Hey guys. Today I found a Valet auto-strop SE razor at an antique store and I almost jumped on it but ended up holding back. It was in great condition. It came in a metal case and had a small little metal case that it came with that held blades. It even had two blades still in the case. It was priced at $35.00. I almost wanted to buy it since I usually stick to DEs and would like to add an SE to my rotation, but I just couldnt pull the trigger. Did I make the right call? or, should I head back tomorrow and buy it?!
Antique store find. Should I go back tomorrow?
- Thread starter bbauer09
- Start date
I guess that depends on how much you liked it....
For me personally, I wouldn't pay much for one....
For whatever reasons, they are not very popular razors, many apparently survive, and they are on ebay all the time for almost nothing...as well as antique places in my neck of the woods.
That being said, I have read here on B&B that some that use these say they shave really, really well.
I also just read, I think here on the single edge dept....I THINK in one of the blade threads...that you can still find blades for them...they take a specialized blade.
I think Hoosier Tom mentined a supplier in CA that still sells these blades....made to fit something else (modern), but work on the Auto Strop, and IIRC, they were repoted to be a decent blade for the Auto Strop to actually use from someone here that did.
Just my personal take on buying one, and some other info I happened to have in my noggin from reading here this week.
Merry Christmas,
Chris
For me personally, I wouldn't pay much for one....
For whatever reasons, they are not very popular razors, many apparently survive, and they are on ebay all the time for almost nothing...as well as antique places in my neck of the woods.
That being said, I have read here on B&B that some that use these say they shave really, really well.
I also just read, I think here on the single edge dept....I THINK in one of the blade threads...that you can still find blades for them...they take a specialized blade.
I think Hoosier Tom mentined a supplier in CA that still sells these blades....made to fit something else (modern), but work on the Auto Strop, and IIRC, they were repoted to be a decent blade for the Auto Strop to actually use from someone here that did.
Just my personal take on buying one, and some other info I happened to have in my noggin from reading here this week.
Merry Christmas,
Chris
Hi
I REALLY like my autostrops--they are the ones where the blade slides into the holding mechanism and can use the standard de-spined SE blade.
I probably would not buy one that requires the 'special' blades with the cutouts--but I buy razors to use.
They are real good shavers.
Cheers
Joe in seattle
I REALLY like my autostrops--they are the ones where the blade slides into the holding mechanism and can use the standard de-spined SE blade.
I probably would not buy one that requires the 'special' blades with the cutouts--but I buy razors to use.
They are real good shavers.
Cheers
Joe in seattle
$35 is way too much. You can buy them all day long in ebay for under $10. Yea, its fun finding stuff in the wild. But I don't pay more than market at antique stores out of sheer principle.
I too really like the shave my Autostrop gives me, I also think they look cool.
I'm no expert but I believe there is 4 variations to the Autostrops and only the older 1 or 2 models take a de-spined blade.
The newer ones take the "special" blade as mentioned before. You can buy Feather blades on line that fit these quite easily
The $35 price tag is probably a bit high, although I see them at that price quite often...if you shop around, you should be able to find one cheaper
This is an older Autostrop that takes a 'normal' SE blade with the spine removed
Here is a newer one that takes the Feather blade, it is easy to ID as it has a 'door' that hinges open where the blade goes.
I paid less than $35 for this complete, rhodium plated, fairly mint set
I'm no expert but I believe there is 4 variations to the Autostrops and only the older 1 or 2 models take a de-spined blade.
The newer ones take the "special" blade as mentioned before. You can buy Feather blades on line that fit these quite easily
The $35 price tag is probably a bit high, although I see them at that price quite often...if you shop around, you should be able to find one cheaper
This is an older Autostrop that takes a 'normal' SE blade with the spine removed
Here is a newer one that takes the Feather blade, it is easy to ID as it has a 'door' that hinges open where the blade goes.
I paid less than $35 for this complete, rhodium plated, fairly mint set
You made the right call. Too much.
If you still want the one from your local shop, just make them an offer. The worst they can say is NO. A lot of the time these shops need business and will entertain a price much less than the original asking price.
DD
DD
simon1
Self Ignored by Vista
I think I paid $10 for mine at a local antique store and it takes the blades with the cut outs. It came in its cardboard box (an end flap was missing) and had a box of 5 blades still sealed in their paper wrapping but no strop...it appears that the box is not big enough for the strop, and I've heard that some of them came without the strop but you could buy them separate. It also had the paper "blade" in it like it had never been used.
I ordered two packs of Japanese Feathers from Razor Blades and More and it shaves GREAT! Just as good as any of my other SEs.
Since it has the case you might offer him $15-$20 or so, nothing to lose.
I ordered two packs of Japanese Feathers from Razor Blades and More and it shaves GREAT! Just as good as any of my other SEs.
Since it has the case you might offer him $15-$20 or so, nothing to lose.
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