Got Me a Big Fellow!

[mistercitizen]

Hey guys, I'm pretty excited. While I have nearly 50 DE razors in my collection, here is one that I've been after for a while and have missed out on acquiring a few times in the past. A 1920 Gillette Old Type Big Fellow with the original razor case and blade case.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/390659913209?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

In my opinion, I paid plenty for it..... but it's flea bay so what are you going to do. I entered in my top dollar ahead of time and let it go, and it bid right up to within a dollar of my max....... but at least I got it. I passed up one of these on our own B/S/T about a year ago that was maybe in not quite as good condition as this one, but was around $85 shipped. I have been kicking myself for not getting that one when I had the chance. 1920 is the year my maternal grandfather was born. I already have a 1920 Old Type Bulldog and it's one of my favorite shavers and just one of my favorite DE razors in general to admire and look out. I'm hoping this one shaves as nicely as my Bulldog..... which I suspect it will. I have a Big Boy Chromium Deluxe with a New Short Comb head and it's a very nice shaver..... this Big Fellow should have a very similar feel to it.

The razor itself looks a little scratched up, but most, if not all, of the plating looks to be in tact. No cracks in the handle. No bent teeth. The wood case looks very nice as well..... especially on the outside where most of the damage occurs.

Anyway, can't wait for it to arrive and happy that my search for one of these Big Fellows is over.

Ben

 

[ojinsa]

Congrats! I'm glad a member here got that razor. I bid on it early on and meant to place another bid but simply forgot. I also have a chromium Big Boy and agree it's a great shaver, so I'm curious to see what your opinion of this one is and how it shaves. Enjoy!

 

[Batman]

I've got one of those...a beast!! Enjoy!

 

[ERVARGASNY]

Awesome, Those BigBoy/BigFellow Razors were the heavy hitters of there time.

Congrats.

 

[P Funk]

Congrats!
Glad someone here was able to pick it up. I bid on it early and then bowed out assuming their would be a bidding war b/c it looks like it's in great shape. Bidding war didn't happen exactly as I thought and it doesn't look any snipers were hiding out for this one either. Great get.

 

[Haegar]

That's one wonderful set, congrats!

A 1920 Gillette Old Type Big Fellow with the original razor case and blade case.

...... 1920 is the year my maternal grandfather was born.

Lucky you! If I wanted to find a Gillette of my grandfather's birth year, welll, uuhm, that would get difficult. He was born 1902

 

[mistercitizen]

That's one wonderful set, congrats!


Lucky you! If I wanted to find a Gillette of my grandfather's birth year, welll, uuhm, that would get difficult. He was born 1902

Thanks. That's tough luck about your grandfather's birth year. My paternal grandfather was born in 1914...... I'd love to pick up a cased Gillette Old Type Flare Handle Aristocrat from that year. I've seen a couple, but they are even rarer than this one. Surprisingly, I've seen quite a few of the 1920 Big Fellows out there.

Ben

 

[Amir]

Very nice piece! I know that you will enjoy it. By the way, I wonder how the Old Type differs from the New Improved Big Fellows:



(circa 1928, with no serial number, either on the flat base plate or barrel)

I tend to reach for my Big Fellow after abstaining from shaving during a long weekend. They certainly have more heft than Single Rings, but are remarkably well-balanced.

 

[alex2363]

Very nice piece! I know that you will enjoy it. By the way, I wonder how the Old Type differs from the New Improved Big Fellows:

View attachment 369792

(circa 1928, with no serial number, either on the flat base plate or barrel)

I tend to reach for my Big Fellow after abstaining from shaving during a long weekend. They certainly have more heft than Single Rings, but are remarkably well-balanced.

For me the Old Type is bit more aggressive, but we all have different skin types so YMMV.

 

[alex2363]

Great case too

 

[rxonmymind]

Congrats Ben! Looking spiffy there.

 

[martym]

Both razor and case are incredible.

 

[mistercitizen]

Thanks again guys. Like I said, these 1920 Old Type Big Fellows are surprisingly not that uncommon considering their age..... and it's also not that uncommon to find a cased one.... but the cases are naturally susceptible to staining of the finish and what not. I'm pretty thrilled to find it in the condition it appears to be in from the photos.

I've never used a New Improved Big Fellow..... in fact the only shave I've had with a New Improved is a 1926 Tuckaway with a very short handle. I think for todays shave later this afternoon I will use my New Improved head with one of my UFO handles..... either the Kaiser or Kaiser Short and see just how it does. The Old Types to me are very blade angle specific. By that, I mean you need to get the blade at just the right angle for a stellar shave. I don't know if this angle just comes naturally to me or what, but I usually get really great shaves with my Old Type Bulldog.

Ben

 

[mistercitizen]

Very nice piece! I know that you will enjoy it. By the way, I wonder how the Old Type differs from the New Improved Big Fellows:

View attachment 369792

(circa 1928, with no serial number, either on the flat base plate or barrel)

I tend to reach for my Big Fellow after abstaining from shaving during a long weekend. They certainly have more heft than Single Rings, but are remarkably well-balanced.

Very nice set you have there!!

Ben

 

[DrAwkward]

I saw this one but did not bid on it. I'm tapped out right now. It's a beauty. Those Big Fellow wooden boxes are just awesome.
Enjoy!

 

[mistercitizen]

I saw this one but did not bid on it. I'm tapped out right now. It's a beauty. Those Big Fellow wooden boxes are just awesome.
Enjoy!

You're right about those Big Fellow wood boxes..... they look great. Love the dovetail joints at the corners and they look huge, but I'm sure they are not nearly as big in one's hand. I've never seen one other than in pictures on the web.

Ben

 

[Ollie4ISU]

Very nice score! Congratulations

 

[mistercitizen]

Wow, I got the Big Fellow today in the mail. That was quick! Great ebay seller whoever he is...... he'll get some positive feedback, that's for sure. It's in great shape, but it needs a good cleaning and polishing. There's a lot of subtle micro scratches on it..... probably someone used something a little too abrasive to polish in the past I'm guessing. Although technically there is no crack in the handle, at the top you can see the makings of one..... there's just an ever so slight bulge where the shoulder was pressed into the top of the handle. The box is in better condition than I expected really...... I'll gently polish the hardware and rub the wood with a little lemon oil. The snap latch works like it was brand new and the lid alignes perfectly with the rest of the box.

I can't wait to shave with it.

Ben

 

[Rawskin]

Very nice and the case is pristine!

 

[redinmtl]

Beautiful razor, the case is particularly nice too...love the wood.