Help with a Filarmonica Especial 14

[oheric]

Hi All-

I'm new to straight razors, so I'm looking to be educated on this Filarmonica razor that I picked up yesterday. I did some googling, but some of the info is confusing, and seems contradictory to me. Can anyone take a look at the pics and provide some info? What generation? It looks like this particular type manufacturer of razors is well regarded, with the exception of some of the later years.

Any help is appreciated.

 

[Ciko84]

Very nice for sure shave well


Inviato dal mio iPhone utilizzando Tapatalk

 

[KW Driver]

Off The top of my head, I want to say 2nd gen, and looks good.

Doc226 here could say for sure.

there‘s also a thread here in this section that a very knowledgeable Spaniard has detailed answers for members that posted

 

[oheric]

Appreciate the responses so far. Thanks!

 

[Matt O]

Yeahp that is a sweet razor! I would say late first generation or early second generation. The other guess would be somewhere in second gen, and someone forgot to stamp the made in Spain on the back of the tang.

It is an Especial marked with JMPs name on the tang, so you can feel very confident that will be a high quality Filarmonica 14 that will be a beautiful shaver!

Great score! Congrats!

Vr

Matt

 

[Doc226]

Junk. Send my way for proper disposal.



I found this a while back. As much information on Filarmónica that I have seen.




Pre-1950 versions will NOT have "FABRICACION ESPAÑOLA / MADE IN SPAIN" stamped on the rear of the tang



Three main iterations of the "Especial" model (in order; transitional anomalies exist)
Tang shows curved Jose Monserrat Pou with stylized eagle (IMPERIAL brand), tall & vertical "14"
Tang shows IMPERIAL brand, straight Jose Monserrat Pou, short & horizontal "14" with lyre
Tang returns to curved Jose Monserrat Pou & tall/vertical "14", but with "FILARMONICA"
These would also have the 'musical' Especial/Filarmonica gold seal on the blade face
New white box with "Especial Para Barbas Duras" - the original EPBD



The original "Doble Temple"
Tang similar to Especial with curved Jose Monserrat Pou, tall & vertical "14", and "FILARMONICA"
A different gold seal on the face, most notable attribute being the "JMP" initials in the center
Collectors will refer to this as a "JMP signature blade", the initials were later replaced by the lyre
See my earlier image for a pristine example; these are more rare and more highly valued by some
The rest of the gold seal might have been generic; I've found a Carl Friedrich Ern Crown & Shield with the same seal design



The "Medallon Taurino" limited edition, bullfighting series was introduced
They're just Doble Temple 13s with six bullfighting themes on the face
Banderillas, Capote, Estocada, Cogida, Muleta, and Rejoneo
Three total iterations found across three generations of Filarmonica (anyone up to collect all 18?)

The "Sub Cero" was a cryo-treated Doble Temple. Tang stamp conventions apply. It stuck around into the next generations.



2. Second Generation: I call it the "Filarmonica Aesthetic Period" (FAP...fapfapfapfapfap...) - 1967-1979.

The company seems to have decided that pretty makes profit, and thus updated their look.
New scales (a few versions), gold seals, and tang stamps mark this era.
Tang stamps settled into a uniform style with small horizontal number, lyre, JMP, model, and Filarmonica

The Especial blossomed into the more ornate Especial Para Barbas Duras with laser etching and tang grommet.
The Doble Temple continued as the brand's steadfast workhorse, steady as she goes.
Four more models appeared
TRIDUR Especial Para Barbas Duras - Trivalent chromium coating for less corrosion. It's harder to hone until the outer coating is removed. Name is on the face, otherwise identical to the EPBD.
Novodur Para Profesionales - not much known, though the marketing goal is clear. Notable are the embossed scales from the EPBD, third pin in the scales, model on the tang, and gold seal similar to Sub Cero
Especial Para Corte de Pelo - narrow EPBDs made for hair cutting with attachment. "Corte Cabello" on the face.
INOX / INOXIDABLE - stainless steel Doble Temple. I don't like stainless, so not much to say there. Most were 3rd gen and don't bear JMP's name.



3. Third generation: Jose Monserrat Pou passed away sometime in the late '70s - early '80s. His son took over for a brief period, apparently continuing to sell out the old stock of materials. This is a murky period which I avoid. Straight razors were banned from Spanish barbershops in 1985 (Hepatitis & HIV?) and safety/cartridge razors had taken over worldwide, so the diminished demand (along with JMP's absence) had a direct affect on production. Many people have declared success with these razors, but they are considered hit or miss by collectors.


Key identifier is JMP's name having disappeared from the blades altogether
These are the razors you see in black "Sello Oro" boxes
Quality control was on the fritz with blade faces not matching tang stamps and other issues (lots of these on ebay from Japan)



4. Fourth generation: JMP's son died shortly after his father, then the daughter took over. The company closed a few years later in 1990.

Very hard, brittle steel sourced from Pakistan - takes an edge, but falls apart sooner than expected
No tang marks, only perfunctory "FILARMONICA -DOBLE TEMPLE-" etched on the face
Some have Sello Oro packaging or just plastic sleeves
Simply avoid these unless you're a collector



The first gen blades are considered by some to be the highest quality Filarmónica produced. I believe this is partially a matter of nostalgia, because when examining the first two generations historically & practically (on hones and face), there doesn't seem to be a difference between them with regard to steel and grinding. There is no reason that the earliest third gen razors shouldn't perform as well as previous generation blades, but any razor lacking Jose Monserrat Pou's name is a gamble. For those of you who got the good ones, congratulations! But caveat emptor to anyone on the hunt for a new Filarmónica.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[oheric]

Oh, this is good stuff. Thank you sir. Not sure if I am brave enough to start using it, but at least this gives me some background.

 

[Frank Shaves]

Welcome! There is definitely a learning curve to shaving with a traditional straight razor but also a lot of fun. Watching videos, asking questions, and just trying different things is a great way to get started.

The Filarmonica 14 is a beautiful razor and yours looks to be in very good condition.

 

[Biltong & Boerewors]

Welcome to the brotherhood!

Good news, and bad news......

Good news - Great razor that should give you a lifetime of great shaves.

Bad news - Unfortunately you started with the best, not much hope of improvement in terms of hardware. So if this doesn't give you great shaves, you will only have yourself to blame.