Collectible??

I bought a razor in an antique shop, and after seeing some of Bill's scales, was thinking about replacing the celluloid scales on mine, with some of his wooden ones. However, I wouldn't want to do any of that, if it were of collectible value. The shank is marked on one side, "Paul Jones." On the other side is: "Panhandle Barber Supply House, Distributors, Amarillo, Texas." The box says, "US Barber Supply Co, No. 38, Made in Germany." Of course I wonder if this box even goes with this razor? I'm not asking for a $ appraisal, but just wondering if any of you collectors think I would be messing up by having this blade sharpened to shave ready, and replacing the scales. My apologies if I didn't post this question to the appropriate forum. Thanks.

Razors are for shaving IMHO. They become "collectible" when they've got too much pitting or for some other reason cannot fulfill their réson d'être, but are still of interest to people based upon historical data.

Make sure the razor shaves well first and if you're still interested, I say go for it. I've got a 6/8 Wade & Butcher with a set of Bill's desert ironwood scales and I love it. Get anything from Bill. He's a genius.

X

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Originally Posted by xman

6/8 Wade & Butcher with a set of Bill's desert ironwood scales and I love it. Get anything from Bill. He's a genius.

X

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that WB, did it had scales when you got it, or it was just the blade?

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Originally Posted by superfly

that WB, did it had scales when you got it, or it was just the blade?

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The scales were broken, so it definitely needed repair.

I would say go for it. If the scales are broken, that is, and you were planning to shave with it anyway.

Provided you didn't pay some exhorbitant sum for the thing based in its 'collectable' value, I doubt you're going to do it any harm. What's the worst that happens? You get decades of shaving pleasure out of it, then your estate curses about how you 'ruined' the perfectly good collectable they could have hocked.

Thanks gentlemen...I didn't pay much for it I know...I was making cowboy wages back then. I think I'll send it off and have it sharpened first and see how I like shaving with it. My wife thinks I'm crazy! I just like the idea of doing things the old way...I even hate to go through the drive through at the bank. LOL