Fatboy question

[missingskin]

I am fairly sure of the answer, but were all Fatboy razors made in the USA ? I know they were sold in different countries as there is a German one on Achims site and I have one that has "Made in Argentina" on the case and instructions in Spanish. But the razor was made in the USA.
Cheers for the help guys.
Steve

 

[MacDaddy]

As far as I know, yes, all the adjustables were made in the US but sold worldwide.

 

[missingskin]

As far as I know, yes, all the adjustables were made in the US but sold worldwide.

Cheers Porter, I was pretty sure but just need it confirming.

Steve

 

[Haiku]

I don't pretend to be an expert, but if any fatboys were made anywhere but the US, I've not heard of of it. I've seen some picures of Soviet era knockoffs of slims, but that's the closest I've seen.

 

[noelekal]

I've had this question in my mind. I've remembered since I was a kid that that the Fatboy in the household was labeled as being made in England. I remember at the time being surprised that Gillette was an "English" company. I used that same Fatboy from the late 1960s untill I gleefully tossed it to the back of the bathroom drawer for the last time upon adopting the Trac II, probably around 1980. The razor later supposedly went to one of my son's elementary school classes for "show and tell" never to return. I'm nearly positive I reflected on this "Made in England" marking from time to time during my use of the razor. This at a time when I didn't care about Gillette razors, their shave worthiness, or their collectibility.

I've been meaning to ask this same question here for some time. Thanks for prompting, Missingskin!

 

[alex2363]

I've had this question in my mind. I've remembered since I was a kid that that the Fatboy in the household was labeled as being made in England. I remember at the time being surprised that Gillette was an "English" company. I used that same Fatboy from the late 1960s untill I gleefully tossed it to the back of the bathroom drawer for the last time upon adopting the Trac II, probably around 1980. The razor later supposedly went to one of my son's elementary school classes for "show and tell" never to return. I'm nearly positive I reflected on this "Made in England" marking from time to time during my use of the razor. This at a time when I didn't care about Gillette razors, their shave worthiness, or their collectibility.

I've been meaning to ask this same question here for some time. Thanks for prompting, Missingskin!

They are no England made Fatboys. They were test marketed in 1956, regionally introduced in 1958, and finally introduced nationally in 1959. The Christamas season of 1960 saw the Toggle come out. Finally the Super Adjustable came out in Christmas season of 1969. ALL USA MADE.

 

[alex2363]

I don't pretend to be an expert, but if any fatboys were made anywhere but the US, I've not heard of of it. I've seen some picures of Soviet era knockoffs of slims, but that's the closest I've seen.

and where did you here of the Fatboys being made anywhere else?

 

[Haiku]

and where did you here of the Fatboys being made anywhere else?

I haven't. All the fatboys I've seen, including the four I own, are American.

I've seen are pictures of Soviet era slim knockoffs, but no fatboy knockoffs.

By the way, I thought that they were introduced nationally in the US in the last quarter of 1958.

 

[MacDaddy]

They are no England made Fatboys. They were test marketed in 1956, regionally introduced in 1958, and finally introduced nationally in 1959. The Christamas season of 1960 saw the Toggle come out. Finally the Super Adjustable came out in Christmas season of 1969. ALL USA MADE.

By the way, I thought that they were introduced nationally in the US in the last quarter of 1958.

That's my understanding as well -- the run up to the Christmas season of '58 was their first big push. And of course you've got the Executive that seems to have gone out nationally in the third quarter. Also, the Toggle was definitely around before 1960, and may very well be the initial design for the adjustable concept, with the Red Dot bridging the gap between the Toggle and the standard Fatboy.

 

[alex2363]

That's my understanding as well -- the run up to the Christmas season of '58 was their first big push. And of course you've got the Executive that seems to have gone out nationally in the third quarter. Also, the Toggle was definitely around before 1960, and may very well be the initial design for the adjustable concept, with the Red Dot bridging the gap between the Toggle and the standard Fatboy.

Maybe some some regional razors made it into the national scene. I know there were alot of Toggles before 1960, but as a national push Krumholtz has it at 1960, and (1958 regional push Fatboys) and 1959 as the National push for the Fatboys.

 

[noelekal]

Are there any cool reference works on the classic Gillette models and their variations? This Forum offers the best reference on the 'net. Anytime one does a razor search then something from Badger & Blade will be at the top of the list.

 

[Haiku]

Maybe some some regional razors made it into the national scene. I know there were alot of Toggles before 1960, but as a national push Krumholtz has it at 1960, and (1958 regional push Fatboys) and 1959 as the National push for the Fatboys.

On that basis I would think that this would probably mean that the D4 would likely be the first of the fatboys that were marketed nationally in the United States.

 

[alex2363]

On that basis I would think that this would probably mean that the D4 would likely be the first of the fatboys that were marketed nationally in the United States.

According to history, but sometimes history surprises us............stay tuned