From 1930 through 1950 the Gillette company offered a small number of ‘hybrid’ razors, meaning individual razor designs that somehow were between, or a combination of, the usual model lines. Most often with a head setup from one model line and handle design from another. British Gillette was especially adept at this, using the Raised Flatbottom head setup on other model handles.
In this post I’d like to share of of the rare ones: The 1930 New Richwood #81 RFB, as I recently had this fine specimen return back after refurbishment.
On top I’ll add a couple others that I find fall into the hybrid definition.
The 1930 #81 Richwood New RFB
I never even knew this particular model existed until fellow collectors pointed me to it. Compared to the often seen New RFB’s #77/#88 razors this ultra-rare razor model is recognizable only by its significantly thicker handle. But still it shaves the same as other RFB’s - wonderfully smooth and efficiently.
In the beautiful wooden case (standard Richwood case, I believe, made in the USA) this is a fine example of what Gillette could do during it’s heyday in the 1930s. I still wonder though why the creators decided to pair a British made RFB type razor with a Richwood case? But probably, as often seen with British Gillette, they just wanted to use up surplus cases. Or maybe their strategy was to put out models to test if they would take off in the market? If so this did not, because it seems that only few were made. At least only very few survive to this day.
The combo of a US case and British razor was also seen in the #20 set shown below.
This silver/nickel version #81 is one of my newest additions to my collection as I had to hunt high and low for the longest time to find one. And I only managed to find a really well-loved example which meant a necessary replate by Chris at Razorplate, while I myself refurbished the case.
Today this razor is back to full glory with nickel head and silver handle. I could not find any official Gillette source confirmation that this is the correct/original plating, but it was confirmed by Chris when he examined the original plating on it.
The #81 set was offered in both a gold and a nickel/silver razor version, with the case lettering and logo matching the razor color.
The 1947 #40 Hybrid Tech
The 1930 #20 Big Fellow Chromium De Luxe RFB
In this post I’d like to share of of the rare ones: The 1930 New Richwood #81 RFB, as I recently had this fine specimen return back after refurbishment.
On top I’ll add a couple others that I find fall into the hybrid definition.
The 1930 #81 Richwood New RFB
I never even knew this particular model existed until fellow collectors pointed me to it. Compared to the often seen New RFB’s #77/#88 razors this ultra-rare razor model is recognizable only by its significantly thicker handle. But still it shaves the same as other RFB’s - wonderfully smooth and efficiently.
In the beautiful wooden case (standard Richwood case, I believe, made in the USA) this is a fine example of what Gillette could do during it’s heyday in the 1930s. I still wonder though why the creators decided to pair a British made RFB type razor with a Richwood case? But probably, as often seen with British Gillette, they just wanted to use up surplus cases. Or maybe their strategy was to put out models to test if they would take off in the market? If so this did not, because it seems that only few were made. At least only very few survive to this day.
The combo of a US case and British razor was also seen in the #20 set shown below.
This silver/nickel version #81 is one of my newest additions to my collection as I had to hunt high and low for the longest time to find one. And I only managed to find a really well-loved example which meant a necessary replate by Chris at Razorplate, while I myself refurbished the case.
Today this razor is back to full glory with nickel head and silver handle. I could not find any official Gillette source confirmation that this is the correct/original plating, but it was confirmed by Chris when he examined the original plating on it.
The #81 set was offered in both a gold and a nickel/silver razor version, with the case lettering and logo matching the razor color.
The 1947 #40 Hybrid Tech
The 1930 #20 Big Fellow Chromium De Luxe RFB