I Think I Just Got Carried Away By Ebay

[moses]

Just picked up a razor that caught my eye (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=006&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=160060616530&rd=1&rd=1). For a rather whopping sum, I fear, for an old razor I know little about. The seller claims that it dates from 1810 to 1855, and I must admit that was a large part of my buying motivation. Anybody know if this is accurate? The seller seemed knowledgeable, looking at all of his auctions, but you never know.

Somehow, the idea of having, and actually using, something dating from before the war between the states I find really appealing. I mean, this thing goes back six generations, to a time when there were people alive who actually were present for the revolution. One of them could have even used it.

Plus, new razors usually have plastic scales, of some form. Use of plastic is always a detraction for me, for some illogical reason. Don't know if these are original, but given the razor does not look heavily used, it seems they could be.

So did I get too carried away, or what? Any information on this?

-Mo

[berzerkeleyan]

Great aesthetic acquisition, Mo. I know nothing about straights, as I'm sure you've seen in other threads. But it's a beautiful looking straight. Nice haul.

[rtaylor61]

Mo,

You bought the razor from Bob Keyes, a SRP member. I've purchased a few from him, and he has always been accurate in his descriptions. SER verifies the manufacturer info:

GEORGE JOHNSON & CO
Sheffield
In business in 1892
1810-1855 ("More Old Razors" by Lummus. Antiques, May 1927 p.372-374)

I don't know anything about the razor, but it's a beaut!

Randy

[LX_Emergency]

If that seller claims something he's probably right. He's a well known seller on the SRP. He's got excellent service and if he claims it's shaveready most likely it will be.

[moses]

If that seller claims something he's probably right. He's a well known seller on the SRP. He's got excellent service and if he claims it's shaveready most likely it will be.

Indeed, he does seem pretty reliable. He does not list this one as shave ready. On the other hand, he has obviously shaved with it, so it can't be far off. Hoping that it will be close enough still to freshen up on the paddle strop.

-Mo

[mparker762]

I bought my first straight from him, and it was shave-ready. Not lynn-level sharp, but good enough to hook a newbie.

[moses]

I bought my first straight from him, and it was shave-ready. Not lynn-level sharp, but good enough to hook a newbie.

Good sign, I suppose. Although he lists others are shave-ready, and does not this one. Which makes me think that either, 1) he forgot to say it in the listing, or 2) for whatever reason, perhaps thinking it more a collectors razor than user, he decided not to touch this one up before sending it out.

-Mo

[rtaylor61]

Mo,

Here's the headline for the auction:


VERY OLD JOHNSON STRAIGHT RAZOR EX COND & SHAVE READY

I'm guessing that it will be shave ready!

Randy

[moses]

Randy, thanks.

I'm am idiot. My excuse is working all weekend, and only 4 hours sleep last night.

-Mo

[rtaylor61]

Mo,

No worries. I had stopped buying for a while, and on a whim, checked ebay and found a Ekilstuna (Swedish blade) at a great price. And promptly pissed off the seller by asking if it was shave ready. He also had included the "Shave Ready" reference in the headline. I'm usually more intersted in the pictures.

Randy

[jnich67]

I was eyeing this one too Mo. I'll bet you did good. I just got a 7/8 friodur and another plain jane Union Razor Co. from this seller. They are both in excellent shape and I'm happy with them. Enjoy.

Jordan

[Suzuki]

+1 that Bob is a top notch seller and his descriptions are bang on.

I've purchased 4 razors from him and was extremely pleased with all of them.

The razors come very sharp, but I've found that they can benefit from a few trips on a pasted strop or very fine barber's hone - he finishes on a 12k waterstone and then strops.

I'm sure you wont' be disappointed with your razor.

Since this seller has been getting more press here and elsewhere, the prices of his razors have steadily crept upwards, but there's still some good buys to be had.

[sphughes]

Nice pick up Mo........Well done!!

You are growing the family nicely...

-Scott-

[ouch]

I've purchased several razors from Bob, including some of my finest shavers. His descriptions are accurate, and he delivers a nice product.

I don't know if I'd use a pre civil war razor for daily shaving, but any way you look at it, it's one hell of a conversaton piece.

[moses]

I don't know if I'd use a pre civil war razor for daily shaving, but any way you look at it, it's one hell of a conversaton piece.

I seriously doubt I will either. But I will certainly use it from time to time.

As for Bob, seems like a great guy to buy from. All his descriptions are pretty comprehensive, and when I paid last night, he immediately sent an email thanking me for prompt payment and letting me know it would be in the mail today. For people looking for an inexpensive first razor, he's got several that might do well (although I doubt the Dubl Duck will end up inexpensive), and I'm guessing posts new inventory fairly often.

-Mo

[ouch]

Bob usually posts around six razors every Sunday night. I received some very nice bargains (as low as $15 for a shave ready Geneva and a pre WW1 Shumate) and picked up some new old stock that were terrific.

The guys who check his site seem to know what they're doing, as well. Some of his razors (especially his Henkels) generate a lot of bids.

[jduffy]

Look at it this way, it's the holiday season and you deserve a gift.

Now you've got it! :biggrin:

[moses]

Look at it this way, it's the holiday season and you deserve a gift.

Now you've got it! :biggrin:

Yeah, see the problem is, I just got another "gift" (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=004&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWN%3AIT&viewitem=&item=140063779908&rd=1&rd=1) too. And it is the bloody holidays. These are fun, but in the end, I'd be a lot happier thinking of neat things to give someone else.

I can see that SRAD is MUCH WORSE than DERAD. There may be an awful lot of Gillettes. But only so many. And some are so-so shavers, and a lot, while technically different, aren't really different enough to flare up the AD in any but the most obsessed.

But straights. Oh my.... How many thousands and unique models must there be....

This is bad.... Very bad. I have over 70 razors on my watch list. I've never had half that many with DEs.

-Mo

[mparker762]

But straights. Oh my.... How many thousands and unique models must there be....

This is bad.... Very bad. I have over 70 razors on my watch list. I've never had half that many with DEs.


Many thousands, unfortunately. And a distressing number of them are either outstanding shavers or interesting designs or otherwise irresistable. This is actually the reason that there's so much honing talk on SRP; the razors don't actually need honing that often, but there's just so many ebay razors that need whipping into shape.

Then there's hones.

And strops.

[JohnP]

Yeah, see the problem is, I just got another "gift" (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=004&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWN%3AIT&viewitem=&item=140063779908&rd=1&rd=1) too. And it is the bloody holidays. These are fun, but in the end, I'd be a lot happier thinking of neat things to give someone else.

I can see that SRAD is MUCH WORSE than DERAD. There may be an awful lot of Gillettes. But only so many. And some are so-so shavers, and a lot, while technically different, aren't really different enough to flare up the AD in any but the most obsessed.

But straights. Oh my.... How many thousands and unique models must there be....

This is bad.... Very bad. I have over 70 razors on my watch list. I've never had half that many with DEs.

-Mo

Mo,
I was bidding on that same "gift" as well. Face it, you HAD to get that one. ERN, Crown & Sword...near mint...for less than 50 bucks, you stole it. I wasn't home or I may have saved you the pain by upping my bid....as it turns out I was out so you saved ME from my next "fix"....:biggrin:
SRAD is FAR worse than the DE version. They breed fast and frequent. You will find yourself surfing, and bidding on razors just because they have a certain "Look".
But that ERN is definitely a shaver. Without having shaved with it I would put it up against most anything available today and it would best most of them.
Good catch.
John P.

[JohnP]

Just looking through the bids, looks like you beat Lynn Abrams to the punch too...:biggrin:
Worth every cent. Please do report on the shave!
John P.

[berzerkeleyan]

Mo,
I was bidding on that same "gift" as well. Face it, you HAD to get that one. ERN, Crown & Sword...near mint...for less than 50 bucks, you stole it. I wasn't home or I may have saved you the pain by upping my bid....as it turns out I was out so you saved ME from my next "fix"....:biggrin:
SRAD is FAR worse than the DE version. They breed fast and frequent. You will find yourself surfing, and bidding on razors just because they have a certain "Look".
But that ERN is definitely a shaver. Without having shaved with it I would put it up against most anything available today and it would best most of them.
Good catch.
John P.

Oh nuts! Now I am a little bummed I got outbid on this one. :sad: Oh well.

[moses]

Mo,
I was bidding on that same "gift" as well. Face it, you HAD to get that one. ERN, Crown & Sword...near mint...for less than 50 bucks, you stole it. I wasn't home or I may have saved you the pain by upping my bid....as it turns out I was out so you saved ME from my next "fix"....:biggrin:

Glad to be of service. To be honest, I don't know a lot about the razors. A few names, of which ERN actually is not one, to say nothing of the Crown & Sword trademark. I'm kind of counting on what I have heard, that most old razors made in Germany, England, or the US are quite good. Perhaps ERN sounded a little familiar. But mostly there was just something about the look of the thing that I liked. I take it ERN/Crown & Sword is known to be a particularly good shaver?

-Mo

[moses]

Oh, and the sad part, I'm still bummed I missed the Tortise handle Genco that closed a little after this one.

-Mo

[JohnP]

Oh, and the sad part, I'm still bummed I missed the Tortise handle Genco that closed a little after this one.

-Mo
Mo,
I don't think I've tried a Genco just yet, but ERNs are some of my favorite razors. They take and keep a wicked edge and if you treat them right will shave you smooth as glass without any irritation. I have a crown and sword that is in nowhere near as good shape as that one, with a broken scale on one side...
I liked the shave so much I superglued the scale together.
They're that good.
That said, one of the gents over at SRP offered to rescale it for me (I've not delved that deeply into the restoration end, yet) so I may take him up on it.
John P.

[moses]

I liked the shave so much I superglued the scale together.
They're that good.
That said, one of the gents over at SRP offered to rescale it for me (I've not delved that deeply into the restoration end, yet) so I may take him up on it.


I would certainly take him up. A lot of those fellas do some nice work.

-Mo

[LX_Emergency]

I know it might be selfish to post that here....but I have that exact same ERN crown and sword for sale at the moment.

Soo....if anyone missed that one and really wants it....

Alexander

[JohnP]

Alexander,
FWIW that's also the one I have at the house with the broken scale....but to catch one near mint for less than 50 bucks is pretty awesome, I think.
It could have went for a bit more. If I had won it with my puny bid (very tight budget at the moment as are a lot of folks) I would have almost felt guilty.
John P.