Your glass ceiling for purchases

It all depends on what you want and what its actually worth to you.

Me, I buy what I want and if I cant get the price I want I don't really care. For example I have always wanted a NOS unused Gillette razor. I have one, a travel razor. decent little critter. But I wanted something bigger. Found an unopened superspeed, late 70s black handle. I put in my max bid, at what its actually worth to me. Winner payed 50% more then it was worth to me. No loss.

Tried getting an opened Schick twin injector mailer tubed, I put in what it was worth. Lost it by 5 dollars. Found an UNOPENED one, put in my personal value for it. WON IT. 44

Then I ran across the holy of holy grails in the Gillette world. An almost perfect condition milady tech one piece, in original case that was 90% condition due to minor scuffing on the outside. The razor itself, in fair condition sells for 90. The case itself sells for that much when it appears. The last cased razor I ever saw, in poor condition, sold for 125. This one sold for 50. yes fifty dollars. im not sad at all. Sure I know a guy whos willing to spend up to 200 to get one because he has the original Christmas release double presentation case.

Just when I think I see the ceiling coming down on me it somehow levitates to a new height.  After a camera and lens purchase last summer I thought I had found a great combination for what I considered a reasonable price.  Then I spied a Leica camera that seemed to bring everything to the table I've been seeking except the ridiculous price tag. After much investigation and gnashing of teeth I was able to buy a lightly used second hand Leica with the thought that I could easily re-sell should I be disappointed. At this point I couldn't be happier with the results and the shooting experience.   Although I mostly use it for "snapshots" I think I've captured a few gallery quality images, and will be having an exhibition this fall. I still think that the camera is overpriced but I have no regrets. As with so many high ticket items the law of diminishing returns applies, and I'd like to think that if I didn't have the dough for this camera I'd still be making some good photos and having fun shooting.

I felt the same way when as a fairly novice shaver I sprang for a BBS-1 razor. It seemed a ludicrous amount for a DE razor but I wanted to see how good a DE shave could get. Well I used it everyday for month and it has since been my standard bearer for quality shaves and pride of ownership. No regrets either.

My limit for shaving gear has been hit with a recent purchase of a Brad Sears/M&F brush.  Although it's beautiful and a great performer I'm not really sure it qualifies as a standard setter like the BBS-1. I have several much less expensive brushes that equal or surpass the lovely Sears/M&F.

BTW the Opus is another permanent fixture in my den, and the bottles last so long ...no regrets.

(you can see pics from the Leica camera here:  http://www.flickriver.com/photos/bwaters23/  if you click on a picture it will send you to my Flickr page as well. Another presentation here, creidtaylor.smugmug.com )

Wow, Chris! Beautiful photos!

Nice Chris! I particularly love the smiles on all the people you photographed

Wow, Chris! Beautiful photos!

Thanks so much

Nice Chris! I particularly love the smiles on all the people you photographed

Thank you... I like the smiles too.

As someone who has a custom Tim Zowada straight, my ceiling has been very high once or twice. I did however just see an Anodized Titanium Wolfman (nice colors), adding the head, handle and small stand together comes to $825 for a DE razor. That is far on the other side of the ceiling for me on a DE razor.

Wow, Chris! Beautiful photos!

Thanks so much

Nice Chris! I particularly love the smiles on all the people you photographed

Thank you... I like the smiles too.

Wonderful photos, Chris!

As someone who has a custom Tim Zowada straight, my ceiling has been very high once or twice.  I did however just see an Anodized Titanium Wolfman (nice colors), adding the head, handle and small stand together comes to $825 for a DE razor.  That is far on the other side of the ceiling for me on a DE razor.

Holy sheet.

Wow, Chris! Beautiful photos!

Thanks so much

Nice Chris! I particularly love the smiles on all the people you photographed

Thank you... I like the smiles too.

Wonderful photos, Chris!

Thank you!


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My ceiling has moved around a lot.....I like finding lovely razors for $5 (which is a very rare occurrence). I've also spent almost $1000 on a Tim Zowada custom and $500 on a Somerset Simpsons Manchurian.

To my mind, those very expensive purchases were mistakes (for me). TZ does great work and I really appreciate his artistry, but to me a razor is a tool....it shaves, and the TZ didn't shave any better than a $10 Bengall that I picked up from an antique store. Also, as I've mentioned elsewhere, I like old things and the TZ (while it was beautiful) didn't have age going for it. I sold it.

With the Somerset Simpsons the story was slightly different - it just wasn't as good as a lot of my other brushes.

With regards to my ceiling --- I've figured out that it's less of a hard limit and more of a resistance to buying something that's above it. I will break through the ceiling if I really want something, but it takes more thinking before I do it. Of course, the further an item is above my limit, the more thinking it takes to break the ceiling.

Currently, my ceiling for razor purchases is about $20. I've found so many razors below that limit that shave brilliantly, that there's almost more fun in trying to find one of those than in shelling out for a more expensive razor. I don't buy soaps/creams or aftershaves much anymore as I have a huge collection to work through.