Collecting Safety Razors - Stubble Trouble

September 23, 2:44 AMCollectibles ExaminerMark Tylicki

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  Smooth shave = hot chicks dig it!

For most men double-edge razors are a thing of the past having been replaced by Mach Turbos and Quattros.  But, the new technology only gets us cuts and redness.  Traditionalists remember the soap bar, a good brush and a smooth lather.  Please refer to the following guide.  Face it – “wet shaving” is a lost art!  The traveling businessman is pursuing a new hobby - collecting barberiana.  It has nothing to do with Conan The Barbarian memorabilia.  It actually refers to collecting razors and other shaving equipment.

The Aristocratt by Gillette 

The Kampfe Brothers invented the safety razor in the 1880s.  However, many credit King Camp Gillette with the concept when he realized money could be made with one time use disposable blades.  Gillette mass introduced many different models to consumers over the years including the Standard, Old Type, New Improved, New and the Tech.  Collectors seek out razors by time period and/or company.  Often times the razors come in ornate boxes.  Values for the collectibles can range from a $1 to several hundred dollars.

Star Razor by The Kampfe Brothers

I met a double-edge razor collector on a plane bound for New Jersey. We were talking about hobbies and his obsession with the perfect shave came up in conversation. He was a middle-aged man and he strived for that extra closeness every morning.  I learned certain brands and particular years completely eliminate the stubble.  Between the Gillette Aristocrat and the Fat Boy Adjustable you can say goodbye to irritation forever.  It’s possible to achieve the smoothness of a baby’s bottom with certain pieces and blades.  The key is having the right combination.

Razor collecting is beloved by no more than a hundred clean shaven men around the world.  Supposedly, the blades are more difficult to obtain than the actual razors themselves.  Razors and blades can be marked with serial numbers to indicate the manufacturing plant and it’s possible to trace some models back to the original production facility.  Certain blades are heavily sought after due to the closeness of the shave.  Facsimiles only reach a fraction of the closeness of genuine and original blades.  However, they often match the final hammer prices of genuine examples.  So beware of the re-productions.  There’s nothing like an original according to collectors.  A good seller will rave about their last shave and blog their feelings on a forum somewhere.  Don’t settle for a Korean knock-off.