I just bought a perfect one yesterday (apart from a tiny nick in the strop side) no effect on stroping though! I bought it just to have a look at one. It was £1
For anyone who doesn't know its a very well engineered metal box that has a mechanism inside that strops and hones a 1 1/2 section of heavy 1/4 ground wedge (about). It has a little handle that the blade fits onto for use. The blade has a little guard that flips back and fore.
It's like shaving with a section of a straight on a little handle.
The shave isn't as close as a very well honed straight, but is better than a slightly dull edge.
The mechanism on mine is pretty darn good at it's job, all things considered.
It is harder to get good shaving angles than a straight, but not too hard.
I used the hone side for a couple of swipes, then the strop side for 30 or so swipes.
The shave wasn't bad at all.
It's what men who don't want to use a straight should be using. It's good for the enviroment like Straights too
Another great British invention, that went down the pan
Damn shame.