What are some cornerstrones to start a razor collection? I'm looking at mostly Gillettes right now. I would also like to shave atleast once with the razors. I have looked at mr-razors.com and gotten a lot of information. What do most of you start with? I would like to get some rare items. What I don't want to happen is to over pay for something because I am new to collecting. Thanks for all your help.
Cornerstones of a Collection
- Thread starter Oasis Man
- Start date
This thread reminds me this one: http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/334605-Old-New-guy-ready-to-pull-the-trigger
All of us are different, and want different things in a collection. I want user grade items, some want minty ones. If you want to collect the minty stuff, I can't help. What I have, for the most part I found in the wild, and that's how I started. Go to the local antique stores, see what you can find. If it catches your eye, get it. I had used a SS for years when RAD started for me. It was an old brassy LC NEW with a bar handle. And then I found a Cooper OC, had to try it, I didn't realize it took proprietary blades! But that's the fun of this to me. Maybe not the answer you need, but the best one I can give.
IMO the key to collecting is collect what YOU like and what you will use. That being said, I have a complete set of all 15 Old Spice shave mugs. I grew up with OS, dad and both grandpas used it. Also have several Gillette Adjustables and a couple of birth year Gillettes. Extensive, not by a long shot, but it is what I want and will use.
I got started collecting by looking for nicer versions of razors that I liked shaving with and things just sort of snowballed from there. I would look for a particular niche that interests you and just start collecting there -- something that you can dig into and learn more about, whether that's a particular type of razor or set, or an era, or what have you. Some niches are pricier than others to play in, but there are plenty of ways to slice up what's out there at all different price points. A complete collection of all the Super Speeds, for example, wouldn't be a very hard or expensive place to start. But maybe you're more interested in something like the different variations of Goodwills, or the various military sets, or birthyear razors of your family members. Where it's easy to get into trouble is if you try to swallow the entire ocean in one gulp. Narrowing your focus to something that interests you personally makes it much easier to be smart about what you buy.
Also, patience is an incredibly important lesson to learn. With some exceptions these razors were made in the hundreds of thousands, if not millions and tens of millions, and there are still plenty of them around today. Don't feel like you have to chase every auction that comes your way, because in nearly every case there will be another one along behind it at some point. There are very few razors that I haven't seen more than one example of just over the course of any given year.
Also, patience is an incredibly important lesson to learn. With some exceptions these razors were made in the hundreds of thousands, if not millions and tens of millions, and there are still plenty of them around today. Don't feel like you have to chase every auction that comes your way, because in nearly every case there will be another one along behind it at some point. There are very few razors that I haven't seen more than one example of just over the course of any given year.
I have a modest collection (20) of Gillettes, Merkures and a a couple of odd balls (LuX, Big Ben) One thing I can say is I use / used all of them. But You gotta have a Gillette Fat Handled Tech in your collection. I had three and sold em all. I now have one with the 'D' slots and while it doesnt get to work out it once did to look at it ticks all the boxes for me.
Congratulations on wanting to start a collection.
I think most of us go through a phase of buying any/everything we see, before settling into what interests us in collecting. That's sure how I started out and feel that it helped, in the long run, to eventually narrow the focus. And that helps to set your cornerstones, because people begin collecting for different reasons. Sometimes, the reasons for collecting become more obvious later and then you can be clear about how you want to limit things. (For a while, I collected Gem razors just because of the variety of cases they had. I'll still buy something if the case strikes me as interesting but not nearly as much as I used to.)
Over the years, I've pretty much settled into wanting a few different razors from each decade (sort of a historical perspective) and a willingness to pick up something unusual (but authentic).
My ground rules are: (1) it has to work and I have to be able to shave with it; and (2) don't get caught up in the excitement (particularly on eBay) because there is another one out there somewhere or, alternatively, that razor selling for $250 today will probably be for sale for half the price in a year or you'll find one in better condition for $25 at a local flea market. (Granted, there are exceptions to that last one.)
I hate to break it to you Oasis Man, but you will.
We all do. Some of us <points at self> still do sometimes. But you canset some general rules of thumb, from least expensive to most expensive:
Naked razor (no box or case) < razor with case < razor with case and papers < razor with case and papers and shipper < "new old stock" or never used
(There are some nuances to that, too, depending on what you end up focusing on: rarity, condition, age.)
There's also something of an emotional factor. Once you've more or less settled on what you're interested in collecting, the "I need that for my collection" factor comes into play. That's when you are willing to pay almost anything to get the razor because you "need" it in your collection.
If you keep an eye out for that and set a firm budget for yourself, you'll be OK. I have a set amount of money I can spend each month on razors - whether I blow it all on one razor or use it for four different razors is up to me. But I won't spend more than that. 99% of the time, the razor you want will be out there and will come back around.
I think most of us go through a phase of buying any/everything we see, before settling into what interests us in collecting. That's sure how I started out and feel that it helped, in the long run, to eventually narrow the focus. And that helps to set your cornerstones, because people begin collecting for different reasons. Sometimes, the reasons for collecting become more obvious later and then you can be clear about how you want to limit things. (For a while, I collected Gem razors just because of the variety of cases they had. I'll still buy something if the case strikes me as interesting but not nearly as much as I used to.)
Over the years, I've pretty much settled into wanting a few different razors from each decade (sort of a historical perspective) and a willingness to pick up something unusual (but authentic).
My ground rules are: (1) it has to work and I have to be able to shave with it; and (2) don't get caught up in the excitement (particularly on eBay) because there is another one out there somewhere or, alternatively, that razor selling for $250 today will probably be for sale for half the price in a year or you'll find one in better condition for $25 at a local flea market. (Granted, there are exceptions to that last one.)
I hate to break it to you Oasis Man, but you will.
We all do. Some of us <points at self> still do sometimes. But you canset some general rules of thumb, from least expensive to most expensive:Naked razor (no box or case) < razor with case < razor with case and papers < razor with case and papers and shipper < "new old stock" or never used
(There are some nuances to that, too, depending on what you end up focusing on: rarity, condition, age.)
There's also something of an emotional factor. Once you've more or less settled on what you're interested in collecting, the "I need that for my collection" factor comes into play. That's when you are willing to pay almost anything to get the razor because you "need" it in your collection.
If you keep an eye out for that and set a firm budget for yourself, you'll be OK. I have a set amount of money I can spend each month on razors - whether I blow it all on one razor or use it for four different razors is up to me. But I won't spend more than that. 99% of the time, the razor you want will be out there and will come back around.
- Thread starter
- #8
Brent, Thanks for the post. That really sums up what I need. I definitely want to shave with them, whether it's once or everyday. I have already hit the buy everything because it won't be there later phase. 
It is encouraging to know that it will settle down and then I can focus on what I really want. I have really been into open combs lately. I'm sure I will end up with some stuff on the B/S/T. We live and learn right. Again, thanks for the honest opinion. No one can tell me what is good to collect or not. That's up to me and that's why wet shaving is great.
It is encouraging to know that it will settle down and then I can focus on what I really want. I have really been into open combs lately. I'm sure I will end up with some stuff on the B/S/T. We live and learn right. Again, thanks for the honest opinion. No one can tell me what is good to collect or not. That's up to me and that's why wet shaving is great.
