Save the Gillette's

Today was a fun project day. I bought this nasty thing...so nasty the blade in it rusted to pieces and fused to the silo doors. I saw it at an estate sale, $9, and took a gamble. 
I like a challenge, so I brought it into my home, quarantined it to soak in scrubbing bubbles, and got to work.
Doors stuck, dial frozen, hours of penetrating oil and pressure up and down on the blade tray got it moving again.
Back to soap and a toothbrush, disassembly, 3,000 grit polish by hand, and she'll be a clean solid user for someone to love. Figure it only cost me about $200 if I value my time, which I do. I'll gladly take a loss on her, one day, because there's value in keeping her out of the bin!

Mike, you did a helluva cleaning on that nasty old ‘boy. What a difference, before and after. Just, wow! Thanks for sharing your handiwork

Very nice.  Quite a transformation.

Thanks folks, kind of you to say. Iidk why I enjoy this stuff, but I do. 
I've put so much into this one I may dump my own user for it. It's near perfect, just some dulling maybe here and there (sorry Charles, F date code i think). 
I already have a like new FB among my collection, but I will pull them out on a whim for a shave...nice part of a decent collection, I can shave with everything and still only use my most prized shavers once in a blue. Speaking of, something special I just finished, a legit Regent Tech!

The photos aren’t mine, but the razor is. The elusive E1 for under $50! Should be here by Monday.
I may not be able to take it apart as you did Mike, but I’ll certainly soak it and clean it.

The Fat Boy arrived yesterday. Here it is after cleaning

That's a nice looking Fatty for sure Charlie - what's so exclusive with an E-1 if I might ask ?  Birth Year maybe?

(02-08-2022, 01:41 PM)garyg Wrote: That's a nice looking Fatty for sure Charlie - what's so exclusive with an E-1 if I might ask ?  Birth Year maybe?

You got it, Gary. I’m an E1  I just need a Blue Tip to complete the set! The Tech was my first E1, then came the Super Speed, Red Tip, and now the Fat Boy. I’d previously had an E1 Red Tip replate and later sold it. My goal was to find good examples of original condition products. Diligent patience.

Good luck with the hunt Charlie - I don't notice that many Blue Tips - the only one I ever had was an F - but if I spot one will let you know

(02-08-2022, 04:08 PM)garyg Wrote: Good luck with the hunt Charlie - I don't notice that many Blue Tips - the only one I ever had was an F - but if I spot one will let you know

Thanks Gary. I’ve seen but a handful of E1 Blue Tips and have always been leery for one reason or another. Please consider yourself conscripted and deputized for active duty

That FB looks great Charlie.  Don't sell yourself short on your abilities taking one apart though.  Plenty of good videos, admittedly completely breaking one down is far more work than what I did. 
Take the silver part of a binder clip off, bend the tips with pliers, and it'll be the perfect tool to fit in the slots on the bottom "nut" (round disc) at the bottom of the FB handle.
It comes right off, careful not to lose the big spring, and you can remove the T bar and silo doors. You'll be sure all the gunk is out.
Most Superspeeds have a screw with four circles in the head. Take a flathead and grind the middle out... the two opposing prongs will easily remove that screw. 

By the way, older Gillette's are reverse threaded like the Sheraton... ask me how I know . Fortunately that scenario worked out. 

Thought I'd add a before pic of that Regent and case as well while I'm in here... the liner was a bit of a mess, but fairly easily sorted. Wish I had one with the lid closed, but at the time I thought I'd never want to remember that lol.



Mike

Mike - I admire your skill, patience and courage.   A significant project to tackle.  Way to go

Fantastic work! ?

Found the last ABC pocket edition to COMPLETE my collection of ABC sets. Best part, it was $35!
As found online: 



As she sits tonight, the nicest silver basketweave case I've seen. The engraving site on the lid is always scuffed or brassing, this one'sperfect! I actually thought it was gunmetal finish when i saw it.  Wish i took a pic before polish:


Left front:


I'm not going for every case and razor in every finish.
I went for every pattern and every finish...except for seal skin, that's just mean. 
Makes me happy

Excellent! Thanks for the update 

Np! I wish there were more saved Gillette's being posted. 
Hopefully they're being saved at least if not accounted for.
Wish this place had more Gillette interest...

(02-25-2022, 10:23 AM)Old School TSD Wrote: Np! I wish there were more saved Gillette's being posted. 
Hopefully they're being saved at least if not accounted for.
Wish this place had more Gillette interest...

Big love here! These beauties are my current Gillette rotation, which I’m quite pleased to report has expanded recently. I have a few other pieces in the drawer, but they get used infrequently to never.

In front are my E1s. All good to excellent original condition. The Tech was my first vintage razor - I was hooked instantly! The Super Speed is also in excellent original condition. The Red Tip is new for me as is the Fatboy. I’d rate it’s condition to be VG+. I’d previously owned many other Red Tips, including an E1 replate, but sold them all off, keeping only a 9.75/10 A3 (Mrs. chazt’ s birth quarter).  The Fatboy is good user grade. It works as intended and the plating is intact. Most of the paint is worn off and there are some areas of dull finish, but I’m good with it as is. Waiting on a just right E1 Blue Tip. There are two out there at the moment, but one is more than I want to spend, the other one I have questions about and the seller hasn’t responded to two messages, so to hill with him.

In back, L-R are a postwar pre-datecode that was originally in (awful condition) gold plate but I sent to Chris Evatt for a do-over in nickel - was initially planning on keeping it unused and gifting to a future grandchild, but figured, Naaah I’m gonna use it!; next a (60s?) Made in England Tech with a very rare brass/nickel plated handle. Not the best shaver, but it’s in really good shape and pretty rare, so it’s staying; My Goldies, The Tech - my all time favorite Tech. I’ve had many others, this one rocks me. Originally a triangle slot Contract Tech (I still have the handle), I swapped it out for the fat one presently attached. That handle came with the Canadian Y4 head on the right. Turns out the fat handle works better on the Contract Tech head, and the Canadian Y4 works better with the Star 100 handle it’s set up with. Go figure..

Moving over to the right rack is my replated long comb NEW attached to a Razor Emporium reproduction handle. My friend Debbie scours estate sales in North Carolina and found it. The handle was in pieces and cracked. This setup makes for an ass-kicking shaver. Next is my X3 Super Speed. Man, it’s absolutely killer! What a shave. It could easily be in my top three faves. Last one on the right is a P2 SA109. It too was a gift from my friend, but frankly isn’t much of a good shaver. The balance doesn’t work for me. But thank you just the same!

I’m still jonesing for a few more examples of Gillette goodies, but not jumping on anything in particular at the moment. Of course if a just right Aristocrat happened along…

I picked up a little something today.
There were some tears and peeling of the leather case, which I cemented down after copious amounts of leather conditioner was applied, soaked in, and buffed carefully.
A polish of the razor and blade bank with a jewelers cloth brought up all the metal work to a gleaming shine (rhodium razor, nickel bank).
I present my new to me 1947 Hybrid Tech.
Let the drooling begin!



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More pics!