I got started with a Gold Dollar way back in 2020. I wasn't really sure if the somewhat disappointing quality of my shaves was down to technique, or cheap Chinese steel, so I got a vintage off of eBay to restore and used that one for about a year, and have got much better technique down. I bought a bunch more vintage razors off eBay to restore recently because I really like the process, but I think I might buy a new high quality razor soon. If only to have a frame of reference.
This one is my current favorite. I don't know much about it, other than it was listed in a 1908 barber's catalog for the Moline Barber Supply Co. in Moline, IL. But the blade was made in Germany and is marked ALTZ. It has some nice bone scales which took a great luster after a bath in mineral oil.
It's been a great shaver.
Next I tried this Wester Bros De-Fi 34. It was kind of interesting to use because I had to take the blade down to 4/8ths. I don't think it thickend the edge out too much, but it kind of makes holding it at the right angle a little trickier.
Then there's this Torrey... Man, I bit off a little more than I could chew with restoring this one. I thought it was just rust, but upon receiving it there was some kind of black scale on it. Looked like a BBQ grill. Pretty sure it was in a fire or something. Couldn't get the pitting out, but it took a decent edge and shaves really well.
Then there's this Oxford blade. This one came with a different set of scales, but they'd become so brittle that they didn't survive me taking the pins out. Luckily, I had a set of scales from a different razor that was way beyond salvation, so I used them instead. I quite like them; they have a greenish, goldish, translucency with some shimmering going on. I haven't used the razor yet, but I expect it will be a good shaver.
(And one more just to show odd the scales more)
Then I also kind of modified my Gold Dollar. Originally it came with a 20 degree angle, so I thinned the spine out so that it would come out to more around 15-16. I never bothered getting the spine pretty again, because the razor is pretty ugly in general. Believe it or not, it makes a fantastic shave.
I'm still on the fence about buying a brand new nice one. I have the feeling that if I am pleased enough with these humbler options, there's probably going to be too much of a price difference for me to appreciate a brand new Dovo for example.
Anyway I just wanted to do some show and tell.
This one is my current favorite. I don't know much about it, other than it was listed in a 1908 barber's catalog for the Moline Barber Supply Co. in Moline, IL. But the blade was made in Germany and is marked ALTZ. It has some nice bone scales which took a great luster after a bath in mineral oil.
It's been a great shaver.
Next I tried this Wester Bros De-Fi 34. It was kind of interesting to use because I had to take the blade down to 4/8ths. I don't think it thickend the edge out too much, but it kind of makes holding it at the right angle a little trickier.
Then there's this Torrey... Man, I bit off a little more than I could chew with restoring this one. I thought it was just rust, but upon receiving it there was some kind of black scale on it. Looked like a BBQ grill. Pretty sure it was in a fire or something. Couldn't get the pitting out, but it took a decent edge and shaves really well.
Then there's this Oxford blade. This one came with a different set of scales, but they'd become so brittle that they didn't survive me taking the pins out. Luckily, I had a set of scales from a different razor that was way beyond salvation, so I used them instead. I quite like them; they have a greenish, goldish, translucency with some shimmering going on. I haven't used the razor yet, but I expect it will be a good shaver.
(And one more just to show odd the scales more)
Then I also kind of modified my Gold Dollar. Originally it came with a 20 degree angle, so I thinned the spine out so that it would come out to more around 15-16. I never bothered getting the spine pretty again, because the razor is pretty ugly in general. Believe it or not, it makes a fantastic shave.
I'm still on the fence about buying a brand new nice one. I have the feeling that if I am pleased enough with these humbler options, there's probably going to be too much of a price difference for me to appreciate a brand new Dovo for example.
Anyway I just wanted to do some show and tell.
