Any difference between Red Tips?

[tlgreg]

I have two Gillette Red Tips; a B1 and a C2 with the ++ stamp. I'd like to know if there is supposed to be a difference in the aggressiveness of the shave between these two fantastic razors. Other than the ++ stamp on the C2 they look identical and seem to shave the same so I'm not sure why the C2 has the ++ stamp.

Thanks!

 

[Bobcat]

About the same time they started using the "++", they changed the weight slightly. The "++" was to indicate that it is more aggressive than the regular Flare tip and the Blue Tip. They added "--" to the Blue Tips and left the regular Flare's with no additional mark. One of our learned historians will have to give you the details or you can check Wiki or do a search. I have one of each.

 

[KQY61]

Hi,

The Red Tip I have is marked with two '+' stamps. The Blue Tip I have is marked with two 'O' stamps, not '-' marks.

It has been figured that these marks are production line marks to prevent mixing up the heavy, standard and light heads. The handles are easy to differentiate, but the heads are too similar to each other.

Stan

Stan

 

[tlgreg]

Thanks both for weighing in. So are you saying that the ++ on one of my Red Tips is only meant to distinguish that head from the heads used for Blue Tips and Flare Tips? Is the Red Tip with the ++ heavier and more agressive than the Red Tip without?

 

[Sceptic Pencil]

Do the 3 different heads actually fit on the 3 different handles? If this is the case, could the head on a Red Tip without any markings actually be a Flare Tip head attached by mistake ? My Red Tip, which from memory is a '56 (or possibly '58) has no markings.

 

[nemo]

Is the Red Tip with the ++ heavier and more agressive than the Red Tip without?

No -- the later models were stamped with the pluses and the early ones weren't stamped, change occurred mid-year 1957. It's as simple as that.

 

[tlgreg]

Very well put. Thanks for clearing that up.

 

[Bobcat]

Here is the weight info:

• With C-1 production, a new '+' mark under each side of the base plate began to appear.
• There were at least two handle styles, pictured on this page. With C-4 or D-1 Gillette lowered the crimped band above the knob slightly. Probably at the same time, a retaining ring replaced the older cross-head bolt inside the handle, the handle hole grew from 6-mm to 7-mm, and the weight was reduced from 66-g to 64-g.

 

[larzone]

Here is the weight info:

• With C-1 production, a new '+' mark under each side of the base plate began to appear.
• There were at least two handle styles, pictured on this page. With C-4 or D-1 Gillette lowered the crimped band above the knob slightly. Probably at the same time, a retaining ring replaced the older cross-head bolt inside the handle, the handle hole grew from 6-mm to 7-mm, and the weight was reduced from 66-g to 64-g.

Great info! Thank you, Bobcat.