Gillette DE date/model

[Mafiadt]

I’m brand new into the world of DE shaving and after doing my research (a lot) decided to start off with a vintage solid bar Gillette.
bought the below from eBay for £20.
After more research I think I have a 1950s-ish Tech razor, and that the Bakelite box is probably earlier but has just put together to make a set.
The blades are amazing. Immaculate packaging, still sealed and the blades in perfect ‘as new’ condition. So much so that I thought they must be newly manufactured blades in vintage packaging. They’re a great shave too, very smooth. The code on them is U1, which I think means either 1974 or 1949- but the packaging doesn’t look quite right for either date. Any ideas?

 

[mata_66]

You are right about the razor, a 50's Gillette Tech judging by the etching on the top cap. The blades, if I read correctly, were made in the first quarter of 1974. The case is from the 40's, it is older than the razor and it originally contained a RFB "Thin Handle" Tech

 

[EclipseRedRing]

Welcome to B&B! That is a great razor - you could use that razor alone for the rest of your life. However, if you are like many here, including myself, you will soon own many razors

 

[mata_66]

I would add the razor is very mild and light (handle and base-plate should be aluminum) yet excellent to start shaving with a double-edge razor and get the hang of it. I suggest you to start with new modern stainless steel blades instead of those nice vintage Blue Gillettes.

 

[Mafiadt]

Welcome to B&B! That is a great razor - you could use that razor alone for the rest of your life. However, if you are like many here, including myself, you will soon own many razors

Haha - yeah I’m getting the feeling that I might turn into a collector quite soon!

 

[Mafiadt]

I would add the razor is very mild and light (handle and base-plate should be aluminum) yet excellent to start shaving with a double-edge razor and get the hang of it. I suggest you to start with new modern stainless steel blades instead of those nice vintage Blue Gillettes.

Thanks for the information- that’s great to know.
Yes I think I’ll get myself some new blades. I have used one of the vintage ones and it’s fantastic - but don’t want to get too used to them as vintage blades are an expensive way to shave.
The razor is great and I’m loving using it, it’s a really good beginner razor - trying to convert my friends and family now.

 

[BigJ]

Welcome aboard!

Great razor!! Pair that with a sharp blade and you should have tons of excellent shaves!

 

[Tanuki]

Interesting blades. With the arrows on the blade, I would expect it to be sold in a slide-out dispenser. I suppose that Gillette was selling the same blades in two different forms of packaging.

In 1974 in my part of the world Gillette blades were no longer blue and were only found in the dispensers. So I am voting 1949, at a transition time from wrapped blades to dispensers.

 

[mata_66]

The code on them is U1, which I think means either 1974 or 1949- but the packaging doesn’t look quite right for either date. Any ideas?

I stand corrected, I only checked for the date code and I haven't paid attention to the actual blade. Those are from 1949 and they might be the same blades that came with the case.

 

[mata_66]

Interesting blades. With the arrows on the blade, I would expect it to be sold in a slide-out dispenser. I suppose that Gillette was selling the same blades in two different forms of packaging.

In 1974 in my part of the world Gillette blades were no longer blue and were only found in the dispensers. So I am voting 1949, at a transition time from wrapped blades to dispensers.

You beat me for a few seconds

 

[Tanuki]

Haha - yeah I’m getting the feeling that I might turn into a collector quite soon!

Around my parts, there are plenty of nice DE and SE razors at very reasonable prices in the vintage/antique stores.

 

[Tanuki]

You beat me for a few seconds

A feather in my cap! I can't claim to even approach your knowledge of the classics!

Happy Thanksgiving and thanks for your great charts, summaries, and posts on vintage razors. We'll have @Mafiadt pumped up on vintage SE and injectors soon.

 

[mata_66]

A feather in my cap! I can't claim to even approach your knowledge of the classics!

Happy Thanksgiving and thanks for your great charts, summaries, and posts on vintage razors. We'll have @Mafiadt pumped up on vintage SE and injectors soon.

Same best wishes to you, and I had a great read today about the "Blind-Edge test and ugly razor". Great story-telling and I enjoyed it a lot!!

 

[Mafiadt]

Interesting blades. With the arrows on the blade, I would expect it to be sold in a slide-out dispenser. I suppose that Gillette was selling the same blades in two different forms of packaging.

In 1974 in my part of the world Gillette blades were no longer blue and were only found in the dispensers. So I am voting 1949, at a transition time from wrapped blades to dispensers.

Ah ok, that would make sense. I didn’t consider that there’s scope for Gillette to package dispenser blades in individual packages. I’m almost loving the detective work around finding out the history of these things as much as actually using them!

 

[Invicta]

Welcome to B&B.
That is a great razor.

 

[ajkel64]

Welcome to the forum. Great razor that you have there. Paired with a Feather they give me really great shaves.