Found Vintage Blades Today

[sandmountainslim]

I found these vintage blades at a yardsale today. The Schick dispensers seem worn but the blades inside appear to be intact. My question is would these blades be worth attempting to shave with or would I just be asking for a cut face? Also if anyone knows approx age of these blades.
Thanks
Wp

 

[talibeard]

I would definitely try the Schick's; never used these blades but the NOS Schick Platinums (US as well as Dutch made) are great blades in my book.

I am not so sure about the Gillettes but that is mostly because I only encountered Gillette blades that are at best servicable; give them a try and let us know! You will know they are bad in just one stroke so what can happen?

 

[sandmountainslim]

I would definitely try the Schick's; never used these blades but the NOS Schick Platinums (US as well as Dutch made) are great blades in my book.

I am not so sure about the Gillettes but that is mostly because I only encountered Gillette blades that are at best servicable; give them a try and let us know! You will know they are bad in just one stroke so what can happen?

Im with you and think the Schick Plus Platinum blades are excellent so I think I will try the Schick Krona blades when I change blades next week.
I am a little scared of the Gillette Thins as they are gold colored rather than stainless so I would bet they are not in their prime. The Gillette box has two blades in it and the Schick dispensers look to have three blades each.
Wp

EDIT:
Decided not to wait until next week. I have loaded the Schick Krona into my razor and will try it today after I shower.
Will report on how it shaves.
Wp

 

[sandmountainslim]

I tried the old Schick blade out in my Super Speed and it is a VERY sharp blade.
Does anyone have a clue when these blades were made? It must have been in the heyday of DE shaving because they appear to be a quality made product that has lasted a very long time.


Wp

 

[talibeard]

According to our own B&B Wiki the Schick Krona razor was made from '59 till '65 so I guess the blades come from the same era. Maybe someone knows for sure?

 

[sandmountainslim]

According to our own B&B Wiki the Schick Krona razor was made from '59 till '65 so I guess the blades come from the same era. Maybe someone knows for sure?

Maybe someone has the answer.
The blades themselves were made in your neck of the woods in The Netherlands according to the dispenser "Made In Holland". I will have a second shave with the Krona blades today.
Wp

 

[Straight Arrow]

I have used the US made Kronas and they are good blades. Not as smooth as the later Plus Platinum blade that Schick made but still a good performer. I use NOS blades almost exclusively since discovering how good the old Wilkinsons are after finding some at a rummage sale. Since then I have collected hundreds of NOS blades from Wilkinson, Schick, Gillette, Personna, and several other lesser known old brands. There are still great blades out there for those who wish to pursue the hunt.

 

[sandmountainslim]

There was one old single blade packed in with the Gillette Thins which was marked "Taylor Made" but it also isn't stainless so I won't be trying it.

If our Lather Brothers guess to the Schick Krona's being made in the 1959-65 era is correct then I am shaving with a blade that is older than myself
That would be something to talk about!
Wp

 

[sandmountainslim]

Second shave with the Schick Krona blades today and still a good shave.
I would compare them to the Schick Plus Platinums which I am used to shaving with. Still afraid to try the Gillette Thin though! A blade with gold paint scares me
Wp

 

[john parker]

The red Gillettes look to be the kind I started shaving with in the 50s. Maybe a couple shaves a blade, and they will rust.

 

[sandmountainslim]

The red Gillettes look to be the kind I started shaving with in the 50s. Maybe a couple shaves a blade, and they will rust.

They could very well be from that era. I am not gonna risk a shave with them.
I just had my third shave with the Schick Krona blades and I am still liking them
Wp

 

[Stubblefield]

I tried the old Schick blade out in my Super Speed and it is a VERY sharp blade.
Does anyone have a clue when these blades were made? It must have been in the heyday of DE shaving because they appear to be a quality made product that has lasted a very long time.


Wp

My understanding is that these were made before the Plus Platinums and the Super Stainless, but also concurrently. I have a dispenser of Krona blades identical to the PP's--only with the Krona labeling. From what I can figure, the PP is a slightly better blade (YMMV), and the Krona blade is very similar to the Schick Super Stainless. All three are excellent. Sadly, this is the only Schick blade that I have never been able to Hoover up off eBay, especially with that packaging.

Like Straight Arrow, I once found a package of Gillette Spoilers, tried them, and have been buying/hoovering NOS blades up ever since. There are still plenty of these and other blades out there, so if you run across any be sure to try them out.

 

[sandmountainslim]

My understanding is that these were made before the Plus Platinums and the Super Stainless, but also concurrently. I have a dispenser of Krona blades identical to the PP's--only with the Krona labeling. From what I can figure, the PP is a slightly better blade (YMMV), and the Krona blade is very similar to the Schick Super Stainless. All three are excellent. Sadly, this is the only Schick blade that I have never been able to Hoover up off eBay, especially with that packaging.

I wonder is Schick used a dating system similar to Gillette? This one is marked "I" and "44" if that means anything.
I agree with you on the quality of them, probably a little less smooth than a Plus Platinum but I hit my fourth shave with the Krona blade today and it is still nice and sharp I don't think I will use another one for a while when this one is finished because they do seem to be a hard to find blade.
Wp

 

[sandmountainslim]

Like Straight Arrow, I once found a package of Gillette Spoilers, tried them, and have been buying/hoovering NOS blades up ever since. There are still plenty of these and other blades out there, so if you run across any be sure to try them out.

I have been wondering WHERE you fellers have been buying enough NOS vintage blades to use for everyday shaving.......ebay?? I bet they cost an arm and leg!
Wp

 

[sandmountainslim]

A guy at work heard me talking about my love for DE shaving last week and today he GAVE me these old Gillette blades!
There are blades missing out of each dispenser but I think I will at least try a blade from each out in the future and maybe they will be as good as the old open pack of Schicks!
Wp

 

[Rufust445]

You got them at the right price.

I recently used the last NOS Wilkinson UK "Super Sword Edge" from a 5-pack I purchased in the early '70's. That's when I first tried DE shaving, but moved on to Trac II's, Atras, etc.

I used up this last blade because of three NOS 5-packs of these blades picked up on eBay. They're in original packaging, but they're too good for shaving to just be collected. Save the collecting for the old, rare, carbon steel blades.

The Wilkinsons will be spread out for special occasions, among the rest of the blades in my stash.

 

[sandmountainslim]

Ok,

Seventh shave with the Schick Krona blades today and they got it done.
A little bit of pulling but not enough to hinder the shave and my face came out smooth.
I may attempt at least one more shave with this old-timer....maybe two
Wp


Post Scriptum:
Decided to let the old Schick go out with dignity. I took it out and dropped it into my blade bank today.
Seven great shaves with a blade older than me and now I have gone back to my Gillette 7 O'Clocks.
Wp

 

[sandmountainslim]

Gonna try the second of these Schick Krona blades starting tomorrow morning Its been over two years since I tried the first one and I am guessing my lathering technique has improved and I am now using a Bull Mastiff NEW. let's see if I can get seven shaves from THIS one!

 

[IainJ]

If there's no rust and your sure they're unused definitely give 'em a go! I love trying vintage blades and I'm rarely disappointed, old steel is good steel.

Also I don't see the point in having old blades lying around, they were made to be used then thrown away.

 

[sandmountainslim]

If there's no rust and your sure they're unused definitely give 'em a go! I love trying vintage blades and I'm rarely disappointed, old steel is good steel.

Also I don't see the point in having old blades lying around, they were made to be used then thrown away.

Oh I am USING them...just slowly When I finish shaving with this blade next week I shall throw it into my blade bank with the modern junkers.