Clone Ball-end or Gillette?

[IrkMe]

When I was clearing out my Grandfathers house after he died I found his old shaving gear including his Roll's shaving mirror & #15 Aristocrat, both of which are in daily use now & what got me into DE shaving.

At the bottom of a old box I found a blackened 3 piece ball-end which after a quick clean up looks like its never been used. Does any one know if the ball-end is a generic shaver style or Gillette only? It doesn't seem to have the bullet shaped pins & for some reason the head just doesn't feel "Gillette" if that makes any sense.

Many thanks

 

[mblakele]

I would also guess that it's a clone. It doesn't say "Gillette" anywhere on it?

It might still be a good razor, though. Let us know how it shaves.

 

[lagaffe]

I've just received one like that from an eBay seller. Mine came in a little silver tin, just like the old Gillettes. There's something on the silk/velvet lining on the lid, but the material is torn and bunched up and the writing's worn off. Maybe under a better light at home tonight I'll be able to read what it says (and take some pics)!

 

[cooncatbob]

If it doesn't say Gillette then it's a clone, there were numerous companies that copied Gillette's design.
Gillette kept a team of lawyers at hand to sue for patent infringement and if they couldn't sue them they'd often buy them out.

 

[Pumpkin]

Looks like a "clone". All my "Made in England" Gillettes are stamped with the Gillette logo.

Still looks like a very nice razor though!

 

[lagaffe]

Here's my 'clone':

Not convinced about the shave - the blade lies completely flat against the top of the teeth with no gap, so you have to nail the razor angle with 100% precision to shave anything. A hair's breadth off the magic angle and it cuts nothing. Tonight's shave with it was extremely hard work and left me with many rough spots despite 4 passes & multiple touch-ups.

Ach well - it was only £3.99 plus postage (though she did state that it was Gillette )

 

[valmara1971]

That's why we like to dabble on the bay Get her back out there and this time list clone!

 

[lagaffe]

That's why we like to dabble on the bay Get her back out there and this time list clone!

I did take a complete chance as the photo was very vague and only showed the razor from the front. You couldn't even tell if it was a ball-end from the pic! I thought it was worth a bid as no-one else had gone for it.

It does shine nicely though, as does the box!

 

[valmara1971]

Agreed and shiny is always good!

 

[michiganlover]

Not convinced about the shave - the blade lies completely flat against the top of the teeth with no gap, so you have to nail the razor angle with 100% precision to shave anything.

Modern day blades are much thinner than vintage blades that were in use when the Old Type debuted. You might be able to improve the quality of the shave by taking a DE blade (carefully) cutting the edges off of it, and using it as a shim between the base plate, and the actual blade. This will create at least some gap. Assuming the razor still fully locks down, you could probably employ multiple shims.

 

[Pumpkin]

It does shine nicely though, as does the box!

We like shiny things!

 

[valmara1971]

Modern day blades are much thinner than vintage blades that were in use when the Old Type debuted. You might be able to improve the quality of the shave by taking a DE blade (carefully) cutting the edges off of it, and using it as a shim between the base plate, and the actual blade. This will create at least some gap. Assuming the razor still fully locks down, you could probably employ multiple shims.

John that's a great idea but would 1 central and perhaps 1 washer on the posts not achieve the same thing with much less risk?
Also guys I have a stash of vintage blades you may want to try? Some have rust staining but a little rust never hurt anyone did it? I have a clone on the way too so I will be interested in how it performs after reading this thread.

 

[michiganlover]

John that's a great idea but would 1 central and perhaps 1 washer on the posts not achieve the same thing with much less risk?
Also guys I have a stash of vintage blades you may want to try? Some have rust staining but a little rust never hurt anyone did it? I have a clone on the way too so I will be interested in how it performs after reading this thread.

That would surely work as well, and is a great suggestion.

Washers are available in a multitude of thicknesses, so you could customize your results for the perfect level of aggression.

 

[lagaffe]

Thanks for the shim & washer tips, guys. The razor came with about 15 unused & still unwrapped Gillette Blue blades (the date code would indicate that these are from 1963), so I'll give one of them a go first.

If that's not enough, then I'll try shimming or a washer.

Cheers!

 

[valmara1971]

This might be of interest to you guys. I never used my clone BTW it was NOS and I have swapped it with a fine gentleman here on B&B.

http://www.wardoniarazors.co.uk/

cheers.