Restoration - Replating QUESTIONS ❓

[DesertIguana]

If this has been asked before forgive. Two part

1. How can you tell if Newish looking Bintage is replated, what are tells

2. Does replaying effect bale in any way negative?

Thanks.

 

[DesertIguana]

Should have read:

Spell Check strikes again.

Restoration - Replating QUESTIONS ​

 

[helicopter]

If it is a Gillette, there is a very different look to a factory finish. There will often be old lacquer that is aged to a walnut color. Typically a replated razor has more mirror polishing. An original gold razor will normally be gold washed, with a very thin layer of gold, compared to much heavier gold on a professionally plated one. There is also a certain look to factory nickel. On techs, for example, the cuts on the handle grip have a certain fresh crispness that gets ruined with any sort of restoration.

So it is going to depend on the razor in question, how a new old stock one actually looks and why, and how the one in question looks. Some ideas anyway.

 

[lasta]

1. Look for rounded edges.

2. I've restored/polished quite a few of my razors. Depending on condition, sometimes significant material removal is required. They will turn out more aggressive than original spec.

 

[DesertIguana]

If it is a Gillette, there is a very different look to a factory finish. There will often be old lacquer that is aged to a walnut color. Typically a replated razor has more mirror polishing. An original gold razor will normally be gold washed, with a very thin layer of gold, compared to much heavier gold on a professionally plated one. There is also a certain look to factory nickel. On techs, for example, the cuts on the handle grip have a certain fresh crispness that gets ruined with any sort of restoration.

So it is going to depend on the razor in question, how a new old stock one actually looks and why, and how the one in question looks. Some ideas anyway.

Great info.

 

[Fordfather]

It is very likely that any vintage razor, that you find in the wild, will be in it's "original condition", i.e. factory plating. Any online seller that is worth a biscuit, should be honest about whether the razor has been replated or not.

 

[Fordfather]

Should have read:

Spell Check strikes again.

Restoration - Replating QUESTIONS ​

Turn off your spell checker

 

[DesertIguana]

Turn off your spell checker

Do not know how to do that, turning off auto check? I grew up using brain, pencil, and paper. Not computers. If we need spell check word, everyone owned dictionary. Corrections were do with tracer, and rewriting.

 

[Mojo88]

I had a razor replated several years ago from a company that is no longer in business. The razor was an Aristocrat that had been replated in nickel. Compared to vintage razors the plating was much thicker on the handle. The head was similar to factory finish, but I decided to sell it and purchase a President. The shave was similar, I just didn’t care for the replated razor. I personally don’t care much for vintage gold razors as the lacquer is typically gone or will degrade quickly.

 

[BigJ]

Great information on this thread!!

For me, the main question is, ‘Do you want a shiny razor?’

 

[Fordfather]

Do not know how to do that, turning off auto check? I grew up using brain, pencil, and paper. Not computers. If we need spell check word, everyone owned dictionary. Corrections were do with tracer, and rewriting.

It should be in a "settings" menu.

 

[helicopter]

It is very likely that any vintage razor, that you find in the wild, will be in it's "original condition", i.e. factory plating. Any online seller that is worth a biscuit, should be honest about whether the razor has been replated or not.

Good point. Replating is more expensive than most vintage razors. Almost certainly anything under $100 will have it's original finish or the restoration and replating will be proudly announced since it is where most of the value is in something like a replated Tech or Superspeed.

Most of the people buying pristine Diplomats and No. 22s for a few hundred dollars and up are going to be knowledgeable enough that trying to dupe them would be a waste of effort.

There isn't much to be gained by replating a razor and trying to hide it, so the risk is very low.

 

[Mojo88]

Great information on this thread!!

For me, the main question is, ‘Do you want a shiny razor?’

For me vintage nickel is my preference. I haven’t seen replates from current companies that offer that service, so I can’t comment on what the finished razors look like. I do like my razors shiny and as close to mint as possible. I have a couple that have slight brassing, but for a 60 plus year old razor that’s to be expected. In the end it’s personal preference. After going through many razors I have settled on what I have. The results are predictable and most of all consistent.

 

[Phoenixkh]

For me vintage nickel is my preference. I haven’t seen replates from current companies that offer that service, so I can’t comment on what the finished razors look like. I do like my razors shiny and as close to mint as possible. I have a couple that have slight brassing, but for a 60 plus year old razor that’s to be expected. In the end it’s personal preference. After going through many razors I have settled on what I have. The results are predictable and most of all consistent.

I have two Techs that are in pretty amazing shape for their age: the FBT and a Canada Pre-War. They aren't absolutely perfect, but I'm happy with them. I know Chris would make them even a bit shinier, but they are likely to stay in their current state.

The two gold wash finish razors I had were in pretty bad shape. Chris' 24k hardened gold re-plating restored them to better than new. I know they are no longer true "Vintage" razors for true collectors, but I'm not a collector in that sense. I would guess, for a razor to be museum quality, they would have to be NOS, basically, including their cases.