I now have two razor boxes, and no way to tell if they match any of my razors. I'm inclined to get rid of them, but don't know how to figure out if they have value or not. Any ideas on how to figure that out?
Yup. The coffin shaped box came with a miniature Cattaraugus Cutlery Company, Little Valley razor, and the other box with a post 1890 Wade & Butcher The Celebrated Extra Hollow Ground.
Did you get both razors at the same time from the same person? I ask because the coffin-shaped box is almost definitely from an old Sheffield-made razor. If you got them from the same person, it's possible they inadvertently put the W&B back into the wrong box after taking it out to look at it. I've seen W&Bs come in coffin-shaped boxes with the W&B name/or logo on them. And I've seen them come in boxes like the one pictured. Think it all depends on when they were made. That said, the boxes themselves really aren't worth that much. Empties sell on the 'bay' quite often, you do a search there to see what kind of value they have, if any. Odds are it will a few bucks, if anything. Usually if you sell a straight in a box that is known to be 100% original to the razor (mfg and/or razor model name on box matches those on the razor itself), you can get a few extra dollars. If it's a VERY desirable razor and the box in very good to mint condition, it can make a significant difference. For most though (e.g. old, used, common and/or poor condition) it'll only be a small amount. Usually, if I sell a razor that has a box, I don't even factor it into the asking price and just included it as a little extra bonus.
Actually, the coffin box came with two American straights, and the other came with a W&B. I guess I will just keep the boxes in a safe place until I am ready to sell some razors.
I agree on the Sheffield-made coffin box assessment. I've a dozen or more of those type lying about. All came with either W&B, Wostenholm, Turner & Co. Most are in 'fair' to 'good' condition. With many buyers, I ask if they want the box as well; some do; other don't. Hence my growing collection. I need to stop asking and simply include it.
Drygulch, I actually have a Hackett-Walther Gates Hardware Co. Razor that doesn't have a correct box. I'd be interested in it. PM me if you want to make a deal.
Razor boxes this brought a smile to my face as this subject actually got me banned from Badger & Blade the first and only ban I've ever recieved in my life from any forum, believe it or not I actually posted in the straight razor section over there asking did anyone know where I could pick up a Filarmonica 14 Para Professional box, they told me my post contravened their rules and banned me well as you can imagine I told them exactly what I thought of the facist moderators.
you are way better off here than at that forum. I have some pretty ugly thoughts about BB but wont say them here. TSD is by far my favorite place to discuss wet shaving
Yeah Lou I think you are right, in fact the more I think about it the more I think there was a few individuals behind it, one of them even tried to dangle a razor in front of me because he knew I was on the look out for this model, after serveral PM's I could see he was fishing for info including a very inflated price what he didn't realise I've been living on this planet for 56 years and wasn't about to be taken to the cleaners by a razor Grifter.
We're glad you're here, Jamie…even if you didn't post any more of your drop-dead gorgeous razor photos!
