Sort of a sad score

[Topgumby]

Was poking around Craigslist, and saw an ad for a Parker 86R and some Shark blades, fifteen clams. Ad said the razor was used once. The location was about ten minutes away.

Never really had an urge to try a Parker, but I shot off an email to see how many blades came with the razor, since I use Sharks.

The response was ninety five blades. I figured I'd take 'em.

Picked up the razor and blades from a nice guy, about my age. Said he'd read an article about how DE shaving was better, but after twenty years of Bic Disposables he figured he was too set in his ways.

As I left he told me to be careful, as those blades were sharp!

Got home and took a closer look, and there is a full sleeve of Shark Super Chromes. One pack had been opened, and there were still four blades left.

I'll be interested to give the Parker a whirl, and see if there is something about the razor that might have scared a guy off so quick.

 

[mblakele]

Pretty good price for the blades - which came with a free razor. Too bad for the seller. My guess is that the Parker has some alignment or mechanical problems.

Did you ask him about his prep?

 

[Topgumby]

It's funny, I felt the urge to try and talk him out of it, but I thought that might be kind of strange, having driven to his doorstep to buy the stuff. Didn't seem like the right time or place for DE proselytizing.

I'll try the razor and see if that's the problem. If it's somehow screwed up, I think I'll get in touch with him again....

 

[jadam318]

Let us know what you think about that Parker. I've been curious about them for a while, but not quite curious enough to pick one up.

As for the seller, that's a bit of a bummer. I guess not everyone really has the patience to stick it out to the end of the learning curve.

 

[dpm802]

I guess not everyone really has the patience to stick it out to the end of the learning curve.

There's an end to the learning? I hope not, because it would probably coincide with an end to the fun.

 

[mblakele]

There's an end to the learning? I hope not, because it would probably coincide with an end to the fun.

I am delighted to hear you say that.

 

[The Nid Hog]

My father-in-law used a Parker, although he has some Gillettes in the cupboard too. Although he's mostly switched over to an electric these days, he said that he always got great shaves out of the Parker.

 

[Topgumby]

...although he has some Gillettes in the cupboard...

If you know what I mean, nudge nudge wink wink.

 

[The Nid Hog]

If you know what I mean, nudge nudge wink wink.

Hah!

Seriously tho, he broke them out this summer and lined them up so that I could look at them. All the while, I was beaming a powerful telepathic wave at him: Give them to me! Give them to me! Give them to me!

 

[Topgumby]

Gave the Parker a quick shot of the scrubbing bubbles and loaded up a Shark Super Chrome out of the one opened five pack.

Did my usual prep routine of a soap and water wash, lathered up my Tabac soap with an Omega #49 Pro out of an Old Spice mug, and let the lather sit on my face for two minutes.

The razor handled a lot like a Lady Gillette, but it was slightly more aggressive. No issues that I could detect, nothing bent or out of alignment.

All in all, a great shave, with only a tiny weeper that resolved itself between passes.

I could see how it might be possible to fail to tighten the TTO mechanism down fully, but perhaps that was just me being so used to the TTO knob being down on the bottom of the handle.

That Parker is the first modern DE razor I've ever tried. I don't think it has the quality feel and heft of my vintage Gillettes, but as a tool it performs.

 

[funkyb]

As I left he told me to be careful, as those blades were sharp!

Are you sure he didn't say those blades were shark? yuk yuk yuk...

 

[klm099]

I've owned a number of Parkers and have 1 or 2 right now. I like the way they look and how they feel, but blade alignment can be hit or miss; its like they QC tolerance is set too high and product quality varies
great find, I get nothing off Craigs in S. Florida; I guess its the demographics,
ken