Could this be even better than I first thought?

[Legion]

The double ring I bought AGES ago (it seems like) arrived today. The pictures that I bought it from were not the clearest, so I had my fingers crossed about the condition. Well, the condition is fair, no cracks or bent teeth. More plating loss than I would have liked...

But the interesting thing... It has PAT. APL'D FOR on the handle and no serial number. From my research that would make it a 1903 model. That would be pretty cool, the first Gillette razor from the first year. What do you guys think?

 

[Wil Dorenbos]

Great find. I have taken a liking to these old-types

 

[RF1963]

the first Gillette razor from the first year. [/IMG]

If it is then that's a good result. Would you use it?

 

[Legion]

If it is then that's a good result. Would you use it?

Yeah, I'll give it a go. Just to say I have. I very much doubt it will find it's way into regular rotation, but I have to try it out.

 

[johnmrson]

Great pick up. The boxes are pretty rare as well.

 

[Oldguy]

The double ring I bought AGES ago (it seems like) arrived today. The pictures that I bought it from were not the clearest, so I had my fingers crossed about the condition. Well, the condition is fair, no cracks or bent teeth. More plating loss than I would have liked...

But the interesting thing... It has PAT. APL'D FOR on the handle and no serial number. From my research that would make it a 1903 model. That would be pretty cool, the first Gillette razor from the first year. What do you guys think?

You, Sir have just gotten the Holy Grail of Gillette razors. Since it came with the commercial case it left Gillette in 1904. Prior to January 1, 1904, only a very few samples were made. It could have been made in 1903 though. Fifty sets were shipped from the factory on January 1st. I notice the end of the handle that unscrews from the main handle has a slit machined into it. Mine has the exact same slit which was put in at the factory. I don't know why. Later Double rings don't have that.

Congrats on a great find.

Len

 

[mdunn]

Great score, mate.

 

[GentsInstinct]

Mismatched case. Since it's a 1903 model, it should be in a white cardboard box or in a metal tin, which is what the first ones were in according to the January 1919 issue of The Gillette Blade. See this thread: http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=163882

 

[Oldguy]

Mismatched case. Since it's a 1903 model, it should be in a white cardboard box or in a metal tin, which is what the first ones were in according to the January 1919 issue of The Gillette Blade. See this thread: http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=163882

It is very doubtful the razor was made in 1903. The problem with the Gillette Blade article is there is no way to know how many were shipped in boxes and how many in tins. Gillette shipped 55,000 un-numbered razors from January 1st, 1904 to the middle of 1904. It is this period from 1904 to 1906 where the actual start-stop dates of the Double and Single Ring razors are sketchy.

Len

 

[highball]

Nice score, what method are you thinking to clean it with?

 

[Legion]

Nice score, what method are you thinking to clean it with?

To be honest I will probably not clean it up too much. The plating is pretty worn so pollishing it up will probably do more harm than good. I was thinking of giving it a good bath in alcohol to sterilize it a bit before I try it out. Do you guys think that would be enough? It is not visibly grungy.

 

[highball]

I would try the baking soda/aluminum foil method to clean it up