Thanks for being the first to start the conversation! Scales are a tough one - especially if the scales do not measure up to the quality of the blade. Some razors, with cheap scales in good condition virtually look up at me and beg to be taken out of their shoddy clothes and given ones that fit them better. It seems that many of the folks making the decisions on scales decided that the blade was the important part and the scales just made the blade easier to hold. If a razor is not a rare historic artifact, I think I feel freer to be creative with replacement scales.

Museums, under the guise of "conservation" really do an awful lot of restoration of the works they display. People just wouldn't come to see a suit of armor that is all rusted or a display of swords all pitted and dull. OK, now I'm ready to get hate mail from museum conservators ;-)

I prefer not 'restore' anything. I like things to be clean and in good working order. This applies to everything from old motorcycles to razors. Anything old has a story to tell and the patina of age adds to most articles.
There seems to be a tendency among some to want everything looking as if it had just come out of the factory.
Some of us don't even want our bodies and faces to reflect our age or a life lived.
Out of interest, are there many razors owned by SRPers that have genuine traceable provenance from a famous or infamous person?

For me it depends on the razor...

I'm only on my second restore, but SRAD hit me pretty good in Nov.-Dec. so I've got a pile of about 25 to work on.

Since I love history and things that have seen a significant part of it, my preferences and plans for the old ones are:

• If it's in decent shape or better: just clean it up and make it serviceable -- a good wash, bit of a hand polish, hone it, then use it
• If it's rather damaged: restore it to as close as original I can -- using as many of the original parts as possible

But, there are one or two with scales that are just so incredibly bland or ugly that, to my eye, they're just screaming to be given a spiffy new suit.

I would tend towards restoration, as I do with woodworking tools (which raises the hackles of some collectors, I know). The matter of scales is interesting though. I'm mulling over whether to replace the black plastic scales on an old Fenton at the moment. They are in good condition, better than the razor, except that at some stage someone has seen fit to scratch a number into them - badly. Perhaps I should just polish it out, but then again this is a handsome razor, and would look very fine in a nice pair of wooden scales, I should think. I was toying with the idea of yew, or maybe Mexican rosewood, any opinions?

This is a question that comes up on here about every 6 months or so...

Basically the answer is always the same...

First and foremost it is now your razor

Second most of us do enjoy the history of the razors so if the overall razor is in good condition, why would you restore it...

Third, did you know that many of the finest razors could be had with customized scales???

Most of the scales that you see on most of the razors are made by scale makers, not razor cutlers :) this is why many of them seem to be the same...

Fourth some razors have the value tied in with the original scales, so try your best not to have those replaced, ie: if the name of the razor is on the scales that is a good clue..

Fifth: Slick black, black plastic and most black horn scales add no value what-so-ever to the overall razor other than if the razor is NOS and therefore highly collectible anyway...

Metal restoration?????

This gets even more personal, you have etch and washes that could be very valuable and tang stamps too... My basic rule is try my best to retain them if possible, but Murphy's Razor Restoration law states:

If there is valuable etching on the blade, there will be pitting that is just barely deeper than the etching :)

But more than anything embrace the overall challenge or restoring the razor to being a useful tool again...

I tend to look at razors restoration as a value proposition.

If a razor has a really flattened and a significant amount of rust, particularly if a hollow grind, I know that I will end up with a shiney blade that has pitting and flattening on the spine that will take some work to hone up. My first question would be why buy it to begin with unless I simply want that brand or style for my personal shaving. If you have a wedge type razor and the capability to regrind, that is yet another story.

I really try to leave original scales on a razor as more times than not when you try to take the originals off, they end up breaking or you are unable to match the pinning.

Now, if you find a razor in pretty decent shape with a little rust that can be ground out, then we have another story. You can make these usually look close to new.

Scale replacement is all over the place. If a scale is broken on a serviceable razor, then you need a set of scales. If you want a set of scales out of a specific material, then you have to consider what the material cost is and how easy it is to work with.

At the end of the day, the condition of the razor and your desire for scales play a big part in this and personal preference is huge. The question is whether the work and the anticipated end result will be worth it from an expense standpoint, time standpoint and use standpoint.

Glen already mentioned that some razors have some additional value with the original scales. The other area are those heirlooms that you find and would like to make serviceable for sentimental reasons.

For me, just resurrecting one from the dead and putting it back in use is half the fun, but some of the antique or Ebay junk is still junk. You pays yo money and you takes yo chances.

Have fun,

Lynn

I'm in the group that restores as nessary. I started collecing straights last fall and have a modest collection. Some just need a little tlc and are fine. Those I tend to leave in the scales that they came with.
However, I tend to look for razors that *need* to be rescaled. I like making scales ( hi, i'm John and I have a scale making addition....:) ) When I go antiquing, I tend to leave razors in good condion alone. Let someone else have a chance at a nice blade. I like the challenge of making a broken one useful again.

I restore, but just like restoring antque cars, there are two groups.

1. Those who love and appreciate original stock equipment in perfect condition.

2. Those who love the mods, the hooked up cars, the flash and wild paint jobs.

I'm of the belief of keeping it as original as possible if it looks good, or compliments the overall look of the razor.

Example: I had a Joseph Rodgers full 8/8th's blade half hollow no pitting, but the scales were that fake tortoise type. They were really beat up, not broken, but just in bad shape. I tried to remove them gentle and polish them up, but upon removal I saw the washers were non existent and the pin had dug itself into the scales, and rust and decay had set it, now they could have been fully restored, but in my mind I thought "is it worth it worth it for the look of the razor and what I want to achieve"

In the end it wasn't and I made some scales out of bloodwood, and the razor is amazing to me now.

Cheers
David

Most has already be said to the subject.

I frequently always get asked the same question but for me it boils down to this. If you're going to be shaving and using the razor with no real intention to sell but enjoy the razor as part of your collection/rotation then go ahead, restore, clean and or replace the scales if you desire. If your intentions are keep it for looks and collectability with maybe an occasional shave then keep as original as possible.

Wow! I love all of these answers. I expected a spirite debate and was not dissapointed. I just received a shipment of 20 razors in varying states of repair. Rest assured, when I review them, the things I have read here will influence the actions that I take.

Thanks again!

John