Gillette Single Ring

[ray hewitt]

Hi there,
This is another razor I recently acquired and I am not sure about it because I am not seeing a serial number on the head plate and it is not marked with the Gillette diamond or Made in USA under the head plate. There is a serial number 818115 on the stem and on the ring above the knob it is marked Pat. Nov. 15, 04. I know it needs work but before I put a lot of effort into it I'd like to know more about it. What are your thoughts? As always thank you in advance for your comments.
Best regards
Ray

 

[AnimalCatcher]

Going by the serial number, your single ring was made in 1907. Someone should be along shortly to give you a bit more information about your razor.

 

[ray hewitt]

Going by the serial number, your single ring was made in 1907. Someone should be along shortly to give you a bit more information about your razor.

Thank you!

 

[EclipseRedRing]

Very nice! A razor that rewards and requires good technique. I suspect it may be silver plated so I would give it a light clean using hot water, aluminium foil, and baking soda. Otherwise I would leave it exactly as it is.

 

[ray hewitt]

Going by the serial number, your single ring was made in 1907. Someone should be along shortly to give you a bit more information about your razor.

Very nice! A razor that rewards and requires good technique. I suspect it may be silver plated so I would give it a light clean using hot water, aluminium foil, and baking soda. Otherwise I would leave it exactly as it is.

Thanks! You are probably correct. looks as if some platting is worn of the top.

 

[ray hewitt]

1907 pre dates the trade mark for what I have read.

 

[Hair Scraper]

I picked up an ‘07 earlier this week, too. Mine looks just like yours. It has the same markings as yours; patent date and s/n. Mine is a bit newer with an A385XXX s/n.

 

[EdHeart]

Very nice! A razor that rewards and requires good technique. I suspect it may be silver plated so I would give it a light clean using hot water, aluminium foil, and baking soda. Otherwise I would leave it exactly as it is.

"...rewards and requires good technique."

Would you mind elaborating a bit. Is this razor significantly different that a Gillette New Long Comb/Short Comb.

More blade exposure than the aforementioned?

Thanks...

 

[ray hewitt]

I picked up an ‘07 earlier this week, too. Mine looks just like yours. It has the same markings as yours; patent date and s/n. Mine is a bit newer with an A385XXX s/n.

View attachment 1851134

Does your razor have the Gillette Diamond trade mark under the head and where is your S/N located if you don't mind me asking? Thanks

 

[Hair Scraper]

Does your razor have the Gillette Diamond trade mark under the head and where is your S/N located if you don't mind me asking? Thanks

Hey Ray,

No this one doesn’t have any markings under the head. The s/n is lightly struck, (or polished all to heck over the years,) on the stem. (A38549) I used Flitz polish to remove the light tarnish and it really only polished the heavier tarnish. That’s OK, I’ll leave the way it is.

I haven't used it to shave yet, but I do have a 3-piece model with a similar head design that has a lot of blade exposure. I wouldn't expect this one to be much different. The older blades used in these razors were much thicker. From what I've read here on B&B you can trim the edges off of a modern blade, essentially making it a shim, then putting it in the razor below an unaltered blade to act like a thicker older blade. This supposedly tames the edge down a bit for a milder shave. I'm going to try that.

 

[ray hewitt]

Hey Ray,

No this one doesn’t have any markings under the head. The s/n is lightly struck, (or polished all to heck over the years,) on the stem. (A38549)

I used Flitz polish to remove the light tarnish and it really only polished the heavier tarnish. That’s OK, I’ll leave the way it is.

View attachment 1851390

Hey Ray,

No this one doesn’t have any markings under the head. The s/n is lightly struck, (or polished all to heck over the years,) on the stem. (A38549)

I used Flitz polish to remove the light tarnish and it really only polished the heavier tarnish. That’s OK, I’ll leave the way it is.

View attachment 1851390

Thanks for the response. Your razor looks very nice compared to mine. I'm going to try and clean it up some and see how it looks then.

 

[EclipseRedRing]

Mine says 'Pat Nov 15 04' on the handle, same as the OP with no markings under the base plate. My serial number C435727 is on top of the base plate which dates it to 1914. There are no marks on the inner barrel.





It shaves very well but it does require more concentration than, for example, a New long comb. I am seldom in a hurry but if I were then I could use a New and shave quickly and safely. If I were to go as fast with my Single Ring then it would bite.

 

[BigJ]

CONGRATULATIONS!!

 

[ray hewitt]

Mine says 'Pat Nov 15 04' on the handle, same as the OP with no markings under the base plate. My serial number C435727 is on top of the base plate which dates it to 1914. There are no marks on the inner barrel.

View attachment 1851412
View attachment 1851413
View attachment 1851414

It shaves very well but it does require more concentration than, for example, a New long comb. I am seldom in a hurry but if I were then I could use a New and shave quickly and safely. If I were to go as fast with my Single Ring then it would bite.

Very Nice!!

 

[profusion]

Congratulations, @ray hewitt .

I just got a 1919 Single Ring with even more plating loss than yours, and a good soak in hot water and Dawn dishwasher detergent did a world of good.

Some areas I thought were plate loss were actually dirt/grime. Still a lot of plating gone, but even the exposed brass looks better now.

Here's a picture of my Single Ring before cleaning:

And here's a picture of it newly cleaned (alongside its NEW SC stablemate):

I'm glad I didn't rush into shaving with it immediately. Yikes!

Give a good (non-abrasive) cleaning a try, if you haven't already.

Personally, I don't want to replate mine or anything like that, as I like the worn look on a 105-year-old tool. Yours looks structurally sound, with straight teeth and unwarped cap/baseplate.

 

[DrStrange]

"...rewards and requires good technique."

Would you mind elaborating a bit. Is this razor significantly different that a Gillette New Long Comb/Short Comb.

More blade exposure than the aforementioned?

Thanks...

For starters, the Single Ring is an adjustable razor.

https://www.razoremporium.com/product_images/uploaded_images/1100002-695x1030.jpg

 

[EdHeart]

For starters, the Single Ring is an adjustable razor.

https://www.razoremporium.com/product_images/uploaded_images/1100002-695x1030.jpg

Thank you.

 

[EclipseRedRing]

For starters, the Single Ring is an adjustable razor.

https://www.razoremporium.com/product_images/uploaded_images/1100002-695x1030.jpg

Perhaps I misunderstand but I do not believe that makes a Single Ring different from a New Long or Short comb. I can and do adjust almost every DE razor I own in the exact same way, i.e. by loosening the cap, be they two piece, three piece, Gillette, Rotbart, Gibbs, Ben Hur, Hoffritz, Eclipse, or any other brand. All of them excluding TTO razors can be adjusted in the same way.

 

[profusion]

Perhaps I misunderstand but I do not believe that makes a Single Ring different from a New Long or Short comb. I can and do adjust almost every DE razor I own in the exact same way, i.e. by loosening the cap, be they two piece, three piece, Gillette, Rotbart, Gibbs, Ben Hur, Hoffritz, Eclipse, or any other brand. All of them excluding TTO razors can be adjusted in the same way.

I agree and think this was a bit of fluff by Gillette's marketing team. I'll even go further and say that a poorly clamped blade is not a proper equivalent to a larger blade gap.

 

[nemo]

I agree and think this was a bit of fluff by Gillette's marketing team. I'll even go further and say that a poorly clamped blade is not a proper equivalent to a larger blade gap.

Remember that the three hole blades were much thicker and will provide good tension on the unbottomed knob as it will be a lot tougher to bend. I don't think it was just marketing jargon, it worked.