Grandpa's Old Razors

[chemicalsams]

I was visiting my 90 year old grandfather yesterday. He still raises cattle, and we were out in the pasture checking on new calves. Being new to DE shaving, I had never talked with him about how he shaved. So, I figured I'd inquire. The conversation went something like this:

Me: "So Grandpa, I've started using a safety razor to shave. What do you use?"
GPa: "Oh, I just use an electric that your aunt gave me. I'm to stiff to put on shaving cream."
Me: "Did you ever use safety razors or straight razors?"
GPa: "I sure did. I had a couple of Gillette razors, one I used in the service in WWII. I think I had one of those injectors when I got out of the service. We couldn't take straight razors on the ships."
Me: "Do you still have them? I'd love to see them."
GPa: "If you can find them, you can have them. Check in the east bathroom back at the house. We may have thrown them out when we cleaned after Grandma died."
Me: "Wow, thanks Grandpa!"

Once we got back to the house, I checked in the drawers in the bathroom, and low an behold, there was an adjustable Gillette and a Schick Injector. Unfortunately, I could not find his razor that he used during WWII.

I checked here and identified the Gillette as a Slim Adjustable
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=1303

And this page helped me identify that it was made in 1966
http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/index.php/US_Gillette_Dating_Information

The Schick appears to be a G Series Injector
http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/index.php/Safety_Razor_Database
http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/index.php/Schick_Injector
http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/index.php/Type_G

Finally, I learned how to clean them here.
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=30131

Thank you, gentlemen, for posting all these amazing resources. I look forward to years of using my heirlooms.

I would also welcome any additional advice on using and maintaining these particular razors. Also, if you know of any particular razor/blade combination that are good or bad with either of these. And yes, I know my mileage may vary.

Thanks, and happy shaving.

 

[drews50]

Thank heaven for Grandpas.

 

[kingfisher]

For the injector I'd recommend the Schick-branded blades. You can get them at www.drugstore.com.

The Slim is great with just about any standard DE blade. I prefer Kai, Bic, Astra, and Feather, but blade choice seems to be as individual as fingerprints.

 

[TheVez2]

Wow, great story. Unfortunately both my Grandfathers have passed and my Grandmothers said that none of their stuff is around anymore. You've got a great treasure there! Cherish it.

 

[Greyfox]

Great story. Thanks for sharing.

 

[IronHammer]

I think I would just about cry every time I shaved with my grandpa's razor... if I had it. You are a very fortunate man, sir! Enjoy the most valuable razor to found anywhere...your grandfather's razor!

 

[jwhiskercut]

I have a SS, a tech and an Old Type that belonged to my Grandfather. The Old Type was actually my great-grandfather's. It's always special to take one of those for a shave!

 

[brucered]

that's awesome. i wish had taken up DE when my grandpas was still alive, luckily i was able to get his old gillette from my dad.

great story, now lets see some pics!

 

[BlackBard]

that's awesome. i wish had taken up DE when my grandpas was still alive, luckily i was able to get his old gillette from my dad.

great story, now lets see some pics!

Yeah, where are the pictures? We want to share in your good fortune and feel a great sense of envy.

 

[Pkrankow]

Treasures. Truly those razors are treasures, even though your Grandfather is a phone call away.

I have one of my Dad's Knacks from the Army. He still shaves with its identical partner. One was for shaving, and one for inspection.

Phil

Oh yea this thread needs pictures

 

[mattymatt]

Thats great, congrats!

 

[akira7799]

Treasures. Truly those razors are treasures, even though your Grandfather is a phone call away.

I have one of my Dad's Knacks from the Army. He still shaves with its identical partner. One was for shaving, and one for inspection.

Phil

Oh yea this thread needs pictures

+1 for pics

 

[beginish]

Pics or not. It's a fantastic story.

 

[chemicalsams]

I'm not much of a photographer, but here are the requested pictures.

And I still need to clean them up.

 

[brucered]

very nice.

they look like they'll clean up nicely. if you use scrubbing bubbles on the fatboy, make sure not to get it on the numbers, mine and many others came off during that process.

if you need polish for the fatboy, MAAS works very well.

 

[kingfisher]

very nice.

they look like they'll clean up nicely. if you use scrubbing bubbles on the fatboy, make sure not to get it on the numbers, mine and many others came off during that process.

if you need polish for the fatboy, MAAS works very well.

Agree, but it's a Slim.

 

[brucered]

Agree, but it's a Slim.

Whatever i can never tell by the pics

 

[Go West Young Man]

Whatever i can never tell by the pics

Look at the bottom of the adjuster dial - if it tapers in it's a Slim, if it continues down straight it's a Fatboy.

 

[brucered]

Look at the bottom of the adjuster dial - if it tapers in it's a Slim, if it continues down straight it's a Fatboy.

got it i'll probably still continue to get it wrong though.

again, nice pics. polish those puppies up and enjoy them.

 

[bigfoot83]

You may have an E injector instead of the G. In your last picture I think I see "flaps" on the spring under the head. These flaps were present on most of the E types. Here's a good site for injector vintage information. Although, the next to last picture seems to show a seam in the handle. Hmmm.....In either case, I have both types and they are both great shavers.