Online Razor Shopping: Case vs. No Case

[Old Sarge]

Someday I hope to find and acquire an original 1930 GEM Micromatic Case. I think this is a correct type.

So @Twelvfret, that's your unicorn there then. Good luck and happy hunting!

[GAW9576]

I look at the case as a bonus as long as it's within the price I'm willing to spend. On razors that are not nearly impossible to find I usually look for a good usable razor for the best price I can find. That means that MANY of my razors are good user grade razors with no case.

I picked up 3 Tupperware decided boxes to put razors in that came with no cases. They work wonderfully and are easily found on the E auction site. They also came in several colors which could help with organizing different types of razors. Some of the divided cells are big enough to fit multiple razors in which case I use a little bubble wrap to keep the razors separated. Another cool thing is that these are vintage Tupperware to keep my vintage and antique razors in.. 

Hey GAW9576, hard to believe those are Tupperware. They've got a nice subtle styling. And I agree, there is something satisfying seeing antique items stored inside of a vintage item!  BTW...more nice photos from you!

It certainly is hard to believe these are Tupperware. In fact I literally just rechecked the bottom of one of them to confirm that I wasn't misquoting. Yep definitely says Tupperware on the bottom. Not that you doubt me but here is a photo of the bottom of one of the 2 red ones I have. It looks a lot like the Ox blood red of bakelite to me. Although I don't think it is Bakelite I should look into some of the more reliable tests for that and check them. Unfortunately the color doesn't show well in this photo, but it wasn't easy taking a picture of the bottom of a box full of razors. 

   

[TobyC]

Toby is correct. The box does nothing for the shave at all. Does that mean you don't want it? You are the one that needs to answer that. I have bought plenty without the box/case but if I have a chance to get a specimen in good condition in the case I prefer that. To decide if it's important to you, you need to decide if you are solely a shaver when accumulating or are you a collector. I started as a shaver and morphed into collecting as a byproduct. Cases weren't important to me in the beginning but got more a focus as time went by and my focus changed. The MAJOR focus for me will always be the shave. I keep nothing in my den that I don't shave with or can't at least once (at least I haven't found an exception to that yet) That said I do like finding a complete razor in original case if I can. That said if a razor that is hard to find comes available with no case or the wrong case I won't pass a chance to get it and perhaps never see another again. Now that I've walked you around in circles, the answer is.................you need to do what makes you happy and not me or Toby or anyone else. Cheers

Hey Dave in KY, that's a lot of solid advice. More Dr Phil than walking me around in circles! The question of the case really set in when I started digging into the "E" sites and adding items to my watchlist. After a while, I'd review my watchlist and see some listing with cases and some without for the same razor. I see what you say about being a collector, but I guess there are varying degrees based on the grade of the razor and/or case. There are many fine specimens out there that I would not be willing to pay for, despite their minty looking condition. Doesn't mean I still can't drool over them a bit! 

Other than TobyC, most folks seem to lean towards getting a case if the price and condition are right.

Anyhow, since I was asking all of this for a friend, I'll make sure to pass it on! 

I'm not against getting the case, I just don't use them. They get put at the back of a drawer and kept for no reason that I can think of. I keep my razors in another drawer sitting on white felt instead of in a closed box. I would show you but most of them can't be posted here.