Just picked this razor up in the wild because I can't remember seeing one similar and liked the way it looked but cannot seem to find any info online as to the name/year. Gillette one piece open comb but you cannot see the center bar when clamped shut and 2/3 of the handle spins to open it and no date code that I can see. Please help if you can.
Can you identify the Gillette razor - One piece Gillette Open Comb
- Thread starter SmokedStanley
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- #2
The head looks like a 1934-36 Aristocrat from what I see on Mr. Razor, but I cannot find another razor with the same handle. Hoping this might be something special, maybe??
Yours looks somewhat like a Sheraton. The end bars are attached to the silo door flanges differently. Yours have tiny pins. The Sheraton bar ends just bend 90° and insert into the door flanges.
The handles are very different. The upper part of your handle appears to be one piece, while the Sheraton is a classic Gillette threaded finding pressed onto a tube. The overall styling of yours reflects the common bar handles.
The Sheraton doors also hide the center bar.
I think you have something special. Perhaps a Sheraton/Senator prototype? What other Gillette has a twist handle similar to yours? None that I've seen.
mr-razor needs to see what you found.
I just looked at the 1937 Sheraton and the 1938 Senator on mr-razor. The 1937 has pinned bar/door joints like your razor. The 1938 has bent flange joints like my Sheraton.
Frankenstein
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- #6
Thank you for reaching out. I already sent Mr. Razor an email, hoping he may have some info. This is the first Gillette that I could not find on his site. I even tried google image search and could not find this handle.
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- #7
Looks original, but who know seeing how old it is. Maybe a Factory experiment. A prototype would be pretty sweet
The plier marks on the neck look suspicious.
If so, I think both the good doctor and Igor were at the top of their games that nght.
Or reflections/photo artifacts?
@SmokedStanley we need a neck photoshoot, stat! Multi-angle, pro lighting using the diffusing reflectors.
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- #11
Took a closer look and do not see any plier marks. This is from the original pic I posted and I verified what look like lines on the neck are just reflections of the teeth. Is this what you are referencing. Will also post some pics of all four sides of the neck
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- #12
Tried a different angle for these and got all four sides. The gold is not perfect and it could use some cleaning but I see no tool marks and also used a magnifying glass.
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Not saying it isn't possible. Some people are really talented, but wouldn't we see something inside. It looks very clean where the base plate and neck connect. The plating looks seamless (like the two parts have been mated since being plated and never moved), even under magnification.
Those are pro photos. 
The knurling looks very Gillette. I am still surprised that the upper handle and the neck appear to be one seamless piece of brass. Gillette remained faithful to pressed-in fittings and (often cracked) tubular handles for years. They finally made solid unitary handles for ball end Techs.
The knurling looks very Gillette. I am still surprised that the upper handle and the neck appear to be one seamless piece of brass. Gillette remained faithful to pressed-in fittings and (often cracked) tubular handles for years. They finally made solid unitary handles for ball end Techs.
What is it like shaving with a TTO where most of the handle is the knob that will open the razor?
For me, that is another reason to think this is possibly a prototype that never went to production.
For me, that is another reason to think this is possibly a prototype that never went to production.
What you and Igor do with your red tip in the privacy of your home is nobody's business.Igor and I had a good night with this Gillette open comb red tip
Diktator
I'm wondering whether Gillette would've bothered to file a patent on a prototype it didn't include as part of a full production line. I can see the sense in doing so, but I can also see how it might be considered a needless expense. Then again, lots of patents are filed for products that never go into production.
99.5% sure we are seeing a Fronkensteen here.
Very cool, looks like the same handle design as the 1932 Gillette TTO patent (400,621)
What type of screw is at the bottom of the handle and how deep?
Someone like Dyllern might know more, they've taken apart most early TTO models. Could be a Sheraton prototype, market tester?
What type of screw is at the bottom of the handle and how deep?
Someone like Dyllern might know more, they've taken apart most early TTO models. Could be a Sheraton prototype, market tester?
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