Antique Shop Purchase - Need Help Identifying Model/Year

[scoran]

I was on the prowl today for a vintage shaving mug but found this sweet piece instead. It was all tarnished and forlorn in the case but polished up very nicely. Not bad, huh?



I know it's a solid brass Gillette open-comb three-piece, but I'd like to know the model and date range. There are no serial numbers, just the Gillette mark and made in the U.S.A. on the back of the comb.

Looking here http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/War_production_sets it's similar those produced for the military in WWI, but looking here http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/US_Gillette_Dating_Information suggests that's not the case because there's no serial number.

Any thoughts? Thanks in advance!

 

[scoran]

Oh, and I'm definitely joining the Brotherhood of the Open Comb now...

 

[Morman Bridge]

Try googling Gillette date codes, there is some good information there. The Razor Archives site can give you tons of input. Good luck and also, Mice Score!!!

 

[Morman Bridge]

Sorry, I meant Nice Score!!!

 

[Dalejr]

20's Ball End Old Type.

 

[CGW409]

20's Ball End Old Type.

+1 to this.
Pretty much if there are no serial# or patent# you're looking at a late 20's Old Type.
Nice score BTW.

 

[scoran]

+1 to this.
Pretty much if there are no serial# or patent# you're looking at a late 20's Old Type.
Nice score BTW.

Appreciate the info. I was trying to figure out why folks said late 20's instead of earlier, and I noticed a small note on the dating info page: http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/US_Gillette_Dating_Information
"From Oct 18 1927 to Aug 27 1928, there were no serial numbers used."

So there's my answer - made somewhere between 10/18/27 - 8/27/28. I was hoping for WWI, but I'm very happy with the score nonetheless...

... and very cool that that note and this site were here to help!

 

[mr-razor]

Appreciate the info. I was trying to figure out why folks said late 20's instead of earlier, and I noticed a small note on the dating info page: http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/US_Gillette_Dating_Information
"From Oct 18 1927 to Aug 27 1928, there were no serial numbers used."

So there's my answer - made somewhere between 10/18/27 - 8/27/28. I was hoping for WWI, but I'm very happy with the score nonetheless...

... and very cool that that note and this site were here to help!

what you mean are the New Improved razors with the flat base plate. They are made from 1921-1929 and don´t have a serial number between 10/18/27 - 8/27/28. Your razor is a Old Type ball end handle razor. When the New Improved razor started at 1921 they stop the serial numbers for the Old Type razors. So Old Type razors without serial number are made from 1921-1929.

 

[MacDaddy]

what you mean are the New Improved razors with the flat base plate. They are made from 1921-1929 and don´t have a serial number between 10/18/27 - 8/27/28. Your razor is a Old Type ball end handle razor. When the New Improved razor started at 1921 they stop the serial numbers for the Old Type razors. So Old Type razors without serial number are made from 1921-1929.

Yes, this man speaks the truth. After the middle of 1921 the Old Types like this one were sold as lower priced alternatives to the new, more expensive New Improved models, and didn't get any serial numbers stamped on them. They also didn't have any patent dates inscribed on them because the patents that covered them originally expired in 1921, which is what prompted Gillette to develop the New Improved design in the first place.

 

[scoran]

... Your razor is a Old Type ball end handle razor. When the New Improved razor started at 1921 they stop the serial numbers for the Old Type razors. So Old Type razors without serial number are made from 1921-1929.

Thank you, Mr. Razor (and MacDaddy) for nailing this down. It would be great to see this edited on the Dating Info page, for clarity.

Mr. Razor, I am amazed at your collection! How pray tell did you manage to get such great condition examples?

 

[alex2363]

Thank you, Mr. Razor (and MacDaddy) for nailing this down. It would be great to see this edited on the Dating Info page, for clarity.

Mr. Razor, I am amazed at your collection! How pray tell did you manage to get such great condition examples?

Most military razors around WW1 would be marked with serial number on guard with the letters E, F, G, H, and J for the years 1918-1919... K would be for the year 1919-1920 . It may also have PROPERTY U.S ARMY on the guard. ( 3 1/2 million were sold to Government in 1918)

 

[Luke49783]

I've got one of these that I picked up a while back. What did you do to clean it up? Just the standard Scrubbing Bubbles and a tooth brush treatment?