I am curious as to what levels your RAD got to, if and when you turned it around, and where are you now. For the purpose of this discussion, I limit RAD to razors one shaved, shaves, intends to shave, or intended to shave with. Collectibles are a completely different matter and, in a way, more easily justifiable reason to have multiple items.
In my case, the stable briefly hit 17. Part of that was last 3 purchases were better examples of 3 I already owned. Like many, it all started for me, with a 34C and an EJ89. In order, here are my purchases(x means since gone).
34C, EJ89, x-Long Comb New, x-1962 Slim Adjustable,x-1972 SS Black Handle, x-Pre-War Tech, 1958 Fatboy, 1955 Red Tip, x-37C Slant, 40’s Super Speed, x-1957 Blue Tip, 1968 Slim Adjustable, x-1972 Super Adjustable 84, x-1954 Ball-End Tech, x-1972 Tech, x-1972 Tech, NDC Gold Ball-End Post War Tech
Sold off
1962 Slim - never used and replaced with better condition 1968 Slim.
72 Tech - Replaced with better 72 Tech, also never used.
1953 Tech - Replaced with better condition NDC Gold Tech, also never used.
72 Tech - the one that replaced first 1972 Tech. Decided birth year razors not important to me. NDC Post-War Tech is cooler.
1972 SA 84 - Birth year not important. It was Ok, but preferred my other two adjustable razors. Combination of redundancy and a little bit of YMMV dislike.
Pre-war Tech - first sold due to solely YMMV. Never got along with it.
Blue Tip - Not different enough from other super speeds, if anything too mild.
1972 Super Speed Black Handle - liked my other SS’s better, birth year no longer important to me. Slight regret selling.
37C - Not enough difference compared to 34C, could sell it for more than 34C. Slight regret selling too soon. Got about 15-20 shaves on it.
Long Comb New - Couldn’t get along with it. Part of it was, due to almost no plating on handle, strong copper smell when shaving under nose.
That got me to 7.
On the bubble, might sell one day:
Fat boy - slightly prefer Slim, can get more money for FB than slim. Not sure it’s worth having two adjustable razors. Will have a shave-off against Slim next month.
EJ89 - Too inefficient. Have only kept as travel razor as it’s 3 piece and, unlike a vintage, easy to replace and has no nostalgic value.
Coming soon:
Santa is bringing
Fatip Gentile - hopefully fills EJ89 roll with more efficiency; 3 piece, inexpensive, easy to replace.
Fatip Piccolo - give open comb another try at a reasonable price.
Set Aside and not counted:
1960 Super Speed Flare Tip - saving for eldest son. Any day Mom will have enough of his mustache.
So I got to 17, dropped quickly to 14, then steadily came down to 7. I am soon to be, temporarily, up to 9. I think I’m comfortable being at 7-10. Doubt EJ89 and Gentile get both kept, so will quickly get to 8. If Fatboy goes, that is 7. I’m unlikely to get past 12 again.
I’m curious to hear what journeys others have gone through.
In my case, the stable briefly hit 17. Part of that was last 3 purchases were better examples of 3 I already owned. Like many, it all started for me, with a 34C and an EJ89. In order, here are my purchases(x means since gone).
34C, EJ89, x-Long Comb New, x-1962 Slim Adjustable,x-1972 SS Black Handle, x-Pre-War Tech, 1958 Fatboy, 1955 Red Tip, x-37C Slant, 40’s Super Speed, x-1957 Blue Tip, 1968 Slim Adjustable, x-1972 Super Adjustable 84, x-1954 Ball-End Tech, x-1972 Tech, x-1972 Tech, NDC Gold Ball-End Post War Tech
Sold off
1962 Slim - never used and replaced with better condition 1968 Slim.
72 Tech - Replaced with better 72 Tech, also never used.
1953 Tech - Replaced with better condition NDC Gold Tech, also never used.
72 Tech - the one that replaced first 1972 Tech. Decided birth year razors not important to me. NDC Post-War Tech is cooler.
1972 SA 84 - Birth year not important. It was Ok, but preferred my other two adjustable razors. Combination of redundancy and a little bit of YMMV dislike.
Pre-war Tech - first sold due to solely YMMV. Never got along with it.
Blue Tip - Not different enough from other super speeds, if anything too mild.
1972 Super Speed Black Handle - liked my other SS’s better, birth year no longer important to me. Slight regret selling.
37C - Not enough difference compared to 34C, could sell it for more than 34C. Slight regret selling too soon. Got about 15-20 shaves on it.
Long Comb New - Couldn’t get along with it. Part of it was, due to almost no plating on handle, strong copper smell when shaving under nose.
That got me to 7.
On the bubble, might sell one day:
Fat boy - slightly prefer Slim, can get more money for FB than slim. Not sure it’s worth having two adjustable razors. Will have a shave-off against Slim next month.
EJ89 - Too inefficient. Have only kept as travel razor as it’s 3 piece and, unlike a vintage, easy to replace and has no nostalgic value.
Coming soon:
Santa is bringing
Fatip Gentile - hopefully fills EJ89 roll with more efficiency; 3 piece, inexpensive, easy to replace.
Fatip Piccolo - give open comb another try at a reasonable price.
Set Aside and not counted:
1960 Super Speed Flare Tip - saving for eldest son. Any day Mom will have enough of his mustache.
So I got to 17, dropped quickly to 14, then steadily came down to 7. I am soon to be, temporarily, up to 9. I think I’m comfortable being at 7-10. Doubt EJ89 and Gentile get both kept, so will quickly get to 8. If Fatboy goes, that is 7. I’m unlikely to get past 12 again.
I’m curious to hear what journeys others have gone through.