40s or 50s Superspeed Preferred?

[scottish steve]

I remember what seems like a long time ago (when aaaah wis aauunly kneehaaa t'pigeon) reading a thread weighing up the difference between these two classics. It all seemed very arcane at the time. Now, I'm really interested in opinions. I feel the 40s-style has a compact symmetry and "modesty" which the 50s version doesn't have, but when I actually pick up a flairtip, it feels better in my hand. Don't know about the shave- can't really separate them.

 

[ytsejammer]

red tip



*discussion over*

 

[ytsejammer]

seriously though...I have a 40s style and a mint 50s flare tip...both offer superb service for your face...both very gentle and forgiving...I can't really separate the shave quality versus each other either...

 

[strat1117]

red tip



*discussion over*

I most respectfully disagree. To be sure, I like my '55 Red Tip well enough, but I enjoy shaving with my 40's no-date SS or Aristocrat even more. If I had to pick one, it would be the no-date Aristocrat, but I think it would be the no-date SS after that.

 

[ari95]

I picked the flare tip based on looks. It has good weight in hand and shaves excellent. I have never used the earlier version, which I understand may be slightly heftier.

 

[VolpeVerde]

I really enjoy shaving with my minty 1947 no notch SuperSpeed. Not because it's a really mild razor, but because of historical value. It was built the same year that Chuck Yeager flew a Bell X-1 faster than the speed of sound and a downed UFO is supposedly found in Roswell, New Mexico.


View attachment 58525

 

[luvmysuper]

I love the looks of the Flare Tip and they generally "feel better" to my grip.
I love the heft, weight and balance of my Red Tip.

But the 40's SS is by far a better shaver than the 50's. I think Gillette got it right with the 40's style.

 

[jakespoppy]

With all the discussion about the 40's vs 50's superspeed, is there no love here for the 60's Flare tip with the lower profile head?

 

[Rick Sparks]

For me, the difference between the 40s and 50s SS is the feel in the hand. I just love the feel of that fine knurling on the 40s style. I do think, though, that the later versions of the 40s style, like the ones produced in the last two years of the production run in '53 and '54, are better. I know they're supposed to be the same as their predecessors, but I swear they shave better.

 

[Luc]

Mmm, I tried the Red Tip, no date '40s, '55 flare tip and a Rocket flare tip... The '55 and Rocket are my favorites. I won't qualify them as a beast but they sure are a great tool!

 

[wundergussy]

Based totally on aesthetics, I prefer the 40's style. I seem to be hoarding these types of Gillettes; Superspeed, Aristocrat Jr., Ranger Tech, and I have an HD Rocket on the way. Just matches my mental picture of "Razor" I suppose.

 

[Stubblefield]

Mmm, I tried the Red Tip, no date '40s, '55 flare tip and a Rocket flare tip... The '55 and Rocket are my favorites. I won't qualify them as a beast but they sure are a great tool!

Same here, I really like the Rocket. Tho I do have two '58 TV specials on the way, hoping I'll like them as much.

 

[erudolph]

I like the late 40s for looks, not to mention the shave is great.

 

[Advil]

I have the a 40's, 50's flare tip and a red tip and the regular flare tip is the best shaver of them all. Very smooth shave and easy to maneuver. The 40's is the most forgiving of bad technique and the red tip can get the job done in less time.

 

[scottish steve]

Interesting posts, with no hands-down winner on the actual shave. I don't think its wrong to base ones opinions on aesthetics- its really important I think, if we're going to spend quite so much time and money over daily grooming, to get a real sense of history and pleasure from our DEs. I second the comments on the 40's style feeling more part of history, but I'm sure if the styles had been produced in the other order we'd feel the same about the earlier model. I wonder how much the magic of provenance affects us?

 

[bonusmarple]

If I had to give a 1-10 (10 being the best) to different SS that I have it would be:

1. 40's NDC Un-notched (10)
2. 40's NDC Notched (10)
3. 50's FT (10)
4. 60's FT (5)
5. Red Tip (9)
6. '75 Black Handle (4)
7. Blue Tip (7)
8. British SS (10)
9. 50's (40's style) (10)

 

[scottish steve]

Comprehensive.
At least I can glean a basic rule-of-thumb from that- Go pre 60s.
Is it just the quality that goes after then or something about the actual geometry which changes?

 

[pablo_h]

If we are just talking superspeeds, I like the red tip and black handled better for shave performance, they're more aggresive than older ones.
Other TTOs introduce more varibles like the weight and different shape of the head, but for basic light superspeeds, that's what I prefer to shave with even though I like the look of the 40s models and other variations.

 

[strat1117]

I really enjoy shaving with my minty 1947 no notch SuperSpeed. Not because it's a really mild razor, but because of historical value. It was built the same year that Chuck Yeager flew a Bell X-1 faster than the speed of sound and a downed UFO is supposedly found in Roswell, New Mexico.


View attachment 58525

Don't forget -- the Yankees beat the Dodgers in the World Series that year and, I think, it was Jackie Robinson's first year in the majors.

FWIW.

 

[scottish steve]

1959 has always been a magical year for me, just simply because the best Les Paul ever was made then. Also, don't forget "Kind of Blue"