Gillette Open Comb - Who Am I ?

[Matt_Bloodletter]

I have this Gillette. No date codes or serial. Just says Gillette and Made in USA. This seems to be slightly different from the photos I've seen online. What model is this? Any idea of year? I had seen references to maybe 1920-1929? The handle is cracked but it shaves real nice. Is it possibly a Frankenstein hybrid?

Thanks for any info.

 

[BigFoot]

I would say Ball End Old type.

 

[SteveWY]

I would say Ball End Old type.

I concur. It looks like a standard old type and not a hybrid to me. There are some Gillette historians and OC experts here that may be able to narrow down the era more.

 

[daedpa]

So that's what it is because I have one exactly like it but gold colored. These all seem to have a crack in the handle in the same spot (mine does too - what it though because the ball end sometimes comes off). It is my favorite OC and I like shaving with something about as old as my grandmother.

 

[Haegar]

No date codes

No patent date on the handle?

 

[MacDaddy]

I have this Gillette. No date codes or serial. Just says Gillette and Made in USA. This seems to be slightly different from the photos I've seen online. What model is this? Any idea of year? I had seen references to maybe 1920-1929? The handle is cracked but it shaves real nice. Is it possibly a Frankenstein hybrid?

No, you got it. It's a straight up ball-end Old Type, and it would be from after the original Gillette patents expired in 1921 through the remainder of the '20s. During that time they wouldn't have had a serial number nor the patent date inscription on the handle.

The only possible thing that looks "off" is the way that the neck fitting is slightly pulled out of the handle tube, which I'm assuming is where it's cracked. If the neck is loose in the handle you'll need to fix it with something like a two-part epoxy so that the head doesn't spin while you're using it.

 

[Matt_Bloodletter]

Thanks all. No date info that I can find on the handle. The handle is good. I wouldn't mind fixing it. Let me just say that the first time using it was eye opening! I've been pretty mellow on my AD lately but this could be real good.

 

[KQY61]

Hi,

Yes, it is a 1920s Old Type. I have one my Grandfather bought new back in the day. I got it when he passed on in 1979. They dropped the patent and serial numbers on those. The geometry is the same, so they shave the same as the earlier ones. I find I need to skip at least a day shaving to use one. But it is my go-to razor when I do skip.

Stan