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Thank you, Troy. I'm going to keep at it. "Old" stuff appeals to me very much.
Hugh
Hugh
Jim - pardon my ignorance. How did you manage to edit your posting?
ACK! Now I see that there's an editing button - I swear it wasn't there a minute ago! Is this forum haunted?
Sorry to have bothered you.
Hugh
Thank you Hugh. It was replated by the magical Chris at RazorPlate.That's a beauty, Cal. Is that considered Frankensteinish to use parts from different types/eras?
DE Friends,
I learned to shave with a Gillette Super Speed in the '60's. In the late 70's I was seduced away into the Wilderness by electrics. Now, after howling for a few decades I've decided to reenter the human race and shave like a man....well, at least with a DE razor. I acquired a pre-1950 Super Speed. All was right with the world. My technique came back to me quickly. I spotted a Tech on ebay that seemed good so grabbed that. It too was fine. Being an "old fashioned kinda guy who wears Hamilton wristwatches from the 30's and 40's and carries ancient pocketknives I thought a Gillette Old Type and a Gillette New ought to be acquired. The Old came first. This morning I gave it a try. When I was regularly shaving with a DE I'd nick myself maybe once every other month. Since I started with the DE again a few weeks ago I had one nick. This morning I had three nicks and a gash. Well, maybe not a gash but I look like I've been in a minor knife fight.
I thought I was being reasonably careful - is there something wicked about a Old Type that I don't know about? Do you guys use them regularly or only just before Halloween? Are the New Type significantly better/easier?
Any thoughts or advice would be welcomed.
Hugh
I'm using Wilkinson Sword. Will give it a try tomorrow and be a bit more careful. Can anyone describe how a New would be "different" or "better"? I don't have a New but perhaps should hunt one down. Many thanks to all.
Thanks, guys. I appreciate your insights. If millions of guys have used the Old I figure I ought to be able to master it, too. Will also keep an eye out for a New - incidentally, seems that few mention the New Improved; was it not successful? Thanks again.
OK gents, I've read through (yeah, I skimmed a bit) the Great Old vs. New Grudge Match. I see that the OLD won! I wonder what Gillette would have thought of that result?! Anyhow, it tells me that my problem may be the skill of the magician...my problem. Thank you all for your inputs and for participation in the Great Old vs. New Grudge Match. I'll look on my Old with new respect and keep on keeping on.
OLDs are one of my favorites, but can be a bit tricky at first. They have more blade exposure than most other Gillettes, so they can bite. The extra exposure gives a very wide range of effective angles, some say use a shallow angle, some say steep. For me I find it works best to not think about what angle I'm using, and just let it find itself. It's more important to pay attention to pressure than angle, use just enough to keep it steady. It can be a little tricky with such a light razor, at first, but isn't that hard to master. I would suggest practicing with a well used blade at first until you get the hang of it. Also make sure you have a good slick lather, sometimes a lather that works well enough for a Tech or Super Speed may not be quite enough for a more aggressive razor. Don't give up on it, even if you shelf it for a while for the NEW. It can be very rewarding to master that seemed too aggressive at first. Once you have it down, you'll realize just how much of a ***** cat they can be.
Welcome to the madhouse Hugh!
I thought this would be a good opportunity to show off my 1920s Old Type head on its 1946 Tech handle:
View attachment 787138
One fabulous razor!
I'm surprised that @TobyC, our Old Type aficionado, hasn't weighed in yet. Where are you Toby?
The Fat Tech handle on an OLD head is one of the best combos ever. It would be ever so slightly better with a thin cap though. The tech handle shifts the balance point toward the, and gives it a little better over all feel.