Gillette Single Ring Opinions!

[77TransAm]

Hi guys,

I bought a single ring on flea bay today for 35 bucks. I think it's a steal of a deal because it does not appear to have any cracks at all, or bent teeth. The plating is a little worn on the teeth and on the handle in a couple of places. Do you guys think it's a good deal? I think it's a good candidate for a nice rhodium replate



As a bonus, it came with a box. It appears to be a double ring box according to Mr Razor's website. Did they use this box for single rings as well?

I don't have any pictures of it taken apart so I can't tell what year it is for sure. I'm looking forward to seeing it in my mailbox!

 

[JazzyJ]

Congrats! I would definitely clean it up and see how that silver looks before getting it replated.

As for the case, I believe single rings were sold in that style case in 1905. So if that is the original case for that razor, you have one of the first batches of single rings produced.

 

[Gary H]

If you are happy with the razor then you did good. Are you looking to sparkle that razor up? If yes then grab a bottle of TarnX it is 10x more effecient than the tinfoil trick and gets into the knurling for a superior end result. Is the SR serial numbered?

 

[77TransAm]

If you are happy with the razor then you did good. Are you looking to sparkle that razor up? If yes then grab a bottle of TarnX it is 10x more effecient than the tinfoil trick and gets into the knurling for a superior end result. Is the SR serial numbered?

I will grab some TarnX, and from what I can see from the pictures he's provided, I can't find any serial numbers. He hasn't taken it apart and taken pictures so it's quite possible they're there, just not in the pictures. He just calls it a "vintage gillette safety razor" so I'm assuming he probably doesn't even know how to take it apart.

 

[chongo gordo]

My opinion? If the razor you bought is as old is 1905-06 you should hold off on the rhodium. But it's your razor.

 

[77TransAm]

My opinion? If the razor you bought is as old is 1905-06 you should hold off on the rhodium. But it's your razor.

If I can polish it up and make it look reasonable, I'll leave it alone. If it's beyond saving and down to the brass (which it looks like on the teeth) then I'd like to re-plate it and use it as a daily shaver.

 

[shavefreak]

That's a good deal for a razor or even starter collection. You wil be surprised at how easy they clean up. Use scrubbing bubbles and some baking soda. Light silver polish if needed.

 

[77TransAm]

That's a good deal for a razor or even starter collection. You wil be surprised at how easy they clean up. Use scrubbing bubbles and some baking soda. Light silver polish if needed.

I've always wanted a double or a single ring since I started collecting. I couldn't believe it was on for 35 dollars 'buy-it-now'. I couldn't resist. Especially seeing as there's no apparent cracks, teeth are all straight, and it comes with the box. What more could you ask for for 35 dollars?!

 

[MacDaddy]

Are you looking to sparkle that razor up? If yes then grab a bottle of TarnX it is 10x more effecient than the tinfoil trick and gets into the knurling for a superior end result.

The aluminum foil/baking soda trick isn't meant as a replacement for silver polish; it doesn't make things shiny. Its purpose is to reclaim as much silver as possible out of the tarnish before you remove the remainder with a much lighter polishing than you'd need if you hadn't used the trick in the first place. If you go straight to silver polish you'll remove the tarnish, but you'll do so at the cost of more of the silver.

 

[77TransAm]

The aluminum foil/baking soda trick isn't meant as a replacement for silver polish; it doesn't make things shiny. Its purpose is to reclaim as much silver as possible out of the tarnish before you remove the remainder with a much lighter polishing than you'd need if you hadn't used the trick in the first place. If you go straight to silver polish you'll remove the tarnish, but you'll do so at the cost of more of the silver.

I've never polished silver before. Is there something I need to know before I go ahead and clean this baby up? I don't want to destroy the silver underneath the tarnish. What steps should I take? I have scrubbing bubbles and have used it on many razors. It works fantastic. Will it work with the silver as well?

 

[MacDaddy]

I've never polished silver before. Is there something I need to know before I go ahead and clean this baby up? I don't want to destroy the silver underneath the tarnish. What steps should I take? I have scrubbing bubbles and have used it on many razors. It works fantastic. Will it work with the silver as well?

Here's some info on the aluminum foil and baking soda trick that we're talking about. The way I usually do silver razors is to clean them just like I would any other (long hot water soak with a small amount of dish soap followed by some scrubbing with an old toothbrush), then follow that up with the aluminum foil/baking soda, and then a very light polish with something completely non-abrasive to bring up the shine. My thinking there is that I want the dirt gone before I do the aluminum foil/baking soda soak so that all of the plating is fully exposed to the solution.

My "Phoenix" Single Ring that I posted before and after shots of in the Restorations & Refurbs SROTM thread was cleaned exactly this way.

 

[77TransAm]

Here's some info on the aluminum foil and baking soda trick that we're talking about. The way I usually do silver razors is to clean them just like I would any other (long hot water soak with a small amount of dish soap followed by some scrubbing with an old toothbrush), then follow that up with the aluminum foil/baking soda, and then a very light polish with something completely non-abrasive to bring up the shine. My thinking there is that I want the dirt gone before I do the aluminum foil/baking soda soak so that all of the plating is fully exposed to the solution.

My "Phoenix" Single Ring that I posted before and after shots of in the Restorations & Refurbs SROTM thread was cleaned exactly this way.

Thanks, I will use this method!