Help in selling a collection of antique razors

BillPorter · 08-13-2008, 04:30 PM

I am a retired college professor (Thomas More College) living in northern Kentucky. A friend of mine, also retired, came to me the other day and asked for my help in selling a collection of antique straight razors. He doesn’t have a computer and knew that I am on the Internet regularly, so he thought I might help him. I looked at his collection of 51 old razors, but I know nothing about the value of such items. In looking around on the Internet, I came across this Website and thought some kind user of the site might help me help my friend. Any information you can give me on how to sell his collection of razors will be much appreciated! BTW, I can photograph the razors, but it would be great if someone within an easy driving distance could arrange to look at the collection first hand.

JimmyH-AD · 08-13-2008, 04:35 PM

Just a suggestion. If you are a member on ebay you can go to search and type in straight razor. When the page comes up with the results on the left you will see a menu which includes "completed items". Check that and scroll down and click on show items. This will give you an idea of what various razors are bringing. Best of luck with your friend's collection.

nun2sharp · 08-13-2008, 05:09 PM

The ebay route would most likely be the best, list each item seperately and let the market determine value.

rsrick · 08-13-2008, 05:12 PM

Oh, they won't be worth more than two or three dollars .... you should mail them all to me and I will dispose of them properly for you!

Seriously though, as stated, run a search on the "completed" section of the ebay search. When you find a matching manufacturer, compare the condition of the razor in the collection with the one sold. If you have the time and inclination, you could take pictures (from all angles including close ups) and posts them here. You will be sure to get some great 'value' advice from the members.

Cheers,

BillPorter · 08-13-2008, 05:15 PM

Sounds like he will get the most for his collection by selling the razors individually on eBay. I can do that for him, but I sure don't look forward to creating all those separate listings. I guess that if he is not in a rush, I can just do 3-5 a week for a few months until they are all sold. It would be nice, however, if I could sell the whole collection for about what he has invested in it (about $650).

T-Ram · 08-13-2008, 06:00 PM

Bill,

I'm fairly new here, but I think you would probably find several people interested (myself included) in 51 razors @ $650, but you would still have to take pictures and give a fairly accurate description of each razor (brand, condition, etc.). That is a lot of $ for just a description of "51 straight razors".

I'm sure you will get some more replies as most everyone on here are really nice folks. It would surprise me if someone very close to you does not offer help in evaluating these.

Best of luck,
Tony

Sandcounty · 08-13-2008, 06:08 PM

Depending on the razors (and your commission), it could be well worth the time to list them individually. A razor that looks perfect may be worth nothing, and a razor that looks like garbage may bring you a couple hundred. There are a lot of factors. Study the details of the completed listings carefully, if you go the Ebay route. Your best bet to sell them all as one lot is to wait for somebody local that can view them first hand, either from this site or maybe Craigslist. Post some pics, we love pics.

BillPorter · 08-13-2008, 06:13 PM

I really appreciate the helpful suggestions that have been offered. My plan now is to take a bunch of photographs and upload them to a Website that I have for photos of pool tournaments from the 1980s ( http://billporter.smugmug.com ). It seems to me that would be much easier than trying to email pics to everyone who has shown interest. I will begin to photograph the razors tomorrow morning and should have lots of photos on the Smugmug site by Friday. Thanks again!

Seraphim · 08-13-2008, 06:22 PM

Post pics here, and you'll start getting bids as soon as you do!

BillPorter · 08-13-2008, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seraphim

Post pics here, and you'll start getting bids as soon as you do!

I just snapped some quick shots of the three cases he gave me and his handwritten notes for each case. I will upload them to Smugmug in the next few minutes. At least that will give people some idea about his collection.

Below is the link to the quick snap shots of Jack's collection. I realize I will need to photograph the individual razors in more detail. I guess this whole thread belongs in the classified forum, so forgive me, as a newbie on here, for misplacing it!

http://billporter.smugmug.com/galler...51172078_AXVmK

Chris L · 08-13-2008, 07:04 PM

Thanks for posting those pictures, Bill. We hope to see more. If you could take photos a bit closer up and maybe not more than 3-4 per shot, that would help. I like your webpage with the zoom option.

I think you'll find that we're a helpful bunch here at SRP and also an honest bunch, brutally honest if need be.

In the pictures you've posted, I see 5 razors that are in my opinion, more or less worthless. Four razors that have massive chips to the edge that are unrepairable. The scales coupled to those razors are worth little if anything on their own. While there are certainly razor collectors that are interested in ornate scales first and steel second, far and away our community values blades in addition to, or even more than scales.

Unless a typical SRP member involved in restoration work purchased a significantly damaged blade specifically to use it's scales on another razor, it would be a true statement for me to say that almost to a member, you would not find an SRP member buying a straight razor with a large part of the blade missing and paying any amount of significance just to display the scales.

There is a razor with bone scales where the scales are cracked and unrepairable. So far that's 10% of the total collection that in my opinion is worth little if anything. But, there are what appear to be some nice razors in the lot as well. We'll look forward to more pictures as soon as you can get them.

Chris L

sicboater · 08-13-2008, 07:16 PM

You do have some potentially nice blades there. It will be clearer when you get closer shots. For the most part, heavier and wider are going to be very popular. Boker, Wade & Butcher, and J. Elliot are all respected makers and will be attractive if they have good blades or easily restorable blades. It looks like a nice collection and it will be well looked after by members here!

Good Luck,

-Rob

BillPorter · 08-13-2008, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris L

Thanks for posting those pictures, Bill. We hope to see more. If you could take photos a bit closer up and maybe not more than 3-4 per shot, that would help. I like your webpage with the zoom option.

I think you'll find that we're a helpful bunch here at SRP and also an honest bunch, brutally honest if need be.

In the pictures you've posted, I see 5 razors that are in my opinion, more or less worthless. Four razors that have massive chips to the edge that are unrepairable. The scales coupled to those razors are worth little if anything on their own. While there are certainly razor collectors that are interested in ornate scales first and steel second, far and away our community values blades in addition to, or even more than scales.

Unless a typical SRP member involved in restoration work purchased a significantly damaged blade specifically to use it's scales on another razor, it would be a true statement for me to say that almost to a member, you would not find an SRP member buying a straight razor with a large part of the blade missing and paying any amount of significance just to display the scales.

There is a razor with bone scales where the scales are cracked and unrepairable. So far that's 10% of the total collection that in my opinion is worth little if anything. But, there are what appear to be some nice razors in the lot as well. We'll look forward to more pictures as soon as you can get them.

Chris L

Chris, thanks much for your helpful comments! I will do as you suggest and put up more pictures tomorrow. I will be leaving home until this evening, so I won't be able to respond to any posts or PMs until then.

ragnost · 08-13-2008, 07:26 PM

Bill
If you do list them on e-bay don't forget to put a post in the Auction Talk forum with a link to the page to let us all know so we can have a look and bid on any we my want

Malcolm

gugi · 08-13-2008, 09:43 PM

Yep, good suggestions. I see at least several razors I wouldn't mind trying out myself. If you want most money and can put in the effort, sell them individually.

thebigspendur · 08-14-2008, 12:22 AM

Just to let everyone know now that we are all aware of the situation and have given advice any further talk should be as a classified if he wants to sell the razors.