Vintage Brush Prices

[Snargle]

Have you guys noticed the prices of vintage brushes (particularly on eBay) lately? I've only been restoring brushes for about a year, but it seems like the average price of a decent brush handle (regardless of the knot condition) has at least doubled since I started. It used to be fairly easy to get an excellent brush for $5 or $10. Now, even the beat up junk is going for $10+ and the really attractive ones are hard to find for less than $20. Of course there's always the idiot sellers who think they can get $200 for a trashed Ever-Ready, but I'm not counting those outliers. :wink2:

I guess that's the price of success. In some ways, it's a good indicator of increased interest in old-school shaving and equipment.

[PozzSka]

It comes and goes.

What I noticed was, you can get many of the plain handles for not much, but if you get something that is a black and green or black and catalin, those get more expensive.

And, because initially you get the plain handles on which to practice...prices seem to go up as you look for more specific handles.

Be patient, and be willing to walk away from a sale.

[Snargle]

Be patient, and be willing to walk away from a sale.

That's pretty much all I've been doing lately. I'll bid what I think it's worth, but I won't get involved in a bidding war.

[hig789]

I agree some of them have been crazy lately. I am watching a Ever-Ready butterscotch and a Crabtree and Evelyn brush at over $50 right now. The ever readys nice but not that nice. I lucked up on my last butterscotch and got notified on my phone as soon as it listed and scored it for BIN $9.99. But I have been majorly out bid on any others that I have been bidding on. I guess it's just all in what people will pay for it though.

[redbike]

Absolutely so. Just like the price of Gillette razors.


Have you guys noticed the prices of vintage brushes (particularly on eBay) lately? I've only been restoring brushes for about a year, but it seems like the average price of a decent brush handle (regardless of the knot condition) has at least doubled since I started.

[aceinyerface]

The strategy to use, buy a large lot that has enough to recoup most of your cost if you sold at decent prices while retaining a few prize specimens for yourself.

It seems the per unit price on a large lot is much less, and you can get a few cherries in the group.

[noahpictures]

:idea:
Listen up everyone, we can bring down the prices! For the next three months DO NOT BID on any old brushes. Who is with me? :ihih:

[Snargle]

You go first, Noah...:001_tt2:

[sirslick]

Noah has a point.......B&B members can control the market!...:wink2:

[Theido]

If I've learned anything from Wall Street the movie is that insider trading is dangerous. That and Charlie Sheen is awesome.

[7inNC]

Have you guys noticed the prices of vintage brushes (particularly on eBay) lately?

Yep. $10 used to be a crazy price. Now $10 is a starting bid.

[urkel]

i agree the prices have gone over the edge. i usually shoot a price i'm willing to pay and that's it. never do i pay more than what my initial max bid was.

[bobfarvour]

Supply and demand.
You said it yourself, you've only been doing this for about a year. There's about 2 dozen of us that have only been doing it about a year. Most of us came on the market around the same time and we're all trying to snatch up the same stuff, along with those that were already doing it.

I've slowed way down on buying vintage ones. It just isn't affordable now. $15 is about my limit before shipping. And honestly, that's more than I want to pay unless it's a really unusual handle.

[eastomjac]

sbad gone wild:001_tt1:

[eastomjac]

i was going to agree in my first post but couldnt edit it after putting a smiley in.but i was watching for some more e-r's on the bay when i found some on B&B.just the right ones to add to my little collection too.i still ended up with a solid red e-r 100 and mutt wooden handle off the bay for $5.00+shipping.we could boycot the bay and force prices down though.

[Snargle]

It would take something very special at this point to get me bidding on an eBay brush. There's still an occasional "buy-it-now" that's a good bargain, but you got to get it quick!

[eastomjac]

my last bay finds were a fuller brush to restore for pops and this red e-r 100

[hig789]

It would take something very special at this point to get me bidding on an eBay brush. There's still an occasional "buy-it-now" that's a good bargain, but you got to get it quick!

Yeah my latest eBay score was a beautiful Klenso butterscotch that was on listed no more than 20 minutes before I bought it.

[packersfan117]

sbad gone wild:001_tt1:

I really like the green one. What brand is it, or did you make it (or get it made)? I also like the B&B on the screen in the background :thumbup1:

[JLuger]

I got lucky in buying a couple of big lots of shaving gear, in order to get the straight razors. Each had a couple of Everyready brushes. I hadn't even considered using them for anything, until I saw the brush restoration thread on this site. Now I am planning out which handle will get which knot!

[eastomjac]

I really like the green one. What brand is it, or did you make it (or get it made)? I also like the B&B on the screen in the background :thumbup1:

its a vdh/surrey same as the other 2 like it.all 3 done in black badger because i thought they looked good in it.thanks for the cudo's

[Bestarrkin]

That is a good observation. I can understand that price increasing of colorful catalin made brushes like this little green Century (http://www.ebay.com/itm/140634188563) or that red one but for others I can't.

[noahpictures]

^ Wow that green Century is pretty!

[hig789]

Yes it is. I can see why that one was priced high.

[bamabubba]

sbad gone wild:001_tt1:

<threadjack>Do you know what the 2nd from the right on the front (white) is? I have one that looks identical to it, but no manufacturer or anything stamped on it. Thanks!!</threadjack>

I've noticed that too. I got my first EverReady (NOS) for $7 including shipping. Now, when I go to look, even beat up funky handles are going for better than twice that or more.

[tchudson]

I won a pair of blue-handled brushes like that green one. Mine were labeled as Surrey - one came with the box and looks unused. http://www.ebay.com/itm/200682345466?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649 They are boar hair brushes. In fact, I forgot about them, though I had cleaned and sterilized the used one. Used it today - it lathered great, but I was losing hairs left and right! In fact, I had boar hair on my face that would get picked up by the razor as I shaved. I'll probably replace the knot with a two-band TGN knot at some point. The other brush I plan to PIF as part of a starter kit sometime soon.


I really like the green one. What brand is it, or did you make it (or get it made)? I also like the B&B on the screen in the background :thumbup1:

[FL shaver]

Man! The ER 200 in black/green are fetching over $20 plus shipping. Crazy! I'll count it as a great find should I get one in the wild.

[OtherMoe]

Prices have definitely gone up since I started doing this ~ 3 years ago. The good thing is I don't have the re-knotting AD that I used to have. I've got a dozen or more handles still sitting here that I could re-knot but not sure if/when i'll do it (plus i've sold 8-10 handles over the last year). I still occasionally check out ebay in case I see something unusual.