Gillette 1948-50 Super Speed

On a lark, I bid for on the world famous bidding site and won the bid. The Gillette Super Speed showed up and I researched to be a '49 model.

I sent it to Razor Emporium for its clean up service. It came from this great repair shop looking clean and ready for service.

It quickly became one of my top 2 razors. Easy to get a great shave with this vintage wonder of a design.

Newbies looking to get into wet shaving should not fear this razor.

Let me state right at the start, this is my favorite razor. I have eight razors, from vintage to modern, open and closed comb, SE and DE- they run the gamut. I bought this as part of a lot of four razors with a Slim Adjustable being the primary reason I purchased the lot. I didn't expect to love this razor and if the price of the lot wasn't right, I would have been unlikely to ever buy one. When I first tried it, I was pleasantly surprised at what a comfortable, effortless and close shave I received. I have now used it with Feather, Derby, Crystal, Merkur, Shark, Iridium and Personna blades and have yet to have a blade fail to perform in this razor.

Price: I paid $42 shipped for this and three other razors. I was looking to spend ~$30 with shipping for the Slim so I figure my cost for this razor was about $5 shipped. They can often be found on B/S/T for from $10 to $15 shipped. This is a third of what a new razor typically runs. 10

Quality: This razor was manufactured 60 years ago and functions as if brand new. What more can be said. 10

User Friendly: The razor is very maneuverable and is the easiest one I have for getting under the nose. 10

Grip: I find it simple to grip but have a couple of razors with slightly better knurling. 9

Ease of Blade Replacement: It doesn't get much easier than Gillette TTO. 10

Aggressiveness: This was the most difficult for me to score. I have several more aggressive razors. However, I find the the aggressiveness of the Superspeed just right for my face. I had to decide which would score higher between these razors. I reluctantly took a point off the score here but could easily be convinced to bump this up to a 10. 9

Adjustability: N/A

Balance: I find this razor to move effortlessly. 10

I have often seen this razor recommended as a great one for those new to DE shaving. I would go further and say it is a great razor for anyone involved in DE shaving. For me, the 40s Superspeed was an unexpected but pleasant surprise. This is my first review and I felt I should pick the one shaving product that I would least like to do without.

Great shaving razor! If you have never tried one your doing yourself a big disservice. If you like middle of the road aggressiveness and smooth easy shaves this razor has it all.

It's a quicker shave than a Tech, A Tech takes three passes for me, This one takes only two passes followed by minor touchup on my neck.

It's a permanent member of my daily razor rack which also includes a Red Tip and Two regular FlairTip razors. Any Super Speed is great in my opinion but the 1948-1950's are the Gold Standard.

I can't foresee ever not having this razor in regular rotation in my shave routine.

Get one and try it you wont be disappointed.

General Notes
It's the well-known Gillette model made between 1948-50. Just like the 1947 before it, the first post-war model of razor put out by Gillette, it carries no date code, and is only distinguished from the 1947 model by the presence of a notch in the bar to facilitate easy blade loading.

Physical details
It's a traditional TTO model. Mine came to me pretty dirty, but with some boiling water/vinegar, toothbrush and dish soap, polish and mineral oil bath, and this thing is good as new. They're built to last, and the action on the silo doors is smooth. I can see this razor lasting another 60 years, and maybe more. Impressive construction. It has really nice heft, feels really good and well balanced, and is very easy to grip. It's may not be the prettiest star in the Gillette universe with knurling on the handle carried right down onto the twist knob, but everything about the design says simplicity and facility.

Shaving
I can only compare this to my Merkur HD as that is the only DE safety razor I had previously used. The HD had always given me great shaves, and I still intend on using it, but the Super Speed actually elevated my shave to a new level. The razor is slightly heavier than the HD, and the balance makes it much easier to shave without applying pressure. The angle seems to just find itself, even going along different facial angles like straight down the chin then down the neck. As close to seeing-eye shaving that I have experienced.

The doors seem to close down tightly on the blade, but not so tight that the blade becomes rigid. That makes it more forgiving and, in my opinion, a great shaver for a neophyte wet shaver. I hate the term "Aggressiveness" because it denotes the Razor versus my face. It was really easy on my face, but it still shaved really well, so I only gave it a 5 on the "Aggressiveness" field because I didn't know what to say. I used a Derby, but an Israeli, Merkur or Feather would be just as at home and would probably yield similar results, especially if you already use one of those blades in your Merkur HD now.

Conclusion
A simple three pass (N-S, ear-to-nose, then S-N), with a bit of touch-up around the muzzle, and I can honestly say that it was the easiest, closest, and most comfortable shave I have ever had. It makes a clean and obvious cutting sound when the angle is right (which is really easy to do), and the head of this razor is shaped to go anywhere, including right under the nose, with ease. If you can find one of these, or the 1947 model, buy it. Remember that there are a lot of these around, so they're not so rare as to spend your child's college fund, but for under $25 you should be able to pick a good example and clean it up yourself. It's worth the time to get to know it, and then you'll be pleasantly rewarded with great shaves, maybe for the rest of your life.

Peace,

Pierre

Excellent review Pierre. I find this to be a fantastic razor. I can't imagine a DE being easier to shave with. I started with a Merkur LHC, and switched to this, which I found much easier for a beginner. My 5th shave ever was with this and a feather, and I did not produce a drop of blood. GREAT razor.

I docked it one point on price, because these have been driven up a bit in price of late. You can get a Tech, for example, for a lot less. On the other hand, if you spend enough time on ebay, you can still get one of these that just needs a little cleaning for US$5-6, plus shipping.

I also docked a point on grip, because, besides not being that pretty, it is a little slippery.

I docked a point on balance, because I like heavier razors, but this one is still very good.

Finally, I just don't get aggressiveness on these. I put a five, because it isn't putting a lot of blade out there. Unlike the other categories, though, I don't view this one as a representation of quality of the razor. It shaves very very well.

This may well be my single favorite razor. When they say they don't make 'em like they used to, this is what they're talking about.

NB: I rate aggressiveness as a 10, because I seem to disagree with everyone's assessment of what a 10 means. There seems to be an impression that a 0 is very mild, and a 10 is very aggressive. Why should a mild razor be "punished", numerically, for being mild?

Instead, I think a 10 should represent one's perception of perfection in terms of aggressiveness. I you disagree, feel free to dilute my rating by posting whatever level of aggressiveness you deem appropriate.

I found one of these at a junque/antique store. It was dull, caked, scaled with soap, but still operational. After bargaining it down from $2.50 to $1.00 I took it home, boiled in vinegar/water, scrubbing bubbled, polished it with Mother's aluminum/mag polish, scrubbing bubble'd again, and soaked it in mineral oil. I could not find a date code so it must be this model.
It now shines and operates smooothllllyyy and shaves beautifully. I now have this, a red tip. two slim adjustables, one fat boy, and another SS. Not too bad for someone who just started this obsession in November. Oh yea, back to this razor. The grip is a bit small for my hand and there is no adjustment outside of how you angle it. The balance is great, but most of all, it glides through its intended purpose. The aggressiveness relates to how well it works through my whiskers. You know, it does a great job with a Derby- verryyy comfortable, no irritation with a BBS finish.
This is going to be an active member of my growing rotation. I give it a two thumbs up
Headdoc

I really like this razor and at the moment, I use mine in regular rotation.

To me it has a really vintage look - it's the type of thing that one imagines one would see in one's grandfather's (or depending on one's age) great grandfather's medicine cabinet. And to my mind, that's a big plus.

The TTO mechanism is very accurate, it feels like a precise bit of machinery.

This is a gentle razor, and one that can give one a BBS shave without any difficulty.

Top marks.

Bought this razor right and because it is my birth year razor or at least a razor that could have been made in 1948.

Only one of six razors I own but it is becoming my go to razor. Great balance when moving it across my face and neck with a great lather.

I was so surprised at how well it worked for a razor that is nearly 60. I put a Derby blade in it for I don't know why and I have enjoyed three of the best and fun shaves of my life.

Of course the quality is pretty darn good because it was made in an era when things were just made very well and they lasted too.

This razor is not aggressive so I gave it a 9 because I don't really like an overly aggressive razor.

As for adjustability, well that is easy I gave it a 9 because you can't adjust it thus you don't have to worry about what setting you need to use. Just pop in a blade and shave away. Nothing more simple than that.

I have tried about 20 other types of safety razors including Merkurs, Schicks, and other Gillettes. This razor is tied as my favorite. The other is its close cousin, the Rocket. It has the perfect level of aggressiveness and works well with different blades like Swedes, Crystals, and Derbys. All around, there really is nothing I would improve.

I feel this is one of the best razors ever made; simple, elegant, balanced, light and durable as evidenced by the numerous 40+ year old examples still around in perfect working condition.

From an aggressiveness standpoint this is one very mild razor, but this works well for multi-pass shaving and/or buffing your difficult areas.

I typically use my fave modern razor.....the 38C, which is much more aggressive, for a WTG, and then an AGT pass and then finish up with the SS for XTG and buffing under the jawline.

For me this is the perfect combination for consistent BBS shaves without irritation.

Anyone who enjoys wet shaving, whether you consider yourself a DE collector or not, should own one of these.

It's basically the end-of-the-line for the *necessary* development in the evolution of the DE Razor....everything else is marketing and/or bling.

My first double-edge razor, and still my favorite. Though my collection has expanded significantly, I always come back to this one. If it's your only razor (God forbid) you'd be all set. It feels good in your hand, and just seems to glide over your face, regardless of how cheap your shaving soap is!

When I first started, I bought the most-recommended Merkur HD and Merkur Slant. I thoroughly love both these razors, and was satisfied with them. However, being the newbie, I also went around to different flea markets and antique shops in search of vintage DEs.

I picked up a few, and perhaps my newbie technique let me not to believe that these razors "cut it", so I PIFed them to friends. I decided to revisit them recently and picked up a 1948-50 SS in great condition for a mere $18. Price = 10.

Boy oh boy, was I ever wrong that this razor didn't cut it. I was a bit apprehensive at first, hearing that vintage Gillettes were a bit different to shave with than Merkurs. I really didn't notice a difference, this razor is very user friendly.

I got the bottom-line BEST shave of my DE shaving career from this little gem loaded up with a fresh Feather the first time I used it. Couldn't believe how amazingly smooth this thing shaves. I almost didn't think that it was cutting anything off my face, yet after only two passes (2 XTG passes in opposing directions) my face was literally 100% BBS.

There is not much knurl on the handles, but even while face-slathering (whipping up KMF between my hands) I have no trouble hanging on to it. Blade replacement is a cinch and you really don't have to eye it to see if the alignment is right as with the Slant.

Honestly, I'm almost considering selling my HD...almost . I think this razor is probably much better suited for a beginner, it's nearly fool-proof to get a super smooth and super comfortable shave. It's not nearly as aggressive as a Merkur HD and certainly not anything close to the Slant, yet with my tough beard/sensitive skin combination this one really does the trick.

Highly, highly recommended. 10s all the way down.

This was my third razor, and for a while I'd use it for part of every shave. While I had a tech that was great for the straightaways, the chin and neck did better with the super speed. It's a nice, forgiving razor, a skosh more aggressive than the tech. Much better than a merkur for starters in my opinion, second only to the tech as great for beginners.

They are getting too expensive though, so I've docked "price" a lot.

I think this is one of the best razors ever made. I have a Gillette Aristocrat from the same era and prefer it's wider grip and feel it equals the Super Speed's shave. And the English made Gillette rocket made in the late 1940s, which is very similar to the Super Speed, has a slightly better balance in my opinion due to a heavier handle. But you cannot go wrong with this razor.

Other than the way the blade loads, there is another marked difference between the '47 and '48-50 Super Speeds. The chrome shoulder has a small section (about 1/16") that runs more parallel with the gripping section of the handle. The '47 is also less aggressive, but more aggressive than the Techs. However, the '48-50's are excellent shavers, and if a man (or woman) has one likes it and takes care of, another razor should ever be needed. I've never tried a Merkur because I've not felt the need to.

I just got mine in the mail yesterday, cleaned it up and loaded it with an IP and lathered up some Body Shop cream. It took me five passes with a few touch ups to get a half decent shave. Obviously one shave isn't enough to qualify me as able to give this razor any ratings. My first thought was how small this razor is compared to my Futur. I had really expected it to be somewhat larger. I did enjoy using it as it is very nimble, especially around my nose where the Futur is simply cumbersome.

I will try it with a different blade and see how that works before giving it any ratings. I do love the build quality and the TTO loading mechanism - very cool. I don't know why modern razor manufacturer's shy away from this other than the Merkur Vision which is far too expensive or the Parker razors that I have yet to try.

The Gillette 40s Super Speed being a highly regarded and highly recomended razor on this forum I offcourse had to try one.

Price
The can be found rather cheap I paid $ 20 for mine, including postage from USA to Denmark

Quality
The best I have experienced so far, upon inspecting the razor I found it hard to believe that it was in fact around 60 years old.

User Friendly
This razor, being a TTO and a very mild shaver is incredibly user friendly

Grip
Nice and grippable, the knurling could have been a bit more agressive on mine, but I suspect it is a bit worn

Ease of Blade Replacement
The one piece TTO design of this razor makes blade replacement very easy

Aggressiveness
This is the mildest razor I have yet tried. I suspect that if a razor got any milder I would have trouble getting a decent shave from it

Balance
Nice, but a slightly heavier head would have been nice

I can only agree with the crowd here; this is a highly recomendable razor. Everyone should have at least one in his rotation.







Regards.

Jakob

I love this razor. The best way to describe it is balance. This razor has all of is features balanced along with a simple minimal design that was designed more for the shave than the look. It is truly a super speedy shaver. I have 2 in my collection soon to be 3.

The Gillette '48-'50 Super Speed is my second DE razor, which I recently purchased through B&B's B/S/T for about $16, a much better price than you'd find on eBay. My first and primary razor is a Merkur 12C, almost identical to the HD but it is an open comb version.

My new SS is similar in size to the Merkur HD, but it is considerably heavier, which I think improves the shave since the weight helps it glide effortlessly across the face. 2 passes give me a smoother shave than 2 passes with my Merkur! The TTO mechanism is smooth, and locks the blade tightly. I have a feeling I will make the SS my new primary razor!

Definitely recommended if you're adding to your collection, or even if you're starting out as a wetshaver and want to begin with a classic instrument!