Well, after a year and a half of searching, I finally found a Hoshi Tonbo 8000 through a friend in Australia. I’d seen others, but this one just spoke to me, and the price was right.
Both a new stone and a new razor arrived today. We’ve all heard of eBay horror stories, but sometimes you win. I’ve always wanted a nice Johnathan Crookes, but never ran across one, at least before someone else did. There was one on eBay with collared pins and apparent corrosion, along with a small heel chip. I used the heel chip to bargain with the seller, and got it at a price that was still pretty high for a bone scaled, rusty razor. Except that what it looked like isn’t what it is. Vendors image first. The ‘bone’ scales are wafer thin ivory with a lead wedge despite the collar pins, and 99+% of the the corrosion was some kind of ‘substance’ that cleaned off. I fixed the heel chip and have a very nice razor. It could still stand a trip to see @Doc226 - and have a proper cleaning and pin job.
Got this Uber Mint NOS W, Hawcroft & Sons 1/4 Hollow Grind Sheffield 6/8th Set..The Lid of the Box is Stamped Made in Germany..The Seller Reckons Late 1800s..They Look as if they Were Made Just this Week for Me..Stunning Razors..No Celluloid Scales Ere.. Mega Chuffed.. Billy..
@Karl G was Fast on the Draw for Me on this Custom Riga Razor..He Got it for Song..$39.00 Bucks..Canny be Bad..Its Mint.Thank You Karl for Yer Help..A True Gentleman.. Billy..
Just Pressed the Button on this Beautiful Restored/Shave Ready Circa 1850 Frederick Reynolds Sheffield 6/8th + Wedge..Its Sports New Scale from Honey Buffalo Horn..As a Rule I Am Wary of Purchasing Restored Razors..But..This One is a Lovely Piece..Couldn't Resist it..Coming in from Russia..Got a Great Deal as Far as I Am Concerned from Etsy.. ..Now the Wait.. Billy..
You have to have accidentally shifted the decimal one space to the left. $39 is… well, I just can’t type the word. Sweet find!
Took a day off yesterday and my wife and I hit 4 local antique stores. Nothing in any of them. Today, I started the day off grumpy for unrelated reasons and she decided to better my mood by going to a shop in the next town over. It worked. I found 4 straights worth getting and 2 of those were nice old Sheffields. I have to apologize for the pic quality, my light box is packed away. John Pitt's Celebrated Razor Sheffield V Crown R C. Congreves Improved Sheffield Razor Made From Naylors & Co's Celebrated Steel W Crown R The scales are intriguing on this, the Don Works is upside down to what we would expect on scales and is highly detailed. My first thought is that these are pressed horn. If so, it is in amazing condition.
It was a Bargain..It was Well Hidden & the Decimal is in the Right Place..Give Me $40 Bucks..Cheeky Bugger.. Billy..