Edited to add photo to original post
Friday morning My Edwin Jagger Barley Chrome refused to tighten-up. The threads on both the head and the handle are ruined.
How did it happen? I had been in the habit of loosening the head to clean the razor between passes. Apparently the base plate was rubbing on the threads and removing the chrome. I have since learned that pot metal razors can corrode quickly once the finish is scratched.
What did I do? My only other DE razor (a Merkur 23c) is on loan to a colleague (who is now a convert.) So, I found a Merkur 33c with plastic travel case locally for only $35.82 plus tax. (By the way, the Merkur handle will tighten-up on the EJ head, and the EJ handle will tighten up on the Merkur head, but the two EJ parts just have too much wear to work together.)
What to do now? The 33c is a nice razor and will be great for travel, but I really miss the longer, and more importantly, fatter handle on the EJ. I don't want to put the EJ handle on the Merkur as the worn handle is likely to ruin the new Merkur head. The new "extra grip" EJ is priced right, but it has the same construction as the Barley Chrome that lasted me about 8 months before it went south. So, should I be looking for a brass/plated razor as my go-to razor from now on? Should I be looking for a good vintage user? Where might I be able to find a vintage Gillette if I decide to go that route. (I am not one to visit flea markets or antique stores. Also, I know little about the vintage razors. So, I would not know what to look for anyway.)
Any suggestions would be helpful.
Friday morning My Edwin Jagger Barley Chrome refused to tighten-up. The threads on both the head and the handle are ruined.
How did it happen? I had been in the habit of loosening the head to clean the razor between passes. Apparently the base plate was rubbing on the threads and removing the chrome. I have since learned that pot metal razors can corrode quickly once the finish is scratched.
What did I do? My only other DE razor (a Merkur 23c) is on loan to a colleague (who is now a convert.) So, I found a Merkur 33c with plastic travel case locally for only $35.82 plus tax. (By the way, the Merkur handle will tighten-up on the EJ head, and the EJ handle will tighten up on the Merkur head, but the two EJ parts just have too much wear to work together.)
What to do now? The 33c is a nice razor and will be great for travel, but I really miss the longer, and more importantly, fatter handle on the EJ. I don't want to put the EJ handle on the Merkur as the worn handle is likely to ruin the new Merkur head. The new "extra grip" EJ is priced right, but it has the same construction as the Barley Chrome that lasted me about 8 months before it went south. So, should I be looking for a brass/plated razor as my go-to razor from now on? Should I be looking for a good vintage user? Where might I be able to find a vintage Gillette if I decide to go that route. (I am not one to visit flea markets or antique stores. Also, I know little about the vintage razors. So, I would not know what to look for anyway.)
Any suggestions would be helpful.
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