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Replating effect on value

Hi guys,

I'm just wondering, with an old razor with brassing etc, if it is replated, what does that do to it's value?

Cheers
Jeremy
 
Well considering the razor wouldn't be original anymore it would significantly bring it down. Well at least from a collectors point of view.

I for one wouldn't mind paying a bit more for a replated Gillette Old/NEW. Because i would want to shave with it, and having it look good at the same time.
 
Hey Jeremy,

This is one of the most hotly debated topics on B&B. Many are against (and for) replating old razors...its your money, you can do to it what you want.

I'll simply say that if you do replate it, be sure to sell it by telling potential buyers its replated.

The driving concern that many B&Bers have is having replated razors sold as NOS on the B/S/T. NOS naturally garner more $ than a replate due to the historical value, the value of the fact that it sat around for years in its untouched state etc etc.

Best of luck! Oh...and I'd recommend searching around B&B on the safety razor forum for the word replate...you'll find a number of threads....and opinions! :lol:

Went back and searched...here is one of the many threads on this topic...
 
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If you've got a common razor and it's in poor shape, then replating can only increase it's value, especially to you! I see nothing wrong with replating a razor when there are so many totally brassed and green News and Old Types, etc. We all want to own and shave with nice and shiny vintage razors and there are only so many of those to go round.

If you actually have some rare vintage razor then I'd weigh the pros and cons. But if it's common and you intend to keep it, then it's really your prerogative.
 
Most razors don't go for enough money that I think it's an issue and as stated above, an old gillette tech with terrible brassing can only go up in value as you wouldn't get anything for it otherwise. Would I prefer a mint condtition orginal over a replated....sure, but would I prefer a replated over a razor with brassing if it went for teh same money...you bet.

I would let people know it's replated if you sell it but for me, if I replated it, it would be for me to keep and use.
 
Opinions on this are inversely proportional to the number of vintage razors you own. If you are a knob with a large collection of super-shiny high-dollar razors in cases it is easy to look down one's long nose about re-plating.

If you are a normal person with a few kicked around but decent antique store find razors it seems perfectly sensible to get a nice re-plate so you can enjoy what you have on a daily basis.

We don't have any trouble finding razors. There are still PLENTY out there. If you want to re-plate one and enjoy it as a daily shaver go for it, I genuinely believe the market can bear it.
 
It's not been mentioned yet, but the cost of the re-plating itself is certainly a factor. If the cost of the brassed razor was $10, and the re-plate job is $20-$30, then you have $40 invested in the razor. $40 will buy a very nice condition Old/New, and you could thus avoid the re-plating all together.

If the razor has some sort of sentimental value to you (such as being your first DE razor, or a family heirloom) then perhaps the re-plating is worth it.

My first DE razor was a well worn Ball End Tech that was PIFed to me by a kind gentleman on this forum. It has since been re-plated, as it had value to me as my first DE razor. :tongue_sm
 
Thanks guys for your help. Refreshing that the responses here are so polite esp for a subject matter already discussed so much.
 
It's not been mentioned yet, but the cost of the re-plating itself is certainly a factor. If the cost of the brassed razor was $10, and the re-plate job is $20-$30, then you have $40 invested in the razor. $40 will buy a very nice condition Old/New, and you could thus avoid the re-plating all together.

If the razor has some sort of sentimental value to you (such as being your first DE razor, or a family heirloom) then perhaps the re-plating is worth it.

My first DE razor was a well worn Ball End Tech that was PIFed to me by a kind gentleman on this forum. It has since been re-plated, as it had value to me as my first DE razor. :tongue_sm

+1. Replating is costly.
 
It depends on the razor you are contemplating to re plate.

Not all vintage razors demand fancy prices. If you have decided to make it your usable razor.......go ahead and make her look her best. After all you are going to enjoy her almost everyday.......spruce her up and have a go


Vijay
 
Market value will drop if it's already in good condition. If it's in poor condition, replating will help its value. However, I would only replate for personal value. That is to say, my daily shavers, the razors that are important to me, and that I foresee keeping for a long, long time. I'm going to get my GEM Micromatic, my cased old type, and my cased single ring replated. When I have money :tongue_sm Stupid ADs, eating my bank...
 
Personally, ( which is longhand-speak for that acronym with the Y's and M's in it ) if I got hold of a model I like that normally sells for over $100-$200, and I could use and enjoy a replated one, probably in rhodium, for $40 or $50....of course I would.
It would definately increase its value to me. But at this point I'm not a collector, but a user. Even so, if I decided to sell it stating its replated I expect I'd at least get my money back.

Edit: Just picturing another perspective where if quite a few people start replating, and recirculating....doesnt take long for the 'replated' disclaimer to disappear. And in money-centric terms thats a significant impact.
 
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Most of the razors trading hands here are moving for under $30, skewing heavily in the $10-20 range. Even a 10 or 20% drop in value isn't very significant in real terms there.
 
I've always been on the side of replating.
But recently i'm not so sure.
One problem with razors is that we use them. Some sit on a shelf in a collection, but for the most part we use them.
If I were using a razor day in and day out I'd want it looking it's best.
As it is, I go through a 5 razor rotation. They are all in good shape.

If I were to pick up and old single ring that was going to be part of the rotation then I'd replate it and not look back.
I wouldn't sell it, so it would be my up to my kids to figure out what to do with "Dad's old junk"

so as for value, Since I'd be keeping it, i dont' see why it matters.
Collectibles are only worth what people pay for them anyway.
 
It may be worth adding that some of us simply wouldn't buy a replated razor, holding the opinion that the replating process tarnishes the item's originality and/or value as an historical treasure. This reduction in potential buyers would likely reduce value at least a bit in an ebay-esque marketplace.
 
If you've got a common razor and it's in poor shape, then replating can only increase it's value, especially to you! I see nothing wrong with replating a razor when there are so many totally brassed and green News and Old Types, etc. We all want to own and shave with nice and shiny vintage razors and there are only so many of those to go round.

If you actually have some rare vintage razor then I'd weigh the pros and cons. But if it's common and you intend to keep it, then it's really your prerogative.

On my mobile, so I'll quote this for truth
 
I'd buy a replated razor if I liked the design and wanted to use it, but I wouldn't pay more than a couple bucks extra.

I'm thinking it's usually pretty obvious. The replated razors I've seen were beautiful, but didn't look like 50 year old razors...it was clear to me they were replated rather than magically unaged. Even an NOS would have some tarnish.

That said, I would not replate a rare or unusual razor. I could see doing it for a really brassed razor that shaved really well and I wanted in the rotation.
 
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