- Messages
- 177
- Location
- Kent
I was at a vintage & collectables fair at Quex Park yesterday - close to where I live in Kent - and although I'm more of a 'straights' man, I couldn't resist this little job-lot. The whole group for a shade under £30.
So, we have:
1) Two "Valet" Autostrops: the one in the metal case is nearly complete with the casing insert for the strop, one (looks like) partially used blade, the blade holder and six unused blades, instructions but no strop. This one has clip fittings that sit either side of the blade. The razor is in good condition and responded well to cleaning but has some plating wear on the top plate cover, on the mechanism and a little on the handle. The second, in the Bakelite box - which has the strop insert missing - had only two very rusty blades, though the razor itself is in (IMHO) in very good condition. The blade restraint, or clip in this case is in the form of a kind of cage fitting, hinged on one side, that clips on the opposing side. Again, there is some degradation of the chromium plating.
2)Two "Rolls" Razors, one in a steel casing, the other in aluminium.The steel case (marked 1927, but that may just be the patent date) is the one in the worst condition of the two but is still not too bad. I haven't fully cleaned this one yet but the blade has fairly heavy pitting on the edge and requires some cleaning and I am currently unable to unscrew the two parts of the handle and so am unable to fit it to the blade anyway: a display, rather than usable item, I feel. Also, the hone is missing from one of the lids, though the strop is still present.
The Aluminium cased Rolls is an altogether different story! Complete with original box (though in poor condition) instructions and both strop and hone in their respective lids, the handle and blade, mechanism and fittings are (again IMHO) in very good condition and are eminently usable. I love this thing!
3) A Wilkinson Sword "Empire" Model (E21) razor. This one is my personal favourite Complete in wooden box (nick plated metal lid, coated bottom) with original cardboard packaging (though this in poor condition), complete with original strop and three unused blades. Again, responded well to cleaning, though there is wear on the plating and the strop is a little old and musty, though the leather hasn't dried out - not sure if anything can be done to restore it? From what little research I've been able to do, this model was made somewhere between 1931 - 36? Any info from a more experienced SE shaver/collector would be welcome here.
So, there you have it chaps and chapesses! Now, not having delved into single edge safety's as collectables, I'm not too sure if this was a good deal or not - I have to say it felt like it - so any advice or info you can give me re the above would be most gratefully received! Sorry I haven't posted a picture here - I do have one but have NO idea how to include it in the post using this UI :icon_sad:
Cheers
So, we have:
1) Two "Valet" Autostrops: the one in the metal case is nearly complete with the casing insert for the strop, one (looks like) partially used blade, the blade holder and six unused blades, instructions but no strop. This one has clip fittings that sit either side of the blade. The razor is in good condition and responded well to cleaning but has some plating wear on the top plate cover, on the mechanism and a little on the handle. The second, in the Bakelite box - which has the strop insert missing - had only two very rusty blades, though the razor itself is in (IMHO) in very good condition. The blade restraint, or clip in this case is in the form of a kind of cage fitting, hinged on one side, that clips on the opposing side. Again, there is some degradation of the chromium plating.
2)Two "Rolls" Razors, one in a steel casing, the other in aluminium.The steel case (marked 1927, but that may just be the patent date) is the one in the worst condition of the two but is still not too bad. I haven't fully cleaned this one yet but the blade has fairly heavy pitting on the edge and requires some cleaning and I am currently unable to unscrew the two parts of the handle and so am unable to fit it to the blade anyway: a display, rather than usable item, I feel. Also, the hone is missing from one of the lids, though the strop is still present.
The Aluminium cased Rolls is an altogether different story! Complete with original box (though in poor condition) instructions and both strop and hone in their respective lids, the handle and blade, mechanism and fittings are (again IMHO) in very good condition and are eminently usable. I love this thing!
3) A Wilkinson Sword "Empire" Model (E21) razor. This one is my personal favourite Complete in wooden box (nick plated metal lid, coated bottom) with original cardboard packaging (though this in poor condition), complete with original strop and three unused blades. Again, responded well to cleaning, though there is wear on the plating and the strop is a little old and musty, though the leather hasn't dried out - not sure if anything can be done to restore it? From what little research I've been able to do, this model was made somewhere between 1931 - 36? Any info from a more experienced SE shaver/collector would be welcome here.
So, there you have it chaps and chapesses! Now, not having delved into single edge safety's as collectables, I'm not too sure if this was a good deal or not - I have to say it felt like it - so any advice or info you can give me re the above would be most gratefully received! Sorry I haven't posted a picture here - I do have one but have NO idea how to include it in the post using this UI :icon_sad:
Cheers