SMF

How about a RED Rolex Sub. Chrono.?
J.

kronos9 wrote:

StraightRazorRookie wrote: By the way, what could cause such etching? Acidic skin oils? Old time shave products? Simple poor maintenance? I could see pitting from poor maintenance, but not this massive etching.

My first thought was that the razor had been repurposed for something other than shaving.

Wouldn't think so. Just about every model like this I've seen has a cracked handle. I have two without any cracks and several with.

StraightRazorRookie wrote:Paul, where are you located?

Right now, Robbinsdale.

John N. wrote:How about a RED Rolex Sub. Chrono.?
J.

John, scary thing is I think I could put that together for you! Only it wouldn't SAY Rolex. It would have the look though. (With respect to the Daytona - fine watch, but I never cared for the look of the newer ones.)

That sort of FrankenWatch wouldn't be cheap, and would have Valjoux 7750 guts, but it'd be less $$ than a Daytona OR Sub.

Did you want that in stainless steel, 18K gold, or two-tone?

The cast metal head on some of the Gillette NEW models may have been the peak of their 3-piece razors. They seemed to have gotten the shape of the head just right for shaving, though some people prefer the less aggressive Tech head. The Tech was a later model that used a forged metal head, which was less expensive to make.

One of my keepers is a NEW that had worn gold plating until a friend of a friend plated it with nickel. Rookie Ed, since you seem to have connections with the world of workshops, I would suggest going a similar route to get yourself a very nice razor at minimal cost. There are several NEW handles, and they don't generally crack.

Paul, sorry to be delinquent in responding.

Turns out I have a NEW that I picked up last summer. It's in the pile waiting to be cleaned.

The Old Style I began this thread with is badly etched. I don't think plating would help it. I'd just be plating the hills and valleys. I've considered filing to take out the pitting, but fear that would change the shave geometry (as you hint at).

I think I'll give it a cursory cleaning, shave with it to see how it performs, then go from there.

Robbinsdale, eh? My kids were born at North Memorial. We may have to get together sometime and compare notes.

Racso_MS wrote:

kronos9 wrote:

StraightRazorRookie wrote: By the way, what could cause such etching? Acidic skin oils? Old time shave products? Simple poor maintenance? I could see pitting from poor maintenance, but not this massive etching.

My first thought was that the razor had been repurposed for something other than shaving.

Wouldn't think so. Just about every model like this I've seen has a cracked handle. I have two without any cracks and several with.

As it turns out, the etching is on the head, which I haven't seen before - even on old razors. Yeah, I've seen a lot of cracked handles. Almost makes me think there's a cottge industry to be had in producing new handles for some of these old razors, a la the Mergress.

StraightRazorRookie wrote:
As it turns out, the etching is on the head, which I haven't seen before - even on old razors. Yeah, I've seen a lot of cracked handles. Almost makes me think there's a cottge industry to be had in producing new handles for some of these old razors, a la the Mergress.

CooncatBob: Jumping up and down and about to explode.

function wrote:

StraightRazorRookie wrote:
As it turns out, the etching is on the head, which I haven't seen before - even on old razors. Yeah, I've seen a lot of cracked handles. Almost makes me think there's a cottge industry to be had in producing new handles for some of these old razors, a la the Mergress.

CooncatBob: Jumping up and down and about to explode.

forgive....

Translation?

StraightRazorRookie wrote:

function wrote:

StraightRazorRookie wrote:
As it turns out, the etching is on the head, which I haven't seen before - even on old razors. Yeah, I've seen a lot of cracked handles. Almost makes me think there's a cottge industry to be had in producing new handles for some of these old razors, a la the Mergress.

CooncatBob: Jumping up and down and about to explode.

forgive....

Translation?

Bob is a member/vendor here that makes custom handles for razors and brushes in wood and several metals.

Just searched CooncatBob and now I understand...

StraightRazorRookie wrote:Paul, sorry to be delinquent in responding.

Turns out I have a NEW that I picked up last summer. It's in the pile waiting to be cleaned.

The Old Style I began this thread with is badly etched. I don't think plating would help it. I'd just be plating the hills and valleys. I've considered filing to take out the pitting, but fear that would change the shave geometry (as you hint at).

I think I'll give it a cursory cleaning, shave with it to see how it performs, then go from there.

Robbinsdale, eh? My kids were born at North Memorial. We may have to get together sometime and compare notes.

I didn't mean that you should plate your Old Style; I was suggesting replating a NEW razor if you can get it done inexpensively. I think you'll get a better shave with that model.

I'm in the copter noise zone of that hospital. I don't think those pilots are following FAA rules for flying high enough over the nearby homes.

Yeah, I kind of figured that, but I had also considered replating this Old Style. Thus my comments - sorry, I wasn't real clear on that.

Once I find time to clean up the NEW from last summer, I'll see how it looks, & whether it needs replating too.

I do know multiple sources for plating, including gold plating. Anybody have ideas for relaquering?

I like silver, so getting mine nickel plated was a no brainer, even though it was originally gold plated. Someone here may come along who knows about lacquering.

Pauldog wrote:I've gotten several there, too, including a Milord and a bakelite handle Tech...

Just picked up a bakelite handle Tech in one of the stores there yesterday. Found a vintage - maybe late 1800's - shaving mug too.

I also saw a 1960's Super Speed, but it was bundled with an old brush (looked synthetic), a coffee cup and a plastic pack of Gillette blades, and billed as a shaving set, for $16. Too high for me, as I couldn't see any way of flipping the other items to get my money back.

I relacquered a Gillette NEW after cleaning off the patina. I applied one coat of Rustins metal lacquer with a fine brush. The razor looked great for a couple of months but the greenish tinge is returning, presumably due to removal of the coating over time. I'll try again. Perhaps there are better products/procedures available?

StraightRazorRookie wrote:Just searched CooncatBob and now I understand...

Another possibility for restoration is Rudy Vey.