Gilette Old Type?

[poirot]

It seems I have just purchased a Gilette Old Type http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/index.php/Gillette_Old_Type.

I can't decide whether I should just leave it for collections sake, or actually clean it up and use it. What do you guys think?

Here are some pictures:

 

[silver surfer]

I see gold! Try A baking soda clean up. Use it, it's a fine close shaving razor.

 

[instpasr]

Clean it up and use it

 

[HoosierTrooper]

Without a doubt clean that old fella up and put it to use. Soak it in a strong solution of dish soap and water for several hours and scrub it with a toothbrush to clean it up. Be careful with heavy polish, it might strip off the lacquer.

There should be a serial number stamped on the blade plate that will tell you what year it was produced.

The shaves from these old single rings are hard to beat.

 

[poirot]

So far I've been giving it multiple soaks in baking soda and then scrubing it with a brass brush and toothpicks for the hard to reach nooks and cranies. I've gotten most of the old green soap scum and some dirt off. Do you think soaking it in dish soap and water after this will work well to get the rest of the dirt off?

 

[HoosierTrooper]

So far I've been giving it multiple soaks in baking soda and then scrubing it with a brass brush and toothpicks for the hard to reach nooks and cranies. I've gotten most of the old green soap scum and some dirt off. Do you think soaking it in dish soap and water after this will work well to get the rest of the dirt off?

I've had good results letting them soak for several hours, usually overnight. There's a method using baking soda, aluminum foil and boiling water to remove tarnish from silver razors, and it works great, but I don't think baking soda will do much for gold. Scrubbing Bubbles bathroom cleaner will also help gently take the grime off.

Did you find the serial number?

 

[poirot]

Unfortunately there does not seem to be a serial number anywhere. Underneath the comb it says "trade Gillete mark" and "Made in U.S.A.". That seems to be all the writing on I can find on it though.

Any chance the lack of a serial number could have any significant meaning?

 

[Blue-EyedSon]

The baking soda/aluminum foil trick only works for razors that are silver plated and it is contingent upon some chemical reaction that I wouldn't even pretend to comprehend. The lack of a serial number is to be expected with this particular type of Single Ring. It was made sometime after 1921 when serial numbers were no longer included on this style of razor.

 

[poirot]

Might anyone know if it is Gold or Brass?

And thanks for letting me know about the serial numbers Brian.

 

[Blue-EyedSon]

Also, I just noticed that you were using a brass brush to scrub the razor. If you continue doing this, it will wear off any of the gold plating that remains. The gold plating was thin initially and wore over time. Using a brass brush will quickly strip whatever plating remains. A tooth brush is much less abrasive and a good tool for cleaning up these razors.

 

[Blue-EyedSon]

It looks like you posted at the same time that I was typing a response, but the razor would have been gold plated initially.

 

[Topgumby]

They are great shavers, and I enjoy using mine immensely.

 

[pal]

clean it up and use it

+1

 

[skipnord]

If there is no serial number, it is a post 1921 razor made from leftover Old parts, refered to as a long-stud version - see Krumholz. page 159. He says these are rare. Congratulations!

 

[poirot]

I only paid $19 cdn bucks for it, since it's a bit rare, perhaps it was a good deal?

 

[poirot]

Well, after trying a few different cleaning methods it seems to have come out nice and shiny. I'm going to grab some Barbicide and some blades tomorrow and I'll try her out.

Here's how she turned out:

 

[GoVegan]

I agree use her until it hurts!

 

[JoeH]

Looks great!

 

[GentsInstinct]

You said no serial number on the head pieces. Did you look on the screw-in stem?

 

[poirot]

You said no serial number on the head pieces. Did you look on the screw-in stem?

I did indeed. There was nothing anywhere but the Gillette logo and Made in USA.