Anyone know what this Open-Comb English gillette is?

[Cheapogit]

(I don't know much of vintage razors, so sorry if this is a (Newbie) silly question...) Recently acquired an odd Gillette with a Hollow handle, made in England (Franken-type?) (I know, it's in a bit of a state!):


Bit more detail of head:

Here's the empty handle:

 

[Henrik]

Hmm. The head looks like a 30`s NEW model type. The handle looks have been taken from 40´s NEW. Possibly a Frankenrazor. Looks sweet- post some pics after cleaning!

 

[BBrad]

Wow, Cheapo, that's not a silly newbie question at all . . . that is a somewhat uncommon British NEW from just before WWII.

Mr. Razor pictures it here. I'm sure the production of this particular razor was cut short by the war. It was also about that time that Gillette introduced the Tech razor with its solid bar replacing open-comb models. This is probably one of the last open-comb razors made by Gillette.

The hollow handle shifts the balance toward the head - some really like a head-heavy razor (I do) while others prefer the weight in the handle. Truly a case of YMMV.

How does it shave? Most guys find the NEW to be a really great performer. Enjoy!!

 

[Henrik]

Wow, Cheapo, that's not a silly newbie question at all . . . that is a somewhat uncommon British NEW from just before WWII.

Mr. Razor pictures it here. I'm sure the production of this particular razor was cut short by the war. It was also about that time that Gillette introduced the Tech razor with its solid bar replacing open-comb models. This is probably one of the last open-comb razors made by Gillette.

The hollow handle shifts the balance toward the head - some really like a head-heavy razor (I do) while others prefer the weight in the handle. Truly a case of YMMV.

How does it shave? Most guys find the NEW to be a really great performer. Enjoy!!

I humbly disagree. The handle fits to the describtion of that razor that you sugggested. BUT the heads are not the same if you look again on the pictures that Cheapogit posted. I still vouch for that the head is from a early 30´s NEW. I can stand corrected of course.

 

[blackman]

^^ Both the head and handle are different from what Brad suggests. The handle is very similar, but not the same. Cheapogit's handle has complete knurling while the one Brad posted has a small "clean" part of the handle near the top with no knurling. I'm not sure what model this razor is.

 

[blackman]

Your handle is from this razor http://www.mr-razor.com/Rasierer/The NEW/1946 (R2 on blade) NEW England.JPG

However I haven't been able to find the head yet. Most likely a franken. Love the handle.

 

[MacDaddy]

OK, so starting with what we can say for sure: it's a British Gillette long-comb NEW. Beyond that things are going to get a little messy. The handle is the same as this one of Achim's, but I can't say as I've ever seen a thin guard plate on a British NEW that was slotted completely through the center hole like that. The thicker guard plates were slotted end to end like the American heads, but all the thin guard plates I've seen have looked more like this one with slots on either side of the center hole that don't cross all the way through.

As you can see from that first link with the cap studs instead of slots, the British plant was definitely doing some experimentation of their own in this area. It's possible that what you've got here was an early design that they tried that allowed them to use the same caps as they were already using on the thicker guard plate NEWs, but that's just conjecture on my part.

 

[Cheapogit]

Couple more photos if it helps, oh and BTW, it has already been cleaned (toothbrush and soap (and a touch of CIF mousse cleaner), but it has some major plating loss, and I didn't want to make it any worse, so didn't scrub too much (particularly on the 'rusty' bits):

Side view complete:

Bit more detail with take apart for scale, and top part of the slot section of head:

 

[alex2363]

OK, so starting with what we can say for sure: it's a British Gillette long-comb NEW. Beyond that things are going to get a little messy. The handle is the same as this one of Achim's, but I can't say as I've ever seen a thin guard plate on a British NEW that was slotted completely through the center hole like that. The thicker guard plates were slotted end to end like the American heads, but all the thin guard plates I've seen have looked more like this one with slots on either side of the center hole that don't cross all the way through.

As you can see from that first link with the cap studs instead of slots, the British plant was definitely doing some experimentation of their own in this area. It's possible that what you've got here was an early design that they tried that allowed them to use the same caps as they were already using on the thicker guard plate NEWs, but that's just conjecture on my part.

I know, i never seen one like this either..here is the heads View attachment 263440

 

[alex2363]

maybe it was a defect, these here have the grove but not cut all the through

 

[BBrad]

Wow . . . I know I should finish at least two cups of coffee before I start looking at razor pictures first thing in the morning!!

I think Porter's hypothesis is likely, and may have been caused by the "winds of war" blowing and the need to use up as many parts already manufactured as they could to conserve resources.

In any case, a really neat find . . . different, and with a story all its own!

 

[MacDaddy]

maybe it was a defect, these here have the grove but not cut all the through


View attachment 263441

No, if it were something like that the profile of the guard plate would still show the center ridge on the ends where the slot doesn't go through. Cheapogit's guard plate is completely flat across the center. The only difference between it and a "normal" thin British NEW guard plate is the bits I've highlighted below are knocked out. And the cap he's got with it needs that feature to work with its full-width blade positioning bar.

 

[Winblows]

Recently, I've got a 7'oclock with the same handle.

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[xillion]

I've seen quiet a few British New heads but never that one. Interesting find Cheapo.

Here are just a few more Brit heads for reference.

And a larger version of the Gillette Open Combs image.

 

[bakerbarber]

Cool Beans.

Never seen one like that either.


But the real question.......


How's it shave?

 

[Cheapogit]

But the real question.......

How's it shave?

Well, got some others in use at the mo (I like to keep a rotation of 2 or 3 at a time), and I've never tried a Open Comb yet!

Also, I wanted to get it really nicely cleaned before trying it... And I was wondering if anyone has any ideas to clean inside the handle, it's really badly encrussted (Hollow handle real pain, but at least it's open at both ends for access).

Would a simple long soak in soapy water do?

 

[xillion]

Hot soapy water and a q-tip should work. That is how I cleaned my hollow handle.

 

[Rwoodreno]

Recently, I've got a 7'oclock with the same handle.

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I have the twin pin in very good condition and am hoping to grab the Raised flat bottom version, both chromed finish. IMO a major advantage of both, as well as some other British made ones, is that modern large top diameter handles fit them well without any modification. The handle on the one I have is .360" diameter and just under 3" long and hollow so the razor is very light. It weighs in at only 1.6 ounces. My American long comb fat handle New is 1.85 ounces and my 1921 or so "New Standard" is 2.65 ounces.

For cleaning hollow handles, if there is stubborn dirt in them use a pistol cleaning kit with small diameter cleaning rod with a snug fitting brass barrel brush.

 

[TobyC]

Come on fellas, it's a "long slot" New, rare, but not unheard of.

 

[TobyC]

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/359924-What-is-your-favorite-Gillette-NEW/page35