Hello, look what I found!

[WThomas0814]

If this is late-50s to 70s per comments, where is the date code? didn’t the Brits date their razors after 1951, as the Canadians did?

I’m wondering if this isn’t a head/handle mix of some sort, although that doesn’t look like a 70s aluminum spiral handle.

 

[Lightcs1776]

Welcome to B&B. That is a beautiful razor. I suggest trying a variety pack of razor blades to see which ones work best for you. There are multiple vendors that sell variety packs. Two of my favorites are Perma-Sharp and Nacets, but blades are very much a "your mileage may vary" type of item.

 

[ivan_101]

If this is late-50s to 70s per comments, where is the date code? didn’t the Brits date their razors after 1951, as the Canadians did?

I’m wondering if this isn’t a head/handle mix of some sort, although that doesn’t look like a 70s aluminum spiral handle.

As I already explained in post #4 the razor is from the very late 50s. Not later than 1960.

It is not a mix. Gillette England started stamping codes in 1970.

 

[razorfool]

I've read various threads here over the years off and on, but never thought of posting until I made a remarkable (at least to me) discovery, and was hoping someone could help punt me in the direction of a ballpark date on the made in England Gillette "Super Silver" blade, code letter "Y" one one side, and on the flipped over side, number "2".

My grandfather gave me his shaving kit that he kept from the second world war, and many other things, just before he passed. To me, he was a very kind and good man, though we weren't blood related as he was my step mother's father. Unfortunately, she has a tendency to throw things out without asking and so those old razors disappeared literally days later, never to be seen again. I always wanted to get one like he had, yet the modern stuff seemed either very pricey, or throw away quality.

Eventually, I thought, "what's the worst that could happen", and got a Wilkinson Sword butterfly opening modern safety razor a good few years ago and was very happy.

Recently, I wondered if there was something I could do to speed up my shaving, to require less strokes and get a closer result, so I tried "Feather" blades, and wasn't terribly impressed, especially with the price. They start fine, but a few shaves later and they seem worse than the locally made Bic Astors I can get easily and much cheaper in bulk. So, I upgraded razor to a Mülhe r41.

It's nice, but frankly a bit disappointed with it. It was touted from thread to thread as some kind of lightsabre across various sites. To me, the Wilkinson with a shim added does a better job.

Randomly passing a second hand stall today and saw this fine looking Gillette and bought it for a tenner. I tried searching for a date, wondering if it's safe to use the blades after what might be a good bit of time since new. I opened one to see not a trace of rust, so rinsed the lot under the hot water tap just in case and had.... Literally the best shave of my entire life!

I feel like such an idiot for not swallowing my pride and trying a second hand razor years ago as it's not the first time I saw one like this.

If only they still made blades like this! We'll see how long it lasts, because I was initially happy with the Feather's, too, but for something that's sat in a box for possibly decades, I'm utterly blown away. They go for crazy money it seems from searching, though I'm none the wiser as to the date code, if it's 90s (seems a bit recent given the shape of the razor and the slightly degraded little luggage case thing the whole lot came in.)

Anyways, thanks for reading!
View attachment 1849875

Very nice condition Gillette Tech! Looks like the aluminum handle version. I have the 1958 all brass version, made in England, and it also shaves like no tomorrow. Never tried a feather in it but I just might since I recently acquired a few. I call mine the Square Ball End Tech.