Over the years I have heard many collectors say that they buy only “Pristine” antique or vintage razors for their collections. The reasoning behind that statement is generally that they want to display only attractive razors in the best possible condition. Well that makes a lot of sense. I certainly wouldn’t want to display a bunch of rusted, cracked, worn-out razors on my wall either. Who would?

But think about this. If you wanted to buy an antique automobile, say a model “T” Ford, where are you going to find one with low mileage in “Pristine” unused condition. Well the answer to that is; You won’t! But you would accept one that has been beautifully and faithfully restored, a car that has had a frame-off total restoration from the ground up, one that looked and drove as good as new. If you wouldn’t accept that, then you would never have the car you went looking for. It doesn’t exist.

The same thing holds true in the case of collectible razors. If all you want is “Pristine” unused razors you will have either the world’s smallest, or possibly the world’s most expensive collection. The alternative is Restoration.

Antique Restoration is an accepted and widespread practice. I don’t think there has ever been an episode of The Antiques Roadshow where one expert or another hasn’t said that the object in question couldn’t benefit from some expert restoration. The key factor is restoring an object to its original condition, not creating an entirely new thing from separate parts and pieces. An object like that has no value, either monetary or intrinsic, and actually constitutes fraud if represented as a “restored antique.”

Any car collector will tell you that much of the enjoyment of collecting is in the restoration, whether you do the work yourself or just plan and direct it. And so it is with razors. I guarantee that your collecting will become much more meaningful if you spend some time restoring your finds. In the process you’ll actually form a bond with the individual razors by learning each one’s personality, discovering each one’s hidden beauty or wretched stubbornness. It will also provide talking points for you when showing off your collection, not to mention how much you’ll learn yourself in the process.

The necessary tools and supplies aren’t expensive. They don’t take up a lot of room. The work isn’t heavy or difficult. Though there are some hazards involved, simple caution and good common sense will overcome them. The work can be done in any season of the year on whatever schedule suits you. Any person who possesses average manual skills can do it with a little practice.

The benefits are many: It is therapeutic and lots cheaper than psychoanalysis. It will keep you from getting in your wife’s way. And she probably won’t even complain about it since it’s not an expensive pastime. The personal feeling of satisfaction is terrific when you’ve turned a rusty piece of junk into a beautiful work of art. It will turn a bunch of $10.00 - $20.00 eBay razors into rare and valuable collectibles that people will pay far more for. From a purely financial perspective the return on investment is hundreds of times more than any CD, Money Market Fund, or 401K is presently offering. I find it to be more enjoyable than Flower Arranging, Opera, or visits to (or from) my in-laws. It’s not like there’s so much worth watching on television that you’ll miss something.

Razor Restoration could be just what you’ve been looking for. Give it a try and see for yourself.