I currently have two DE razors. I believe them to be a British Flare Tip Rocket from the 50's and a Gillette "New" Palmolive, which I believe to be NIB condition. The Rocket is the razor I learned to shave with in the 1980's and was my fathers. I'm not sure where the "New" came from but it's been around the family a very long time. I dont believe its ever been used.
So to my questions. With the "New", if it is in fact unused, should I use it or does it have any particular collector value that would be degraded with use? I assume it's gold plated, and as you can see in the pics, it shines like a mirror. You can actually see the reflection of me holding the camera in one picture.
In another pic of the "New" you can see a very slight, very small crack at the base of the handle. Thats the only crack in the handle and I've read in this forum about applying epoxy to the inside of the handle and clamping it with a suitable hose clamp. With a razor in this condition, is that the best way to repair a crack such as this, or would anyone have further or better advice on how to make sure it wont propagate? Would such a repair affect the value of the razor, if in fact is it a sought after collector piece?
I've read that the gold plating is a bit thin. Assuming I will be using this razor, does anyone have advice on protecting that finish? I had thought about a few coats of a hard wax, MinWax paste, but I'm unsure if that may discolour or in other ways harm the finish.
Oh right, you guys like pics. Here ya go lol...
The camera wouldnt auto focus on the stamped letters/numbers, but it says "BRIT PAT 694093". Apparently the camera can see better than I'm able too, and I can now make out a "l l" on one side of the neck.
Any advice, thoughts or questions welcomed and thanks in advance.
So to my questions. With the "New", if it is in fact unused, should I use it or does it have any particular collector value that would be degraded with use? I assume it's gold plated, and as you can see in the pics, it shines like a mirror. You can actually see the reflection of me holding the camera in one picture.
In another pic of the "New" you can see a very slight, very small crack at the base of the handle. Thats the only crack in the handle and I've read in this forum about applying epoxy to the inside of the handle and clamping it with a suitable hose clamp. With a razor in this condition, is that the best way to repair a crack such as this, or would anyone have further or better advice on how to make sure it wont propagate? Would such a repair affect the value of the razor, if in fact is it a sought after collector piece?
I've read that the gold plating is a bit thin. Assuming I will be using this razor, does anyone have advice on protecting that finish? I had thought about a few coats of a hard wax, MinWax paste, but I'm unsure if that may discolour or in other ways harm the finish.
Oh right, you guys like pics. Here ya go lol...
The camera wouldnt auto focus on the stamped letters/numbers, but it says "BRIT PAT 694093". Apparently the camera can see better than I'm able too, and I can now make out a "l l" on one side of the neck.
Any advice, thoughts or questions welcomed and thanks in advance.