what model vintage razor to bring back?

If he decided to make handles as a starter project they could be offered in a wide range of knurling and maybe even chroming. Knurling should be easy enough for a skilled machinist, chrome and paint would allow you to have a custom razor.
Custom handles would appeal to those with vintage razors and also those with modern razors.
Razor heads are something few people are doing ... esp high quality made in USA ones

 

Yeah... my original thought was "Why jump in with a 'me too' entry?" Tdmsu's suggestion to offer replica handles as replacements!... Isn't that different? Better, are there folks out there jonesing for "authentic," crack-free handles to go on their News? Also, those old hollow handles that crack at the top and bottom... that's rolled sheet metal, not machined from bar stock. It was a cost-saving measure that really only works for mass production.

Um... most plating is charged by the lot. You send your parts to the plater. They "put them in the basket" and dunk them in the tank. You pay $X. $X is the same if you have a single razor in the basket of have filled it. This makes custom plating a challenge!

Oh... they do knurling as easily as most people get out of bed. These guys are precision machinists by day. They regularly work with tolerances of "half a thou" and less! But we don't need that kind of precision, nor would we want to pay for it! However, I hope we can benefit from their "side line, excess capacity" efforts!

 

Would a razor head be cast and then machined?

As few a only a few in number it would need to appeal to as many wet shavers as possible. Other things we all love are shaving brush handles and shave bowls ... might be an opportunity there for a man with a good design.

ie a copper or brass bowl for shaving might also sell to the kitchen folks, handles made from a sandwich of metals and polished could be ok too.

Hell anything shiny would make most of us happy

 

My vote would be for the Barbasol Floating head.
Why not do the best DE razor ever made?

 

Btw - theres a Barbasol Floating Head on eBay right now.
No, not mine.

 

I would buy a crack free ball end new handle... Maybe offer one that looks the same, but is longer and heavier as an option? Right now, I use my old type head on a nickel Maggard handle, but I'd like something that matches the head better.

 

Now that's a product product with a ready made demand!..:rah:

 

See? THIS! That's what excites me a bit. But what of the allegations that it is too aggressive? Is that thrown by the "we prefer mild" contingent and then countered by the "we prefer aggressives?" All I know is they go for a chunk of change... IF you can find them!


Or a Toggle like this one, maybe:
https://www.google.com.mx/patents/US2934821?dq=safety razor toggle&hl=es-419&sa=X&ei=1bgOU7asO-aj2QXD7IDoAg&ved=0CFQQ6AEwAw
"in which the blade is loosely held in the clamping means to permit rinsing of the razor without removal of the blade therefrom."

 

Who says you have to bring back a razor? Why not create an entirely new revolutionary design that uses DE blades?

 

Nah, how about an adjustable SE razor with a slant OC head?

 

I'd Like that but you have to think of what's the most profitable to at least build the company up before fulfilling a niche within a niche.

 

It wasn't a completely serious suggestion ;-)

If it was me I would NOT do an adjustable as the first razor - I think it would be MUCH too complicated for a first production.
Quite honestly I'm not even sure I'd do a complete razor...

My 'business idea' would be to bring back classic razor heads. Like the Barbasol Floating head, the Gillette Big Boy, etc - heads that you couldn't put on other handles.
I'd design them so they could fit most of the currently available 3-piece handles.

Can you imagine going to the "VintageRazorHeads" store and browse through;
- DE Barbasol Floating Head,
- DE Gillette Fellow Head,
- DE Gillette Big Boy Head,
- SE Star 1901 Head,
- SE GEM 1914 Head,
- Ziglar OC Slant Head,
- etc...

and you can buy these heads and fit them onto your favorite handle at home?

Would you buy one? Two? All?

Low cost for the customer
NO current or past competition
"Simple" entry to market

 

OK... I may take my meager collection (4 razors, but will be 8 next week) over tomorrow so my buddy can see what a razor head looks like in real life. I sent him to the ikon pics here http://ikonrazors.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=48&products_id=161 and it gave him pause (NOT that he can't do it, but he will have to figure out how to do it economically).

Today I pitched the replica handle idea but mentioned the "me too"-ness of handles. However, I think VintageRazorHeads.com is a rockin' idea! I just have to wonder, though... do people buy many iKon heads without handles? My inexpert eye sees the iKon heads as Tech, New and Hybrid. Assembling a head from iKon components would cost 40+40+45 = $125.00. Personally, I am hoping they can offer a choice for half that.

I was thinking about fram's insightful questioning of stainless steel razors
http://theshaveden.com/forums/threa...ered-razor-in-your-opinion.36552/#post-646584
I suspect that making razors from stainless avoids the "What finish should we offer?" question. It also avoids the "must have big batch" of plating cost. I fear that most folks would rather not have an alternate material (like brass) if it were not plated. Opinions, anyone?

(I've already posted that I use my New and it doesn't have a speck of plating on it anywhere! I've gotten a little lazy about keeping it shiny, but have adapted to the additional drag of un-plated copper.)



For the curious...
Here is a link to the side line business that has "taken off" for the college age kids:
http://www.mpcmotorsport.com/shift-knobs.html
I look at these and see potential shaving brush handles, but a quick look at Etsy tells me that is a flooded market!

 

Hey! What of aluminum? Fram773 seemed to not trust aluminum here
http://theshaveden.com/forums/threads/standard-razor.36144/
discussing http://standardrazors.com/, but addressing threads in soft aluminum is EASY!

Would VintageRazorHeads fly if replicated in aluminum?

Pondering still...

 

Personally I'd be cautious about aluminum razor heads as I like my heads to have some weight to them - makes it easier to have the razor do the work and you not applying any pressure

 

The threads can be solved for sure but I'm with Darkbulb on this one. I never liked my Lord l5 because it was too light and felt cheap but it was hollow. I suppose its possible if it's solid.

Won't aluminum dent though if its dropped? I guess that's why most new razor companies went with steel and because brass would be expensive to plate in small quantities. I'd like to see vintage heads being sold. I'd think people would still buy them if they were made of pot metal-given the popularity of Merkur and EJ...

 

Oh and about the unplated brass razors. Most of my SEs are unplated brass. It looks like a duller gold. There's no pesky plating to bother with and no matter how tarnished or scratched they are I can bring them back. But i do have to polish them occasionally.they don't tarnish as fast as copper...

 

Polished stainless for the win then step one DONE

I like the idea of complete razors something like the quality of the Weber with a greater variety of heads and handles. A Weber costs $70 USD and with shipping it's just over $100 to get it here to New Zealand. Very acceptable price for a beautiful razor. I have not bought a Weber yet but I plan to.

If there were other razors of the same quality and the price was competitive there could be a market there.
Open Comb, Slant & something like a Tech.

So heads and handles made on CNC or what ... question is can and handle be made easily to order with out a long set up time?

ps The Goodfella Razor is made here in New Zealand, it's a one off for the company and judging by reviews you would be better of with a $10 Tech or a Gillette New. For me to buy one costs $95 plus postage ... and I only live 200km from their site. So is it overpriced or not providing the necessary quality or point of difference?
http://www.goodfella.com/products/Classic-Double-Edged-Razor.html

 

The Goodfella looks just like a Gillette Old-type to me and from the reviews, it sounds like it shaves like one too. I have a couple Old-types I got for much less so I didn't really see the point in buying a Goodfella.

 

"The Goodfella looks just like a Gillette Old-type to me and from the reviews, it sounds like it shaves like one too. I have a couple Old-types I got for much less so I didn't really see the point in buying a Goodfella." feeltheburn

Me neither mate despite them being a local company and all that. I think it's a fairy mild razor something like a New.
My point was I hope to show that even if it's a great idea doesn't mean it will sell even to to us shave forum freaks. If we won't buy what chance does the company have of selling it to folks like my brother in law who loves his Mach 3?