Black tip Gillette superspeed info please!!

[baba]

Being brand new to DE shaving, and loving it and having NO DE razors!! ...I developed a serious case of RAD (helped along by Badger and Blade) and recently bought a few razors. Some Gems, a Schick injector, some flairtip SS, some 40's style SS, a tech and a Black-tip superspeed.

There isn't one in the bunch that I don't like. The 40's superspeeds are amazing the Gems are great, but I am getting incredible, super smooth, one pass, don't-even-feel-the-blade-cutting-type shaves, with the Black-tip. It's insane.

Anyone else have a similar experience with the black-tip?

Why was this razor made? In other words, what type of shaver was the target? If anyone has any info or experiences with the black-tip please let me know. I really want to get more information about this razor...I haven't found any detailed info out there.

Thanks!!

Baba

 

[blackfoot]

These are some good questions. I notice there is nothing in the Wiki about it, either. After our members fill us with the incredible collective knowledge that is held here, I will be sure to use it to update the Wiki.

 

[rainman]

Never tried one. I always thought the light weight plastic tto knob would mess up the balance.

 

[baba]

These are some good questions. I notice there is nothing in the Wiki about it, either. After our members fill us with the incredible collective knowledge that is held here, I will be sure to use it to update the Wiki.

Thanks Blake!

I hope somewhere, somebody knows something and posts it someplace. Hopefully right here.

 

[bythbook]

well... there were two different handles - a steel handle (I believe I read on B&B that this was the only steel razor Gillette made) and an aluminum handle.

later razors (only made for two years...?) had a washer between the plastic tip and the handle.



I like them very much, too - good shavers!

 

[Maul555]

mods please delete this post

 

[Maul555]

I too would like to know. I almost purchased a black tip instead of the red tip I have on the way, and I still want one...

Never tried one. I always thought the light weight plastic tto knob would mess up the balance.

is the tip plastic on all the black tips, or all the colored tips? This is one question I have regarding pretty much all super speeds. i was kind of leery about getting a colored tipped or colored handled anything because I wanted something I could use and clean for a long time without having to worry about colors wearing off. Is the black tip plastic or metal, and for that matter, do any of the colored tipped super speeds have plastic tips in any of their variations?

I prefer metal to plastic, even though the color will not wear off the plastic... I have issues with plastic lasting over 100 years.

 

[bythbook]

the black tip is plastic; the Red Tip and Blue Tip are painted.

If you find a Tan Tip...!



.

 

[mblakele]

I added a placeholder section at http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/index.php/Gillette_Super_Speed with some info cribbed from Achim's site. There isn't much information, so please add to it if you are in possession of the facts.

 

[bythbook]

also, if you haven't already, see this thread: black tip superspeed

 

[Oldguy]

The black tip Super Speed from 1951 and 1952 were just a cost reduced version of the late 40's, early 50's Super Speed. It was made with both steel and aluminum handles and plastic TTO ends. The Red tip and blue tip SS's were not plastic but painted metal tips. I don't care for the aluminum handle version because the 2 or 3 I have have pitting on the neck of the handle. They are all good shavers though.

Len

 

[garyg]

Yep, my birth year is in the Black Tip era. I have read previously the information about the plastic black tip being a cost saving move, but why did Gillette go back to a steel tip in 1953 - to usher out the 40's SS?

 

[Maul555]

the black tip is plastic; the Red Tip and Blue Tip are painted.

If you find a Tan Tip...!



.

Emphasis on the "!" please... i have never heard of a tan tip, which I assume is the reason for the "!"...

 

[baba]

What did the "black tip" mean? Aside from cost reduction? Did this replace other superspeeds or did was it made concurrently with other models?

If it was made at the same time there must have been some market share Gillette wanted to reach.

If we could find an old advertisement maybe it would help clear things up.

 

[baba]

What did the "black tip" mean?

 

[mr-razor]

What did the "black tip" mean?

this is the black tip:

 

[T Rick]

Never tried one. I always thought the light weight plastic tto knob would mess up the balance.

I don't know how the balance would be with a black plastic tip on a steel handled version (don't have one of those, but steel and brass are similar in weight, so it should be close to the standard 40's SS, with the exception of the tip, I'd like to try one). But the aluminum handled version I have, I find the balance is quite different thatn the standard 40's SS. Still quite a good shaver, but definitely a different feel in the hand. Between the two, I'll take the standard version.

I too would like to know. I almost purchased a black tip instead of the red tip I have on the way, and I still want one...



is the tip plastic on all the black tips, or all the colored tips? This is one question I have regarding pretty much all super speeds. i was kind of leery about getting a colored tipped or colored handled anything because I wanted something I could use and clean for a long time without having to worry about colors wearing off. Is the black tip plastic or metal, and for that matter, do any of the colored tipped super speeds have plastic tips in any of their variations?

I prefer metal to plastic, even though the color will not wear off the plastic... I have issues with plastic lasting over 100 years.

Len handled most of your question, I'll simply add that AsylumGuido has stated in a post that he's heard of a black printed metal tip. He says he has not seen one however, so who knows? Certainly the vast majority, if not all, of the black ones are plastic. And the Red and Blue tips are definitely metal.

The black tip Super Speed from 1951 and 1952 were just a cost reduced version of the late 40's, early 50's Super Speed. It was made with both steel and aluminum handles and plastic TTO ends. The Red tip and blue tip SS's were not plastic but painted metal tips. I don't care for the aluminum handle version because the 2 or 3 I have have pitting on the neck of the handle. They are all good shavers though.

Len

My aluminum handled version looks great, no pitting or corrosion. It's a very attractive piece.

If you find a Tan Tip...!

Tan tip? May I presume you are kidding? I've only been here for about 7 months, but I've collected and read and learned a lot. I have never yet even heard mention of such a beast. I am guessing that was meant as a joke....

 

[texbilly]

The "tan tip" is a harmless joke, referring to a reference by Phillip Krumholz in his Gillette Collector's Handbook. I'm not quoting, but he discussed the possibility of a Tan Tip Super Speed that presumably fell between the mild Blue Tip and the aggressive Red Tip in terms of blade exposure, targeted toward "Regular" beards. Of course, there is no evidence it ever existed and most all collectors consider the un-painted, nickel plated flare tip to be the regular beard shaver.

 

[bythbook]

Anyway - 18 months or so ago (it seems longer) someone was parading a black-tip whose tip had been bleached or had faded - it looked beige/tan. There was lots of (digital) laughter about that.


Newbies quested...!








Snipe (hunt).



.

 

[texbilly]

I missed that one, Jon. Newbies take cover!