What is this and why is it so expensive?

The case is correct and in very good shape as well.

I have seen the case alone sell for a couple hundred dollars.

 

Keep your eyes peeled for a 1-5 bottom dial and see what that goes for.

 

Just bid $10,000...It's mine for sure!
Kidding

 

snipe set for $10,001 ...

 

Wow!! Is $10,003 too much. Let us all know how much it goes for?

 

Are we experiencing a "bubble" here? Razors for an investment - fine. But how much is a razor that originally went for $1.95 really ever going to be worth? Are we already at the top and these crazy prices have no where to go but down?

 

If you really think you want the razor make your high bid or snipe it for a $1000. You still might get it for less and it would keep you in the tolerances of the other bids mentioned.. There have been 23 bids made,but only 11 bidders. I've got the razor in my watch list and it should be interesting to see what it goes for.
I'm not sure if the bubble has burst for razors in general,but it has definately burst for me at those prices.... If shaving as a hobby were to fall then razor prices would fall. That said certain rare beautiful "THINGS" will always command extrodinary prices..It would actually be "OUTSTANDING" if someone from TSD were to win this razor...GOOD LUCK!!!

 

But the question is: Do you shave with it if you win?

 

If the question is for me the answer is simple..."ABSOLUTELY"!!!! I guess I'm not a true collector, I have no problem either using or restoring a vintage razor...My razor collection started because of my desire to try as many different razors as I could so I could find "THE ONE"..... My appreciation of their history and beauty led me to keep them, aquire more and hopefully pass them on to my son one day...

 

When I got my 1958 D1 toggle I noticed some miniscule dirt on the one of the doors of the razor, so I scratched it off with my fingernail. No problem right. Wrong! I damaged the clear coat and scuffed the gold polish finish in this very small area. Fixing it would be a major operation so chalk one up to experience. I'm now deadly afraid to use any superior condition vintage collectable razor.

 

probably not. these rare razors are 50+ years old now and no more of them will be coming into the market. Interest in DE shaving continues to grow, and Fatboys (and related razors) continue to be super popular due to a variety of factors. So yes, we may be seeing a bubble, but I doubt we've seen the peak yet.

 

If ultimately prices for these razors are like a bell curve, it's not buy and hold. You've got to time this market by trying to guess a peak. I wonder if there are any razors from the 30's or 40's that go for these kind of prices. Or is it Boomers just driving prices. Once the boomers are gone then you are on the other side of the bell. I would love to have Gillette's production figures by model type so you could have a better sense of how rare these razors are.

 

It seems like only Fatboys and their cousins (the 195, the toggle) go for these super high prices. I don't think it's one demographic group driving the price. When I first looked into DE shaving I found an article by Leisureguy that touted the wonders of the Fatboy. I don't know how popular his article is these days but I think the sentiment remains- many of the people that come into DE shaving want a Fatboy, and they want it in pristine condition.

You can still get razors from the 30s and 40s for good prices- although their prices are gradually increasing as interest in DE shaving increases.

 

So you would think that being adjustable makes a big difference. But the slims from the 60's go for nothing compared to the Fatboys, Toggles and 195s. Maybe the slims are sleepers and we should gobble them up now, but I guess they just made so many more of the slims that it will depress their prices. I mean $40 for a mint slim from the early 60's or $1000+ for a 1960 195? It makes you wonder.

 

Right. Slims might be the next big thing. Back when I was buying razors, it seemed that adjustables in general brought a slightly higher price than other razors.

However, I think that Fatboys are a special case. Maybe it's all due to Leisureguy, maybe not.

 

Well I hope it's not a case that the Emperor has no clothes. I find the uninitiated can't tell a Fatboy from a Slim by looks. You even see razors being listed wrong on Ebay. But I do love my Fatboy. You are right about the "appeal".

 

Like all things. The bubble will burst. When, no one knows. It has happened with so many things. Classic cars, watches and even houses. So why not razors. In this financial climate, people still want to collect things unusual from the past. Then wheelers and dealers get involved. Prices move upwards and beyond. Then it becomes, I want that or must have that. The question is, for me anyway; Is this $535.00+Fatboy going to give me a better shave than my 1960 Fatboy which I bought for $25.00? Would you use the razor? No, I doubt it. This razor is no museum piece that will go down in history that it changed the world of shaving as we know today. I don't know. Not me anyway. Once the Bloomers have got bored and moved on to something new. Prices will drop. Your shave won't change. Unless, you are really bad at shaving. Then, you will only get better.
On a last note. I have a 1964 slim(my birth year). Never used it. I prefer my 1960 Fatboy or my '47 Aristocrat. Then there is the tech. What about the …

 

Pssshhh, I find it extraordinarily difficult to believe that a czar can't drop down $700 or more on such a rare and beautiful artifact such as this.

 

Yeah, well, the wretched scum, I mean... uh.... peasants have been a bit slow with the taxes this month. I may have to take care of that soon.