Does red case style indicate year of '49-'50 Super Speeds?

[Manos]

The 1948, 1949, and 1950 Gillette Super Speed razors have no date codes, making them difficult to differentiate. The 1948 model did not come in a red plastic case, but the 1949 and 1950 models did. While the razors have no differences, I noticed a variation in detail between some cases of this type.

Some of the red plastic cases have a notch down the left and right side of the plastic, through both the clear and red pieces, perhaps to accommodate sliding into a display at the store. The razor's head is angled forward. This seems to be the more common case design.

Some cases have no notch, and the razor's head lays flat. I don't see this design as often.

Is this an indicator of year of manufacture, location, or something else? Any ideas?

 

[sandmountainslim]

I had never saw this pointed out before.
I just checked my SS case and it is the second type without the notches.
Wp

 

[tom myers]

You are very observant. I hadn't noticed this. I think you need input from AsylumGuido and/or Achim (mr-razor). On the mr-razor site, he shows a razor in a case with the notches which he simply identifies as "1949-1953 Superspeed in red styrene case".

regards,
Tom

 

[mr-razor]

Very interesting! I hadn't noticed this. Are there any difference on the backside of the bottom?

 

[luvmysuper]

Very interesting! I hadn't noticed this. Are there any difference on the backside of the bottom?

I have one of each type, and aside from the shape of the outside, and inner compartments being different, all of the printing on the back is identical in every way.

 

[Oldguy]

I noticed this some time ago but could not see any differences with the razors they came with. I have 3 with the tilt up piece and 2 that lay flat and do not have the tab that sticks up in the blade holder area.

Len

 

[Manos]

I no longer have a notched case, Achim, but I don't recall any differences on the bottom writing, such as patent numbers. I appreciate Phil's side-by-side comparison.

One more detail... while the razors themselves are not coded, it seems the cases are. Look inside the blade compartment of your case. There is a letter and a number pressed into the red plastic, oriented upside down in my case. Mine is C-5, and I have a case without notches. Perhaps we can post our numbers in this thread, and spot a trend between notched and un-notched cases.

 

[sandmountainslim]

One more detail... while the razors themselves are not coded, it seems the cases are. Look inside the blade compartment of your case. There is a letter and a number pressed into the red plastic, oriented upside down in my case. Mine is C-5, and I have a case without notches. Perhaps we can post our numbers in this thread, and spot a trend between notched and un-notched cases.

Just checked mine. Inside the blade compartment is written C-2
Wp

 

[mr-razor]

I have B5 in my notched case. But maybe that´s a number from the molding tool and not a date code. I´ve check a second notched case: B3

 

[luvmysuper]

My Notched has a B3 and my No-notch has a C2, I have noticed this numbering on other cases as well, and wondered before if it was just a tooling mark or some type of date coding.

 

[DonOhio]

There's an empty case just like that sitting in a shop near me...have not picked it up b/c I had no idea which SS it's supposed to go with.

 

[luvmysuper]

There's an empty case just like that sitting in a shop near me...have not picked it up b/c I had no idea which SS it's supposed to go with.

Now you know.

Public Service Announcement made possible by B&B.

Go snag that up my friend, and do so on every single case you ever find. These cases didn't hold up well over time, so there are a LOT more razors than there are cases, and a case with a set can make the difference in a sale.

 

[T Rick]

There's an empty case just like that sitting in a shop near me...have not picked it up b/c I had no idea which SS it's supposed to go with.

Now you know.

Public Service Announcement made possible by B&B.

Go snag that up my friend, and do so on every single case you ever find. These cases didn't hold up well over time, so there are a LOT more razors than there are cases, and a case with a set can make the difference in a sale.

Yep, perfect match for that non-dated SuperSpeed you just picked up.

 

[Oldguy]

I have B5 in my notched case. But maybe that´s a number from the molding tool and not a date code. I´ve check a second notched case: B3

I think it's a mold number as well.

My flat cases have B2 and C3
My notched cases have C3, C3, C4

Len

 

[BroJohn]

Just checked mine. The marking inside the blade compartment is A-4. The case is the non-notched variant.

I suspect that it's a mold cavity identifier and probably has no known relation to production date.

-- John Gehman

 

[Manos]

The mold identifier seems the best explanation, as there seems to be no correlation to notching.

Our data so far:

A-4: No notch
B-2: No notch
B-3: Notch
B-5: Notch
C-2: No notch
C-3: One notch, one no notch
C-4: No notch
C-5: No notch

Len, I hadn't noticed the tab that sticks up in the blade holder area on the notched variant. I was too focused on the notches/grooves. Thanks for pointing that out.

Maybe vendors had an option to choose one style or the other, based on the display case they used. I can't think of any other reason for the notches. If anyone can shed further light on this feature, please share your comments.

 

[DonOhio]

I just got a B4 today. Some wise guy carved out the lower handle support to cram a Fatboy in it.

 

[DonOhio]

Oh yeah - B4, notched.

 

[DonOhio]

BTW - how intact would you want a case to be? The one still at the shop has one corner broken. Would that matter to you if it had a decent SS laying inside it?

 

[garyg]

Michigan reporting, notched case B-5 has to be the mold #