I was attracted to this New Improved that was offered on Evil Bay, and won the bid. I was curious about the fact that it was marked CASE MADE IN U.S.A., while having the standard
U.S. patent date and Made In U.S.A. on the underside of the comb/guard.
The razor arrived, and I found that it possesses the serial number: 2194S
According to page 184 of the Krumholz book, "New Improved razor sets are known to have been produced by the Gillette factory in sterling silver. and are numbered with an "S" after the serial number".
I took my new acquisition to a jeweler friend, and he tested it. It turned out that only the handle tube is silver, the locking nut and razor head are standard plate.
Most curious..... Did it leave the factory this way, or was it replaced for some reason? And if so, such a fine razor would surely have been returned to the factory for repair, which was done in those days (or possibly this was the repair). And why the export case, as it does not have the usual "G" inside of a "D" export marking?
Either way, I am most happy, as it is the first "S" number razor I have encountered, and a very unusual addition to my collection.
Kevin
U.S. patent date and Made In U.S.A. on the underside of the comb/guard.
The razor arrived, and I found that it possesses the serial number: 2194S
According to page 184 of the Krumholz book, "New Improved razor sets are known to have been produced by the Gillette factory in sterling silver. and are numbered with an "S" after the serial number".
I took my new acquisition to a jeweler friend, and he tested it. It turned out that only the handle tube is silver, the locking nut and razor head are standard plate.
Most curious..... Did it leave the factory this way, or was it replaced for some reason? And if so, such a fine razor would surely have been returned to the factory for repair, which was done in those days (or possibly this was the repair). And why the export case, as it does not have the usual "G" inside of a "D" export marking?
Either way, I am most happy, as it is the first "S" number razor I have encountered, and a very unusual addition to my collection.
Kevin