Member
Many years ago, when I first switched from a cartridge to a blade, I went to the only store I knew of that sold DE razors. It was a knife store named Hoffritz on Madison Avenue in Manhattan. In addition to gleaming knives of all kinds, they had Merkur razors on display. The quality control was so bad then that the chrome plating nearly started cracking and flaking before you left the store. The razors even looked slapdash. Nothing like the stately brass and chrome or nickel Gillettes I remembered from my childhood. There was no internet and no way to hunt down "vintage" razors.
The salesman agreed that the razors were not particularly well-made. He added that complaining to Merkur was useless. The company, he said, was the only game in town. As such, it was utterly indifferent to complaints. I had the impression the DEs were practically a loss leader, and that the terrifying-looking straight razors were the company's prized shavers.
Cut to: today, at Pasteur. Inspired by Paul H. Films's veneration of his three (count 'em, three--shiny, matte, and gold) Futurs, I bought me a shiny Futur. Merkur has drastically improved q.c. Though not completely perfect, it's close enough and, to any inspection other than my obsessive exam, it would be deemed one hundred percent. I was expecting uneven blade gaps, etc. and I might notice them the more I use it. But it gave me a great inaugural shave on setting 1 then 3. It's as good as Paul H (or Paulie Movies, as we like to call him) says.
And of course it's always a joy to return to the grown up toy store on east 34th.
The salesman agreed that the razors were not particularly well-made. He added that complaining to Merkur was useless. The company, he said, was the only game in town. As such, it was utterly indifferent to complaints. I had the impression the DEs were practically a loss leader, and that the terrifying-looking straight razors were the company's prized shavers.
Cut to: today, at Pasteur. Inspired by Paul H. Films's veneration of his three (count 'em, three--shiny, matte, and gold) Futurs, I bought me a shiny Futur. Merkur has drastically improved q.c. Though not completely perfect, it's close enough and, to any inspection other than my obsessive exam, it would be deemed one hundred percent. I was expecting uneven blade gaps, etc. and I might notice them the more I use it. But it gave me a great inaugural shave on setting 1 then 3. It's as good as Paul H (or Paulie Movies, as we like to call him) says.
And of course it's always a joy to return to the grown up toy store on east 34th.
