Hi all. Long time lurker, this is my very first post on B&B.
I started wet shaving ~5 years ago after purchasing a Muhle R89 razor, which I've been fairly content with for the most part up to now. I have long been fascinated by the old vintage Gillettes though that members here frequently discuss (and post drool-worthy pictures of). I held off buying one for the longest time -- told myself early on that I'd be better off learning the ropes with a single razor first before branching out. Last month I decided it was finally time to bite the bullet with a vintage razor, and well boy did I fall down that particular rabbit hole...
From L to R: black-handled '73 SS, Milord (essentially a late-40s SS as I understand it), NEW LC, '56 Tech, NEW SC, '70 long-handle SA, '67 Slim.
I also have a few more on the way that will hopefully complete the line-up for now: a British flare-tip Rocket, a pre-war Tech, and an Old-type (likely a 1918 model I think, based on serial #).
Maybe an understatement to say that I picked up a few. Chalk it up in part to pandemic boredom.
Anyway, the point of this post was only partly to show off my new digs in a venue where I'm confident they'll be appreciated (my girlfriend is mostly just puzzled and shaking her head at the moment)...
My grand plan (hatched in isolation over the pandemic) is to take this year to get acquainted with these razors. I want to develop a deeper appreciation for how 20th century Gillette razors have evolved over the years -- similarities, differences, quirks, what makes each one unique or special, situations where one may shine in particular, etc. In short, I want to really learn about these razors first-hand.
Acknowledging that this is all somewhat particular to my own beard and skin, I'd also like to tap the wealth of accumulated wisdom that is this forum to help guide me through the process. For those of you who've been down this road, I'd be very interested to hear about your own observations, conclusions, insights, recommendations. Tell me about unexpected surprises or frustrations. Were there adjustments to your technique or shaving routine that helped to optimize the performance of vintage razors compared to modern ones (like the R89)? Can you think of any specific pairings of razors that might make for an interesting side-by-side comparison?
I tried my best to reasonably capture the breadth of Gillette's offerings in terms of variety and eras or production (including the 3 that are still on their way), but if you can think of any glaring omissions please point them out!
Final thought: I've often felt that razor-related discussions benefit from a recognition that different beard types likely shape our respective experiences with a razor (which may somewhat account for the YMMV phenomenon). If this is in any way helpful: I'd describe my own beard as medium-full, hair on the slightly coarse side of average, and very curly (prone to in-grown hairs and razor bumps before I switched to DE shaving). My typical routine is to shave every ~2-4 days, depending on how busy the week gets.
I started wet shaving ~5 years ago after purchasing a Muhle R89 razor, which I've been fairly content with for the most part up to now. I have long been fascinated by the old vintage Gillettes though that members here frequently discuss (and post drool-worthy pictures of). I held off buying one for the longest time -- told myself early on that I'd be better off learning the ropes with a single razor first before branching out. Last month I decided it was finally time to bite the bullet with a vintage razor, and well boy did I fall down that particular rabbit hole...
From L to R: black-handled '73 SS, Milord (essentially a late-40s SS as I understand it), NEW LC, '56 Tech, NEW SC, '70 long-handle SA, '67 Slim.
I also have a few more on the way that will hopefully complete the line-up for now: a British flare-tip Rocket, a pre-war Tech, and an Old-type (likely a 1918 model I think, based on serial #).
Maybe an understatement to say that I picked up a few. Chalk it up in part to pandemic boredom.
Anyway, the point of this post was only partly to show off my new digs in a venue where I'm confident they'll be appreciated (my girlfriend is mostly just puzzled and shaking her head at the moment)...
My grand plan (hatched in isolation over the pandemic) is to take this year to get acquainted with these razors. I want to develop a deeper appreciation for how 20th century Gillette razors have evolved over the years -- similarities, differences, quirks, what makes each one unique or special, situations where one may shine in particular, etc. In short, I want to really learn about these razors first-hand.
Acknowledging that this is all somewhat particular to my own beard and skin, I'd also like to tap the wealth of accumulated wisdom that is this forum to help guide me through the process. For those of you who've been down this road, I'd be very interested to hear about your own observations, conclusions, insights, recommendations. Tell me about unexpected surprises or frustrations. Were there adjustments to your technique or shaving routine that helped to optimize the performance of vintage razors compared to modern ones (like the R89)? Can you think of any specific pairings of razors that might make for an interesting side-by-side comparison?
I tried my best to reasonably capture the breadth of Gillette's offerings in terms of variety and eras or production (including the 3 that are still on their way), but if you can think of any glaring omissions please point them out!
Final thought: I've often felt that razor-related discussions benefit from a recognition that different beard types likely shape our respective experiences with a razor (which may somewhat account for the YMMV phenomenon). If this is in any way helpful: I'd describe my own beard as medium-full, hair on the slightly coarse side of average, and very curly (prone to in-grown hairs and razor bumps before I switched to DE shaving). My typical routine is to shave every ~2-4 days, depending on how busy the week gets.
), and Merkur open comb on 47C handle.
