New versus vintage shaving gear

[gearchow]

Just curious what folks views are on new versus vintage shaving gear.

Here are some pros and cons that I can think of:

Brushes:
CON: Vintage brushes usually need to be re-knotted and if not, kind of nasty requiring a good cleaning.
PRO: Nothing today matches the handles that can be found on vintage and a re-knot can give you a high end brush for not a whole lot of $$$.

DE Razors:
CON: Can be broken, dirty, pricey. There is another potential problem, but I won't mention that right now.
PRO: A variety that is not matched - IMHO - with modern razors.

SE Razors:
CON: Can be broken, dirty, pricey
PRO: Modern SE razor?

I can't speak for straight razors.

For myself, I shave with vintage razors and vintage brushes - some re-knotted and some not.

Modern creams and soaps (although I have vintage) and mostly modern after shave splashes and colognes. Once again though, all my Old Spice is now Shulton vintage.

Be interested in hearing if there is a fenced or indistinct border between the two camps.

-jim

 

[cnnc97]

My first DE was an EJ DE89L. I occasionally use it, but I prefer vintage Gillettes now. They are just cooler IMHO.

 

[Legion]

I have new and vintage stuff. On the whole the vintage stuff appeals to me more. I just like the history of it. Also, I believe a lot of the vintage stuff is made from better materials than modern.

Can you imagine what a razor like the Gillette Diplomat would cost if they made it new today?

 

[AlanL]

New gear pros: Warranty, clean.

Vintage pro: If you're willing to hunt carefully, even good ones are available cheap. Of my dozen vintage razors (most free or < $2), the most I ever paid was $15 for a pristine '59 Fat Boy.

 

[pauls51]

I have a mixed shave den with both vintage and new shaving gear... I tend to lean towards the vintage stuff.
To me it's a whole lot more appealing to shave with razors that are, or close to 100 years old...

 

[The Last Chimney]

There is another potential problem, but I won't mention that right now.

This is ominous and frightening and I demand to know more!

 

[spindlecone]

Not understanding the comment (nothing today matches the handles on vintage brushes)
Are plenty of people making and selling brushes made from very esoteric,rare materials used in the past.
I turn alot of Ivory,horn and bone handles,century ago thats what the people that wanted the best bought.

 

[Legion]

This is ominous and frightening and I demand to know more!

Smallpox?

 

[gearchow]

Not understanding the comment (nothing today matches the handles on vintage brushes)
Are plenty of people making and selling brushes made from very esoteric,rare materials used in the past.
I turn alot of Ivory,horn and bone handles,century ago thats what the people that wanted the best bought.

That is true, I didn't even think of it. My world is so limited to catalin, I do forget about those other materials, also some fantastic, esoteric wood handles and metal ones. Thanks for reminding me!

-jim

 

[gearchow]

This is ominous and frightening and I demand to know more!

Smallpox?

all right, I shouldn't have even mentioned it because it is probably a crazy thought, but what if there wasn't this huge, vast supply of vintage, mostly cheap DE razors? Would that mean there would exist a market for more modern DE razor manufacturing?

-jim

 

[Kcaps]

I have a mixed den as well, but end up shaving with my modern razors more often. I prefer the nostalgia of the vintage razors, but prefer the shave of the modern ones.

As for brushes I don't really care whether they are modern or vintage as long as I like it. There are both modern and vintage handles that I love and hate, so just what I like. Mind you, for the nostalgia, if I could find an amazing vintage handle I would love it if I could get an amazing knot in it (i know this can be done, I just can't afford it right now).

 

[chris456]

It's all about the vintage DEs for me, but I have been thinking about a Futur lately, just because they look so cool.

 

[Slivovitz]

Vintage razors, well, for SE and injector razors I don't have much choice, do I? I did succeed in getting three NOS injectors and, for that matter, two NOS DE razors. Mostly, though, the old used DE, SE, and injector razors I've cleaned up have been just fine for shaving, and I think they have more character than modern ones.

I did re-knot two vintage EverReady handles just to see what that would be like. It worked, although I didn't make the neatest job of it. Other than that, I'd rather use modern brushes. Don't really care about fancy materials for the handles. Brushes just don't interest me the same way razors do.

Have used vintage Williams and vintage Old Spice soaps, and liked them, but wouldn't go out of my way, or pay much, to get more.

I do like my Old Spice mugs; they add a certain character to the shave den. Also a nice "Ironstone" 19th century style mug/scuttle which could really be from the 19th century, or a recent reproduction. I don't really care and don't much want to know. If it were a valuable antique it might keep me from using it.

 

[njpaddy]

My only new DE is a Merkur HD. Most of my others were vintage. The only DE's still in regular use are the HD and a SS with a preference for the SS. I don't have a vintage brush, but wouldn't hesitate to buy one if I saw a handle I liked. No cootie-phobia here.

 

[Leche]

The big advantage with vintage straights is the variety. Most non custom new straights are 5/8, full hollow, with a round point. If you want larger or smaller, full hollow to wedge and everything between, with several different points and you don't want to fork out several hundred dollars or even thousands its all vintage.

 

[wulfgar1976]

I prefer vintage for the only reason that I like open comb razors and the choice is limited for modern ones.

 

[mcmulvaney]

Vintage razors have save me money so far. I've been able to try four fairly different Gillette DE's for less than I might have spent for a single new razor.

Brushes, on the other hand just feel more like something I should acquire new.

I guess if you can resist the AD's the cost question is kind of moot since both vintage and new razors and brushes have vary long lifespans if reasonably maintained.

 

[flat_tire]

I had a question very similar to this topic.

How does the quality of modern DE razors compare to vintage razors? Will be people shaving with a 100 year old Murker 34C in the year 2100? Or do these newer razors have a shorter life expectancy?

Thanks,
CZ

 

[wulfgar1976]

I had a question very similar to this topic.

How does the quality of modern DE razors compare to vintage razors? Will be people shaving with a 100 year old Murker 34C in the year 2100? Or do these newer razors have a shorter life expectancy?

Thanks,
CZ

If anything, the plating on modern razors is much thicker than what you'll find on old Gillettes.

 

[Ace$N8s]

I really like my vintage razors, You can buy a really nice Gillette Super Speed for the cost of a Parker, and if you don't like it you can sell it for the price paid in most cases, where it's hard to give away a newer cheap razor.