Happy Dancing Over my Slide Clasp Case

[Mark1966]

What has happened to Mark you ask? Has he got a screw loose?

It is just a slide clasp case ...

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... with a bit of wear on the bottom:

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Sure, these were only used in the very early years for Double Rings and Single Rings - Oh, is that it? Is there a nice Double Ring in there...

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NO! it is empty.

So what am I carrying on about?

Did anybody notice the ribbon?

Look again - the ribbon in these cases is normally for Times Square, Chicago or Boston. Look at the address on this one 20 Minories London UK - right in the heart of London.

This gentlemen is the case for one of the very early (pre-1906) Double or Single Rings sold through the Gillette London office.

I've not seen on of these before, not sure if other have. I'd love to hear any information people might have.

[insert happy dance here]

I think I've got an old British Patent Single Rings that needs a home, can't think of a better one.

 

[alex2363]

Great find mark, where on earth did u get it?

 

[ras120]

Very nice, Mark. It's amazing how many never seen Gillette items continue to pop up.

 

[Mark1966]

Great find mark, where on earth did u get it?

Very nice, Mark. It's amazing how many never seen Gillette items continue to pop up.

Thanks guys!

I'm amazed too about the finds that pop up. This was just sitting there on an online auction site

Anybody else seen one? Achim, calling Achim!

 

[Mark1966]

The other thing I should point out, and it is hard to pick from the photos, is that the bottom of the case clearly had the traditional US markings and NOT the British licence details used on later UK cases.



This suggests to me that this case relates to an early Double Ring or Single Ring made in the US and shipped to the UK, possibly before they commenced production there.

 

[AceByTerror]

Fantastic score Mark! Congrats!

 

[Intrigued]

Great find!

But are you sure you don't have another one just like it in that Mary Poppins cupboard of yours???

 

[Mark1966]

Great find!

But are you sure you don't have another one just like it in that Mary Poppins cupboard of yours???

LOL!

Unfortunately that cupboard is picked bare. I don't have access to Jake's time machine either

 

[ERVARGASNY]

Ver y nice rare find, i was wondering what happend to my Great Grandpas Case, can you kindly ship it back to me LOL. Isnt this Hobby Fun

 

[bakerbarber]

Cooler than the other side of the pillow!

 

[alex2363]

The other thing I should point out, and it is hard to pick from the photos, is that the bottom of the case clearly had the traditional US markings and NOT the British licence details used on later UK cases.



This suggests to me that this case relates to an early Double Ring or Single Ring made in the US and shipped to the UK, possibly before they commenced production there.

What do you mean early Double ring or Single ring? The Double rings were made first the early Single rings where slowly introduced in June ,1906 without much advertising to the public and only 1/2 million were made. Also, in February 1905 the the london office was established but not the factory so i don't think they made any cases over there.

 

[MacDaddy]

Sweet, Mark! The National Trust appears to have a case just like this in their collection, although theirs is in a lot worse shape.



Although they don't show a picture of it, their description mentions that it has what I take to be the standard image of the Gillette razor blade on the bottom of the case, that yours appears to have the remnants of, too:

Base has wording Gillette Safety Company Boston Mass USA. Trade mark all written in silver within a rectangle.​

They've got a few other Gillette items, including a Single Ring, all from the estate of Lord Wraxall. They list another razor and case there that they don't have photographs for, unfortunately, so I can't tell whether that Single Ring might have gone with the case that's like yours or the case that's not pictured, which is described to have the usual British license message on the bottom.

 

[Mark1966]

What do you mean early Double ring or Single ring? The Double rings were made first the early Single rings where slowly introduced in June ,1906 without much advertising to the public and only 1/2 million were made. Also, in February 1905 the the london office was established but not the factory so i don't think they made any cases over there.

Yes the Double Ring came first (1903 - 1906 per the wiki) and were commonly found in these slide clasp cases. The Single Rings started in June 1906 per the wiki BUT Achim's website shows a 1905 Single Ring in a slide clasp case here and there is a thread on 1905 Single Rings here.

We know that the London sales office was established before the UK factory. From the bottom of the case you can see that it contained this design:

Rather than the UK licence agreement found on later UK produced cases:

View attachment 287680

 

[alex2363]

Yes the Double Ring came first (1903 - 1906 per the wiki) and were commonly found in these slide clasp cases. The Single Rings started in June 1906 per the wiki BUT Achim's website shows a 1905 Single Ring in a slide clasp case here and there is a thread on 1905 Single Rings here.

We know that the London sales office was established before the UK factory. From the bottom of the case you can see that it contained this design:

Rather than the UK licence agreement found on later UK produced cases:

View attachment 287680

Thank you Mark for posting that underside pic. I did see that 1905 Single ring and the date code.

 

[Mick]

It is posts like this that make my day. Great find and thanks for sharing your unusual score with everyone

 

[MacDaddy]

Incidentally, Mark, the blade sleeves in that 1905 Single Ring set of Achim's appear to indicate that the set was sold by Unwin & Albert of 17 Regent Street, a perfumer and hairdresser in London. I wonder, then, if his is from 1905 but before the London sales office was fully established to be labeling the cases, and yours is from later in 1905 or maybe very early 1906 after the sales office was handling orders but before Gillette switched away from the slide latch cases.

 

[alex2363]

Incidentally, Mark, the blade sleeves in that 1905 Single Ring set of Achim's appear to indicate that the set was sold by Unwin & Albert of 17 Regent Street, a perfumer and hairdresser in London. I wonder, then, if his is from 1905 but before the London sales office was fully established to be labeling the cases, and yours is from later in 1905 or maybe very early 1906 after the sales office was handling orders but before Gillette switched away from the slide latch cases.

How do you know that the 1905 was sold by Unwin & Albert?

 

[Sled Dog]

Very nice find!
Educational thread too...thanks for the info guys

 

[Mark1966]

How do you know that the 1905 was sold by Unwin & Albert?

Look closely at the picture from Achim's site at the "Dull" blade sleeve:

 

[alex2363]

Look closely at the picture from Achim's site at the "Dull" blade sleeve:

Thanks Mark (and Achim + Porter) for the pics and insight , i think Porter may have a viable theory.