Gillette NEW - British v American

[wulfgar1976]

A few people have mentioned from time to time that they specifically like the British NEW. I have a couple of American long comb NEWs that I bought from B&B members along with a British long comb NEW I have had for a while and now that I have had a chance to compare, I seem to get on better with the American version. The heads seem pretty much identical as far as blade exposure and angle is concerned but my British NEW has a ball-end handle whereas my American ones have a handle like the following:

http://www.mr-razor.com/Rasierer/The NEW/1930s NEW Gillette-Rotbart Hybrid.jpg

Maybe the handle makes the difference as there doesn't seem to be a difference between the heads that could account for it, but I find that the US version is a little bit easier to get on with. They're all nice razors in any event.

 

[xillion]

On all of my Long Comb British New razors the Top cap is different. They do not have the four tabs at the corners, just like the one seen below.
I an unsure if it is the cap that make the difference, but I have always had better shaves from the Brit New.

 

[wulfgar1976]

That's interesting to know because my British NEW has the four tabs on the cap. I had another look at it to-day and it is identical to the American version. The razor weighs a bit more than my US ones but that's because the handle is heavier.

Now I need to get one of the British ones with the different cap

 

[OV1kenobi]

On all of my Long Comb British New razors the Top cap is different. They do not have the four tabs at the corners, just like the one seen below.
I an unsure if it is the cap that make the difference, but I have always had better shaves from the Brit New.

+2 on the British NEW.

Mine doesn't have any tabs either on the top plate. I have always enjoyed the British version more. I especially like the handle. My British NEW is exactly like xillion's photographed above. Top cap, handle and all.

Interesting about the following poster's four-tab British NEW. Wonder if the top cap came from an American version? Also, my American NEW has a ball-end handle.

Perhaps there are a couple of cases of "Frankenrazor" here? Variants, maybe? Would like to know more and perhaps get an authoritative word on what both the British NEW and American NEW are really supposed to look like.

Could it be that the OP has a British NEW with an American handle, whereas his American NEW razors are Bostonians, at least with regard to handles? The link really looks like a Bostonian handle to me.

Regards,

David

 

[wulfgar1976]

Could it be that the OP has a British NEW with an American handle, whereas his American NEW razors are Bostonians, at least with regard to handles? The link really looks like a Bostonian handle to me.

My British NEW is part of the Empire set, as depicted here:

http://www.mr-razor.com/Rasierer/The NEW/1930s Empire Set England.jpg

If you look carefully on the photograph to the left, you can see where the tabs are on the front of the cap. There isn't a picture of the underside, unfortunately.

 

[xillion]

Very nice empire set. I didn't know that type of Brit New existed.
The one I showed above is a great shaver, but the one I like the most is the sixth one shown below.
It is the same bottom plate as the two piece #88 and #77. The particular head shown in the picture came with an open ball end handle and a tab-less cap.

 

[Kentos]

Very nice empire set. I didn't know that type of Brit New existed.
The one I showed above is a great shaver, but the one I like the most is the sixth one shown below.
It is the same bottom plate as the two piece #88 and #77. The particular head shown in the picture came with an open ball end handle and a tab-less cap.

Wow what an awesome pic!! I am lusting after a nice English shaver myself and this will be invaluable in id'ing.

 

[mjclark]

an English Gillette NEW Empire set arrived from eBay this morning:



After reading this thread I'm very excited to shave with it.
And have I gone delirious or is it really gold plated?

 

[xillion]

Great razor mj. I have the same set in silver plate. It is one of the smoothest razors I've ever used.

 

[mjclark]

Great razor mj. I have the same set in silver plate. It is one of the smoothest razors I've ever used.

Thanks! I tried it out 2nite with a Lord Platinum and you're right.
In spite of the rough blade, this razor gave me an astonishingly clean and close shave with a great balance of aggression and smoothness.
In fact the word "luxurious" springs to mind