Thread: Restoration Strategy and Ownership Philosophy

When I was studying for a degree in guitar making, one of the units on the course was Restoration and Conservation, obviously the subject matter was early stringed instruments, but the core values and arguments that ensue apply to razors.
I like to think of the two subjects as being on opposite sides of a set of weighing scales, if too much weight is given to restoration conservation suffers, and vice versa.

To take an object of age and preserve it as it is at any given point in time, is surely conservation, restoration however concerns itself with returning the object to it's original condition, so it's a balancing act between the two, can one conserve and restore? Or is it a definite choice between one or the other?

Originally Posted by Alembic

I am becomming intrigued with several people's perspective of "make them my own".

I don't say it is worng - but I do ask why? I completely understand when a razor in in foul condition that you pretty much have to. But why new scales for the sake of making them your own. I'm having a hard time understanding that.

But on the other hand, it might be related to my personal perspective that my razors are on loan to me from history and that is one of the reasons I try and keep them as vintage as possible.

And I understand the perspective of ownership some have. If anybody bought a Filarmonica off of e-bay lately you can understand why the "hell, I own it" feeling

I guess I just try to keep everything in perspective...so on loan from history or not, you have to remember that back then, this was just how you shaved. most folks using them and a lot of manufacturers did not hold it in the regard we do...that being said, I've gotten several vintage razors with their original scales in great shape, but were still nothing special, at best. it's not like they were hand made for each individual razor...it was as mass produced as technology would allow back then.

So in regards to history, and taking into consideration some of the amazing work people do here with scales...in 100 years if you show someone an all original razor or one of the ones that some of the guys here have restored, they are going to look at the one that was restored and think "someone really cared about that razor".

These two threads might help you out

http://straightrazorpalace.com/works...storation.html

http://straightrazorpalace.com/works...fferences.html

Understand that the best Restorations are the one that get the most airplay, the normal everyday clean ups for shaving make for rather boring pics, so you don't see as many of them, but please don't assume those arn't going on all the time, everyday...

Originally Posted by Alembic

I am becomming intrigued with several people's perspective of "make them my own".

I don't say it is worng - but I do ask why? I completely understand when a razor in in foul condition that you pretty much have to. But why new scales for the sake of making them your own. I'm having a hard time understanding that.

But on the other hand, it might be related to my personal perspective that my razors are on loan to me from history and that is one of the reasons I try and keep them as vintage as possible.

And I understand the perspective of ownership some have. If anybody bought a Filarmonica off of e-bay lately you can understand why the "hell, I own it" feeling

Well, it's hard to explain why I think the way I do. In my own, personal opinion, the operational part of the razor is the blade. That is what I covet. The scales will only stay on my razor if they're in great condition or made of bone or ivory or something special. I don't care about preserving the historical integrity of the razor completely. I can tell you that I like having unique things, and a 200 year old razor dressed in scales that my own hands made that are beautiful and exotic is appealing. I know that nobody else has a razor like mine. And i like that idea Plus, I buy some real beat up razors where the scales are usually shot anyway, in order to save money when buying on fleabay

I pretty much agree with Alembic about borrowing them from history.
My most prized razors are my John Barber razors. Whenever I am using them, I like to think I have a connection to the craftsman who made them, almost 200 years ago. It is also why I used to restore razors only for people I knew would take care of them afterward (from a business pov, this is not a good strategy).

When it comes to restoration, I just replace what needs replacing. if the scales are busted, they go. If they aren't, they stay. Whether they are original or not, does not really matter. My mother is a master book restorer. She restores antique books; the stuff that is 200 to 400 years old. The first thing she does with any book it to rip it apart to the individual pages, and rebuild the book from there, using original material whenever possible. A well restored book with new (but authentic) material is regarded with higher esteem (and is much more valuable) than a completely original but damaged book. By the same reasoning, I don't obsess over preserving the original washers.

And frankly, while original scales are important, the blade is the soul of the razor. That is the part that needs preserving. Like an axehead. I still have my grandfathers (fathers side) axe. Last year I fitted the 3d handle. But it is still my grandfathers axe. I also have a hatchet that came to me from my grandmother (mothers side). And I restored that as well. I managed to save the original handle, but if I need to, I'll replace it and it will still be my grandmothers axe.

And I hope that in another 200 years time, the razors I restore will still be around.
And the same goes from the razors I make. I hope that 200 years from now, at least some of them are still around and treasured.
Realistically, if someone is still aware of my existence, 200 years from now, it will be because of something I made.

Originally Posted by osdset

When I was studying for a degree in guitar making, one of the units on the course was Restoration and Conservation, obviously the subject matter was early stringed instruments, but the core values and arguments that ensue apply to razors.
I like to think of the two subjects as being on opposite sides of a set of weighing scales, if too much weight is given to restoration conservation suffers, and vice versa.

To take an object of age and preserve it as it is at any given point in time, is surely conservation, restoration however concerns itself with returning the object to it's original condition, so it's a balancing act between the two, can one conserve and restore? Or is it a definite choice between one or the other?

Outstanding points you have made here. When we say restore though, we could also mean restore to usable/functional condition, which means "shave ready", as opposed to "original condition".

Originally Posted by woodsmandave

Well, it's hard to explain why I think the way I do. In my own, personal opinion, the operational part of the razor is the blade. That is what I covet. The scales will only stay on my razor if they're in great condition or made of bone or ivory or something special. I don't care about preserving the historical integrity of the razor completely. I can tell you that I like having unique things, and a 200 year old razor dressed in scales that my own hands made that are beautiful and exotic is appealing. I know that nobody else has a razor like mine. And i like that idea Plus, I buy some real beat up razors where the scales are usually shot anyway, in order to save money when buying on fleabay

Thanks, that puts it in perspective for me and I respect that.

I have went and continue to go from one extreme to the other with this.

While reading this thread i went to my drawer and took out razor that really interests me and it would be very hard for me to do anything other than to hone it. It is nothing special Fox Cutlery with moderate hone wear and a heavy patina. The scales most here would take off in a heart beat but that is what interests me the most. One side is the original with the fox cast in but even that side has 2 holes on the pivot end. Nothing wrong with the extra hole and the one being used to close to the wedge for comfort. The other side are homemade and about twice as thick as the factory ones with a crack from the wedge pin. That end has washers and a fair job of peening. The pivot end has no washers and uses a nail. I wish the guy would have scratched his name in it. I feel if I change it I will distroy the effort and memory of the unknown guy. To me this is the history part I like. While holding it my mind wanders wondering about what it has been through and where.

On the other end of the spectrum I just finished a set of 4 scales for a friend that had nothing wrong with the originals. I used a piece of teak flooring he had saved from his younger days. He wanted them for him, his son, and grandsons.