Please tell me about this Filarmonica...

[Left Coast DJ]

So I was coming home from work and I'm instructed to pick-up dinner. While my Baja Fresh order is being made, I pop next door to a collectibles store and see this... being a noob, I get too happy and end up dropping some coin on it. It looks NOS. What can you tell me about it... model, when was it made, value on the open market? I'm trying to decide whether to shave with it or sell it (here or on eBay) so I can afford a Le Grelot.

 

[thanks]

I would happily trade you my Le Grelot for such a lovely blade , but I'm afraid your blade is worth more than a Le Grelot. Fili's have skyrocketed in popularity the last few years, and their value along with it. Could you take more detailed photos? The blade looks a little tapered to me, but that could be the angle of the dangle.

 

[Muirtach]

Looks like A Doble Temple #13. A quite popular one. There was an auction that ended just yesterday (1/7) for a NOS in what appears to my color-blind eyes to be the same scales if you want to get an idea on rough value. Personally I would keep it as it should be an icredible shaver with little work.

 

[professorchaos]

Scales are about as cheap as I can imagine. But they are lovely to use. Although I know you want a Grelot, its price won't change. Lately Filly's have done nothing but go up.

 

[Leon]

your blade is worth more than a Le Grelot. Fili's have skyrocketed in popularity the last few years, and their value along with it.

Absolutely.
Being a Filarmonica fan/collector/seller I only can tell you that - go get it!
It is NOS, apparently. The golden etching is still intact which is a plus. There doesn't seem to have any signs of use.
Sell it and you'll have sufficient funds to buy whatever Le Grelot you want and still get some change.

 

[Hawkeye5]

The older Fillys are top drawer razors. While I've had some very good Bells, I personally would keep that razor. I have no idea what you paid, but 13s go for $185 to $225 and up on the bay.

 

[professorchaos]

The older Fillys are top drawer razors. While I've had some very good Bells, I personally would keep that razor. I have no idea what you paid, but 13s go for $185 to $225 and up on the bay.

And the ones which still have gold wash go in the top of that range.

 

[JeffE]

Pricing this is very simple, because NOS Filly #13's are being sold just about every week on eBay, and it is true, the prices keep going up. About 6 months ago, they were in the $150 - $200 range, about 3 months ago, in the $200 - $225 range, and now they seem to be going for more, although you sometimes see one sell for less if the auction is ending at a weird time (like 2 am Sunday morning) when no one is bidding.

I have a Le Grelot and a Filly #13, and despite all the hype surrounding the Filly, they are very, very comparable razors. Both hold an excellent, super-freaky sharp edge. Both have a nice shape and feel. Both will give you a lifetime of perfect shaves. The problem is that the Le Grelots are available at retail just about everywhere, while the Fillies are perceived as scarce and therefore going up in price. So keep the Filly, as everyone here says, and pat yourself on the back for making an excellent buy. I wish some of my "noob" purchases had worked out as well as yours!

 

[Left Coast DJ]

Thank you very much for the feedback gents. I'm tempted to float this on eBay and see where it goes. Then again, chances of running into one of these again in this condition are slim. But being a noob, I'll probably ruin the edge very quickly anyway. And I don't want to keep having it re-honed. Decisions... decisions....

 

[Redhead]

I would hold onto it. You could not use it and think of it as a "reward" later on when you learn how to hone. Frankly, I think worrying about messing up the edge is a little silly, it's only a razor after all. Once you own a few dozen, you'll feel differently.

Best,
Red

 

[jeffus]

Yes, keep it, keep it, keep it.
I've been trying to get one on the 'bay for a while and they just shoot up in price too fast.

I have a #14 and want another, and another, and another...

 

[azmark]

I can tell you're tempted, just do it. I look at my blades as more of something to have to pass to my boys one day. I have Fili Taurino on loan that I may end up buying if he sells it and if I do I plan on putting that baby in my gun safe to one day pass to the boys.

 

[Leche]

Thank you very much for the feedback gents. I'm tempted to float this on eBay and see where it goes. Then again, chances of running into one of these again in this condition are slim. But being a noob, I'll probably ruin the edge very quickly anyway. And I don't want to keep having it re-honed. Decisions... decisions....

Put that beaut in a safe place until you are comfortable using a straight. I guarantee you will regret selling that wonderful blade.

 

[OldSchoolYoungin]

Keep it!!!

 

[bonusmarple]

Keep it.

 

[richmondesi]

I've got a Filly 13 and can take it or leave it. It's certainly nice, but IMHO isn't worth all the price (I got mine for a song) from a strictly performance basis. Now balance that with the fact that the scales are extremely cheap, and I'm left with the conclusion that I would not spend that kind of money on one of these. Point being, if it were mine, I very well might sell it for market prices and get a couple of nice vintage razors... or something else that I wanted. Best of luck with your decision, though

 

[SliceOfLife]

I've got a Filly Doble Temple. (no clue what exact model, 4/8").

Nice razor, up there...
But up there with it are several others, many much cheaper.

Henckles, Puma, W&B, Genco, and a couple unknown Sheffield/Solingens.

Really for value at the moment I'd say you can not beat Genco's. Followed with small W&B (only the huge ones seem to go for an arm and a leg) and puma's.

Like Rich, I got mine for dirt cheap. In my case it was because the only indication of what it was on the auction was the tang stamp, and pictures weren't very large so no one else noticed it.

 

[Left Coast DJ]

Point being, if it were mine, I very well might sell it for market prices and get a couple of nice vintage razors... or something else that I wanted. Best of luck with your decision, though

You're right I think. I now have two of these razors. So I'm going to sell at least one of them (or sell both and buy a Le Grelot to take care of my thumbnotch enfatuation).

 

[professorchaos]

Don't think that one blade will satiate your thumb notch infatuation. Oh, no. It is a potent AD.

 

[Left Coast DJ]

Don't think that one blade will satiate your thumb notch infatuation. Oh, no. It is a potent AD.

Thumb-notches