1907 Old Style Standard Set

[Jake]

Seems like King Gillette developed the Old Style double ring 1st, then the single ring, next the Standard Set. Like the Popular model, the name may not have anything to do with it's literal meaning -- more of a marketing ploy. But it does seem that for around 3 years, the Standard Set, in a leather case, with the script "Gillette" logo was the de facto standard for the Gillette double edged razor. Well made, sturdy, and with an objective of providing a smooth comfortable safe shave for the gentlemen who had been accustomed to using straight razors.

So here's my 1st acquisition of one of these old timers. Based on the serial # on the handle insert, I'm claiming 1907 (if you think A57561 is a different year, please let me know with a posting here) for this set and after 105 years -- all I can say is "Wow!" I got this from a friend in Belgium who said he found it in an antique shop in Antwerp. It was so funky when I got it, I was figuring it would only be useful as a case -- until I located a razor of the correct vintage to place in it. But a light cleaning with Simichrome removed the tarnish and resulted in this beauty.

Only one of the blade cases survived the century. But don't you love that logo?

The head looks like new -- amazingly.

The case also looks like new. Nice touch with that fastener copy. Never saw one of those before.

The serial number is faint, but here it is.

And the British patent #: 28763 of 02 -- whatever that means

The teeth are perfect, the plating intact, the case pristine, and the history remarkable. Pre-WWI -- who among us could ever age so gracefully? What a great feat of mechanics, workmanship, and design.

 

[mblakele]

You find the nicest-looking razors, Jake.

Since this one has a British patent pending mark, I wonder how to interpret the serial number? 1907 is in the right ballpark anyway. From http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/Gillette_Timeline we have the UK patent grant 1903-10-15 (the 02 means the filing date was 1902). So this razor must be after 1903 - and we knew that already. Likely it was before 1909 because of the script logo. There was a London sales office from 1905, but no subsidiary company until September 1908 and the Leicester UK plant was not finished until early 1909 (dates from the same wiki page). The new plant could have started with 'A' numbers and produced script logo cases before moving to the diamond logo, and might have even started production in 1907 or 1908, before it was technically complete. But according to King Camp Gillette the decision to build a UK factory was not made until 1907 (around the same time that British patent law tilted against foreign imports).

Speculating, I tend to think the razor was produced in Boston for the UK market. In that case I suppose it would use USA serial numbers and it would indeed be 1907. I also wonder if Gillette might have shipped the razors over in simple packages, while making the cases locally or outsourcing them?

 

[Jake]

Ah, that is real Gillette razor history sir. Thanks for your clear exposition of what makes a lot of sense. I was surprised to see the "A" in the serial number also, and also how well this razor cleaned u & what incredible condition it's in. I know there are some of our fellow members with double rings that are also in almost perfect condition -- it does say quite a bit about the quality of those early razor makers. And the care that went into making a tool that was meant to last & last And has. Thanks again!

 

[mr-razor]

Jake, that´s a very nice set. I´ve some of these british sets with serial numbers B..., G..., H...
I don´t know the right date, but I believe it´s between 1906-1908. I think your A... number is one of the first sets with the Script Trade Mark.

 

[Jake]

Thank you for that note Achim. I too was surprised to see that letter/number and wondered about it's use. Remarkable condition and nice piece of history.

 

[Sled Dog]

Wow that is gorgeous!!!
I would be willing to trade you for a rare Canadian Rocket Aristocrat Jr set

 

[alex2363]

You find the nicest-looking razors, Jake.

Since this one has a British patent pending mark, I wonder how to interpret the serial number? 1907 is in the right ballpark anyway. From http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/Gillette_Timeline we have the UK patent grant 1903-10-15 (the 02 means the filing date was 1902). So this razor must be after 1903 - and we knew that already. Likely it was before 1909 because of the script logo. There was a London sales office from 1905, but no subsidiary company until September 1908 and the Leicester UK plant was not finished until early 1909 (dates from the same wiki page). The new plant could have started with 'A' numbers and produced script logo cases before moving to the diamond logo, and might have even started production in 1907 or 1908, before it was technically complete. But according to King Camp Gillette the decision to build a UK factory was not made until 1907 (around the same time that British patent law tilted against foreign imports).

Speculating, I tend to think the razor was produced in Boston for the UK market. In that case I suppose it would use USA serial numbers and it would indeed be 1907. I also wonder if Gillette might have shipped the razors over in simple packages, while making the cases locally or outsourcing them?

A very educational post as always Mike. You and Porter always delivers the goods when it comes to our favorite hobby, razor history.

 

[alex2363]

Thank you JAKe for your participation in keeping Traditional wet shave alive.

 

[GDCarrington]

Jake, beautiful razor set. I have one of the English ones as well, but my case is not as in good of shape, but the razor looks brand new. It is more than likely a 1907 just like mine is the same way through date coding. They provide an excellent shave with modern blades!

 

[Intrigued]

Beautiful Single Ring and gorgeous case! I love the history that surrounds that razor set.

 

[GDCarrington]

Jake,

On the patent. Gillette had to patent his razor in the U.K. earlier (in 1902) to protect from someone else duplicating their design and seizing the rights in Europe.
Today that patent stamp is how you know it is a "British" market version versus an "American" market version.

 

[celestino]

Fantastic find, Leonard. Beautiful razor set.

 

[Jake]

So just to add age to my aged collection -- here's yet another old timer. This one is apparently not a British model, but also an "A" serial number and in similarly great condition. And although it's hard to see the Pat. information, it is "Pat. Nov.15.04" stamped on the handle.

The plating has held up so well on this old guys. And I really like this classy red case.

Serial # looks to be A893984.

What does that patent number mean?

 

[Deltaboy]

NICE very NICE well done in finding them!

 

[ERVARGASNY]

.icr loking set, gotta love it. Thanks for sharing.

 

[mblakele]

What does that patent number mean?

Unless I am missing something, it refers to the the original 1904 USA patent: http://www.google.com/patents/US775134 and http://www.google.com/patents/US775135. There is some recent discussion of those patents at http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/306541-The-first-prototype-Gillette.

 

[GIBro]

You find the nicest-looking razors, Jake.

Since this one has a British patent pending mark, I wonder how to interpret the serial number? 1907 is in the right ballpark anyway. From http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/Gillette_Timeline we have the UK patent grant 1903-10-15 (the 02 means the filing date was 1902). So this razor must be after 1903 - and we knew that already. Likely it was before 1909 because of the script logo. There was a London sales office from 1905, but no subsidiary company until September 1908 and the Leicester UK plant was not finished until early 1909 (dates from the same wiki page). The new plant could have started with 'A' numbers and produced script logo cases before moving to the diamond logo, and might have even started production in 1907 or 1908, before it was technically complete. But according to King Camp Gillette the decision to build a UK factory was not made until 1907 (around the same time that British patent law tilted against foreign imports).

Speculating, I tend to think the razor was produced in Boston for the UK market. In that case I suppose it would use USA serial numbers and it would indeed be 1907. I also wonder if Gillette might have shipped the razors over in simple packages, while making the cases locally or outsourcing them?

If that is a patent pending mark and the patent was granted and no longer pending in October 1903, if it were made after 1903 as you stated, it wouldn't have a patent pending mark. No? Since it's a patent pending mark, that would put it being made exactly in 1903. No?

 

[mblakele]

If that is a patent pending mark and the patent was granted and no longer pending in October 1903, if it were made after 1903 as you stated, it wouldn't have a patent pending mark. No? Since it's a patent pending mark, that would put it being made exactly in 1903. No?

I meant to write "patent mark", not "patent pending mark". Unfortunately it is too late to edit the original now: sorry for the confusion.

 

[Haiku]

Thanks for posting! Beautiful.

I wonder sometimes how many of Gillette's current crop of razors will be around 100 years from now. I think the answer is there won't be any. Not even one. I somehow think though that your razors may well be around in another 100 years.

 

[GIBro]

I meant to write "patent mark", not "patent pending mark". Unfortunately it is too late to edit the original now: sorry for the confusion.

OK. Thank you. Had me quite confused.