Thanks Jim But I'm not sure Charlie @wristwatchb , Jon @BlueShaver or some others would forgive me if I didn't read and help them out on their posts. Wink wink, nudge nudge... tp
Count me in with you firmly in the minority. I don't feel nostalgic or wonder about who used an old razor. I get that it appeals to some people. Just not me. My vintage razors fall in pretty much the same as yours. They look to be in excellent shape or replated.
Sept 27th Proraso PS Red Truefitt & Hill Sandalwood SC Ralf Aust 6/8 WWB 2 Band Badger Proraso AS Red 2 pass DFS- Quick shave today, working traveling weekend (which is pretty normal for me, btw). The T&H SC....glorious luxury of aroma, yogurty thick slickness whipped up by the Wild West Brushworks 2 band badger. First pass was WTG, second pass complete concentration XTG with about ~1" buffing strokes. A little left on the table for the lower right under jawline/neck area, but otherwise a very nice shave for 2 passes only. The Ralf Aust full hollow blade, nice and sharp after working the new pasted strop progression, does better with shorter buffing type swipes, rather than longer 1-2" swipes. Followed with the Proraso PS Red. One of my top 2 fragrances...may actually finish this bottle before Thanksgiving. Hope everyone has a Fantastic Friday and awesome weekend!
I have a fairly large collection (sliding scale with this group, I know...) of vintage razors, but don't really ever concern myself with the nostalgia of who used them or what the story behind them is. I like vintage things, and would prefer them to look amazing. Some of mine do, and some don't. None are collector items- I like shaving with them or they go away. I think it is really cool to use these razors that are 60, 80, 100 years old. I also like to try different ones- that is the hobby part for me. Those that have been replated (such as my MonoBilt) I have done so as they are favourite razors. I do like to have old Canadian razors, just because. I have PIF'ed many vintage razors without any remorse, but still have other vintages on my 'someday when I get the right one' list ('34-36 OC 'Crat, Barbasol Floating Head come to mind). Same thing with other old things in my life, I suppose. My house is from 1906, and while I enjoy seeing old pictures of it, and have enjoyed renovating it room by room, I don't ever wonder who lived in it over the decades or such.
I also don't feel nostalgic about vintage razors, but mine don't all look pretty, mainly because I am cheap. I am trying to thin the heard a bit and focus on a handful of them. If I can do that, I will get some of them replated. I also don't worry too much about replicating original finish, except in a handful of instances such as the silver plating on SR razors.
