I didn't mean to sound like I don't think that modern products are quality deficient, it just seems that the older styles are just better made. i.e. brass metal then plated compared to pot metal. I don't understand why the new age seems to discount a tried and trued way of doing things on some products. We have come a long way and in most cases for the better. But it's like the old addage, "if ain't broke, don't fix it".
I'll be on the hunt for my own vintage razor(s) and I thank you guys for your patient replies. I believe most things aren't made in the old way is primarily cost. I wouldn't want to know what a razor machined out of brass and chrome plated would cost in this day and age. I look forward to challenge. Thanks.
I like the variety, quality, and the thrill of the hunt! You can use a 50 year old razor and get a great shave, 50 year old tv, radio, etc. is not so great, you can collect them and use them!
Merkur is the last surviving German maker of safety razors and as far as I know they've always made their heads for cast zinc alloy. They were bought out by the cutlery company Dovo and from what I've read they have fewer then 100 employees. Zamak 3 has a low melting temperature and is easy to cast. So this method of construction works for Merkur. Back in the day Gillette was making millions of DE razors per year. They had assembly line of specially built machinery to produce their razors. Brass was and is the metal which all others are measure as far as machine ability is concerned and this suited Gillette's means better. At that time nobody was making anything from stainless except flatware, it wasn't until the 70s when Smith & Wesson started making their revolvers from stainless. While stainless and brass are comparable in price the labor cost for stainless is higher, though with modern CNC macinery it probably a moot point. Razors then and now were relatively inexpensive items not meant to last forever so the use of high grade materials wasn't a concern. The fact that many old Gillettes have worn plating isn't a fault with the process of electro plating in general but that Gillette on their lower end product used rather thin plating to hold down cost and on some of their razor improperly plated them. The NEWs were gold washed right on top of the brass/copper when they should have had nickel plating to seal the brass/copper.
Nostalgia plus the fact that they last. It's funny knowing the humans mimic other animals but can't get past (heat, beat and treat) to create anything I laugh at the though that zebra muscles make a stronger non toxic adhesive than Dupont or 3M and all shelled creatures make better stronger longer lasting ceramic equivalents than we do. The beauty is they (other animals) all do it at room temperature (+- 20 F). So when we make something that last, I enjoy using it more. Kind regards,
