Curious about Gillette DE dating & head design

[blue_titan]

I have a Super SlimTwist (see pic below) with a date code of P3 which I assume for the American produced Gillettes translates to a production date of the third quarter of 1970. However, this razor was manufactured in England. Does the same date codes apply to their non-American produced razors? Also, would all Gillette razors of the same time period have the exact same head design regardless of where they were produced? For example, would a 1970 American Superspeed have the exact head design as my 1970 English Super SlimTwist, with the only variation being the handle?

This is not my photo, but my razor is identical to this one...

 

[Oldguy]

The Knack has a wider TTO ring then the Super Slim Twist, which this is. But I believe the date code indicates a 1995 model when the Slim Twist was still being made. It appears the UK date codes are the same but I don't know when the dating began. Take a look at the models and dates on Mr Razors site for more info.

Len

 

[Monkeydad]

1995?!?!? They still made them in the 90s?

 

[Oldguy]

1995?!?!? They still made them in the 90s?

Achim is pretty diligent about being accurate in his info. This is from his razor page.

View attachment 103400

Krumholz also mentions in his book in 1992 you could still purchase the "Double Edge" razor made in England which resembles the Knack.

Len

 

[blue_titan]

Achim is pretty diligent about being accurate in his info. This is from his razor page.

View attachment 103400

Krumholz also mentions in his book in 1992 you could still purchase the "Double Edge" razor made in England which resembles the Knack.

Len

Great, thanks for the info. I didn't realize it was still being manufactured that late. The one I have came with a case and I suspect that it was originally purchased before the 1990's.

Any thoughts about the head design? That is, would it have been the same used for every Gillette for a given time period? I suppose the SS which had different colored flare tips representing changing aggressiveness would be an example where the head designs would have to be different to achieve that, correct?

 

[Oldguy]

If I compare my 1989 Slim Twist to a 1968 Knack and a 1972 black handle Super Speed, the head designs are very similar. The biggest difference that I see is in the shape of the base of the blade guard. There is less material and the weight of the Slim Twist is lighter then the other two. Here is a photo of the inside of the three. The Slim is on the left and the Knack in the center. I have a feeling your Slim is more like my Knack.

View attachment 103429

Len

 

[blue_titan]

If I compare my 1989 Slim Twist to a 1968 Knack and a 1972 black handle Super Speed, the head designs are very similar. The biggest difference that I see is in the shape of the base of the blade guard. There is less material and the weight of the Slim Twist is lighter then the other two. Here is a photo of the inside of the three. The Slim is on the left and the Knack in the center. I have a feeling your Slim is more like my Knack.

View attachment 103429

Len

Interesting, I didn't consider looking inside the head. From memory, I think that the inside of mine is like the razor on the left, with a rectangular shaped well in its base, but the handle is exactly like the razor in the middle with the grooves going around the handle (instead of vertically from head to the end of the handle), and the same metal cap at the tip of the handle. So it would appear that mine is more of a combination of the two, head similar to the one on the left, handle like the one in the middle.

 

[Oldguy]

My Slim Twist is identical to the 1989 G2000 on Mr Razor's site. Your razor is more like my Knack with a slightly narrower TTO band.

Len

 

[MrGuy]

As far as the U.S. market was concerned, the square design inside the head came in 1978. The pic below shows, from left to right, Y-1, Y-2, and Y-4 black handle Super Speeds.

I have made several attempts to ask the collective for any Y-3 SS info, and no results as of yet. Perhaps the machinery was being changed during Y-3 and no razors were produced?

***NOTE*** Photobucket seems to be having some troubles tonight. Hopefully the pic will load at some point Until then you'll just have to take my word for it. Y-4, square shape, Y-2 and 1... non-square shape.

 

[milesandcoltrane]

Oh my gawd! This was the first DE razor I used when I started down the DE route a number of years ago. It was my grandpa's, and I thought it was from the 70's. Daymn this is pretty recent.

Great shave, quite mild actually. Mild enough for me to use without soap or lather. Was shaving with nothing but this razor, a blade and wee bit of water (sometimes cold even!) for a few years!

This is a really informative post. Over the years with the sheer massive number of models in the wild, its hard for DE enthusiasts to identify the ones they might have stumbled across at the vintage store or in the dusty dark corners of their homes.