Old Filarmonica #13 DT - Restoration Advise

After shaving with my Magic straight razor for a while, I have decided to purchase a real straight razor. These are some pictures to my Filarmonica that I would like to restore. Is it worth restoring?

Does anybody have any information or know anything about this particular Filly? It looks like an older Filarmonica because of the details to the gold wash and detailed metal harp ornament that is fixed on to the scales.

Unfortunately after consultation, it has been advised that the gold wash will be lost if the blade is polished. This is something I would like to preserve. I am also interested in transferring the harp ornament onto my new set of scales which I hope can be placed on some horn material or cellulite.

Lastly, if you know of anybody that will be able to provide me with this service please let me know!

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I have a 13 DT and love the way it shaves. One thing you can do to protect the gold wash is to put some tape over it.. I used a painters masking tape and then sanded around the tape.

Great razor, I dont think it needs a restore, looks awfully nice already (but that's just me). If I was you I would just hone her (or have her honed) and put her to work.

Does anybody know what time period this blade is from?

So far with your feedback I was thinking about taping off the gold wash getting a Dremel buffer with Jewler's Rouge and working the blade. As far as the celluloid, is there anything I can do? The first thing on my mind is this stuff called acrylic polish but I don't know what it will do to the harp that is glued on to the scales. I was also thinking soft steel wool, but wanted to know what you all think about how to polish the scales.

I have one just like that, but the scales were in pretty bad condition, so I had it rescales in ebony with the harp inlay going on the new scales.

I'd suggest not using the dremel. Put a tape on the gold wash and then hand polish the rest of the blade. It'll take time but there is much less chance of anything going wrong.

The acrylic polish won't damage the brass inlay for sure.

Maybe my eyes are bad . . .

. . . What's wrong with that razor ????

Usually, "restoration" means returning something which has seen a lot of wear, and is in poor condition, to the way it was when it left the factory (or better).

Your Filly seems to be in very good condition -- no rust on the blade, no cracks in the scales, no chips in the edge.

Why do you want to do _anything_ to it, except hone it ?

Charles

PS -- My bias is showing, here:

. . . "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

I agree with Charles. I think it looks great as is. Maybe a light polish, but then just hone it up and rock and roll.

Well it looks like minimal restoration will be done to the blade. Maybe, new scales only?

Just going through the site and seeing everybody's mirror finish made me want to do the same for my blade. I guess this is something I may want to reconsider.

If I do go with it, Gugi can you tell me whom did the restoration? I am particular to make sure that the emblem comes out good looking with the new material.

I had Glen do it, if you look in the resto section you'll probably find the thread that he started for it once he finished it.

It's pretty straightforward to remove the inlay, acetone would dissolve the celluloid and you can have the brass in perfect condition. It's pretty thin, but still it has some thickness. If you find that thread I seem to remember Glen saying he hammered it a little bit to sink into the wood, or may be did it with a vise... I'm forgetting.

Though he went against his judgment and did what I said I'd like and put a satin finish on the scales instead of gloss so there is a little bit of the CA around the inlay which wouldn't be noticeable if the finish were gloss.

They most certainly look and feel better than the original cheap plastic, but it's not an original razor anymore. Though if my scales were in the condition of yours I may have left them on. But I have hundreds of razors, so I have plenty to be customized with no other choice, and the ones that don't need it I keep original.

Get some MAAS and a piece of old cloth and have at it. Tape off the gold wash and get the blade nice and shiny and hit the scales with it as well. They will shine up and look pretty close to as good as new too.

You got yourself a nice razor. Enjoy!

Thanks for the confidence, I'll look for MAAS!