School me on collecting old blade banks

[JaggerDragger]

As the title states, I am interested in the old porcelain, glass, or tin blade banks.

Does anybody know how to tell the difference between a piggy bank and a blade bank?

Also as I am interested in them I am looking to buy them. Pm's welcome.

 

[Steve V.]

From what I've seen "most" blade banks will have a shaving/barber shop theme to the design and are generally listed as being older. Also, some of the sellers of the blade banks think that they are made of solid gold with some of their asking prices. I'm no expert so I hope someone more knowledgeable will chime in.

Steve

 

[shepdave]

While I understand the allure of cool old things (as evidenced by my almost immediate onset of RAD within about 3 weeks), I don't understand why somebody would pay lots and lots of money for what is basically a waste capsule.

I bought me a can of broth and made a good one for less than a buck. Not pretty, but then, it resides under the sink in my bathroom.

 

[TheVez2]

It's the difference between something to use and something to admire. The older Blade banks, while could be used functionally, I'd consider them to be more of a shave den decoration.

 

[Illadelphia]

They would be harder to find as functionality is lost amongst the ease of today. Heck, the feather blade packs have a blade bank on the other side of the package.

 

[Steve V.]

It's the difference between something to use and something to admire. The older Blade banks, while could be used functionally, I'd consider them to be more of a shave den decoration.

I agree. I have a couple and they are in the display rather than in the working area.

Steve

 

[MACGI98z28]

All the vintage blade banks I have ever seen look uber fragile and are being sold at ripoff prices. Modern metal ones and some older ones are one-use, meaning that you fill them and throw them out.

I use an old Eight O'Clock Coffee change bank for my blades that I picked up for $3 at an antique mall. It looks like this one:

 

[little Big feather]

I have a slot in the back of my med. cabinet...you put them in and they fall down into the wall space...Someday someone else will have to deal with it.
By the way , I did not make it that way, that's the way they used to make them....

 

[bryan1980]

I have a slot in the back of my med. cabinet...you put them in and they fall down into the wall space...Someday someone else will have to deal with it.
By the way , I did not make it that way, that's the way they used to make them....

Yup, I remember those. I guess the thought was "out of sight, out of mind".

 

[shepdave]

The coffee-can bank is much more beautiful than the soup-can method, I must say.

But here's my noobie question: how do you ultimately dispose of the blades safely? With the cheap and ugly soup can, I'll just close the slot with tape or JB Weld and toss it into the recycling.

 

[JaggerDragger]

Yes these would be for a display cabinet. I appreciate all the comments but the empty soup can/ medicine cab slot/ blade pack doesn't apply, we're talking about the real deal and what to look for.

I searched and did not see a good vintage blade bank discussion so I thought I would start one.

 

[Nova316]

I found a ton of them at my local antique store if you are interested
If I remember theres a bible and a book and some other small ones
I'll check today, drop by there afterwork

 

[Prince]

As far as the OP's question, if a piggy bank is what you want to use, I'd say use it and tell people it's a blade bank.

Probably a much cheaper option.

It's not pretty, but I keep a sharps container in the garage for my blades.

Plus, any small sharp metal pieces get thrown in as well.

It's about half the size of a normal shoe box and will probably take decades to fill up.