Help me identify this gold Gillette TTO please!

[Razrnewb]

Picked up this nice little gold razor advertised as a 1940’s Aristocrat on EBay. I was initially convinced that it was a 1941 Aristocrat based on the engraving inside the head, no date code and no end caps, and assumed I had a great deal at $35. This razor appears to be in original condition with the typical wearing away of the gold wash on the head, but the end pieces are in good condition and gold, indicating that this razor has never had end caps. Those that have lost end caps over the years have the obvious solder marks and raw metal look. There is a tiny catch in the mechanism that has mostly resolved with soaking and it would replate perfectly. Just wondering if it’s worth it and what it is, exactly that I have.
What doesn’t add up is the notched bar. From what I can find, the ‘41 was the only Aristocrat that had no end caps, but no Gillettes had a notched bar until many years later. I also tried to cross reference Regent Tech and any other similar gold razors from that era, tried Mr razor and everything else I could find on the web. No luck.
Do I have something rare, something that was put together out of the parts bin after WW2 or a Frankenrazor someone has pieced together? I don’t have a box or anything else that may be a clue.
Thanks, Dave

 

[nemo]

48-50 Aristocrat, end caps are missing. Some of those guys had a hard life! Looks like a little solder blob on the second pic. A light polish or heat can make the arms look gold again. If you melt the solder and use a solder sucker or wipe (wet solder sponge) it can come pretty clean. Or possibly it also could have been re-plated, doubt that though.

Finding gold end caps isn't always easy but soldering them back on isn't too hard. I've bought donor razors simply for that pupose. But just leave it and enjoy, like driving a car with the hubcaps removed. Congrats, they're nice shavers!

 

[Razrnewb]

Thank you for responding! I have no soldering skills so I’ll let Back Roads Gold address that. No scratches at all so should replate very nicely.

 

[GR5233]

Thank you for responding! I have no soldering skills so I’ll let Back Roads Gold address that. No scratches at all so should replate very nicely.

I was just thinking that BRG would be able to replace them and be able to match them to the original if you didn’t feel comfortable doing it

 

[profusion]

I agree that it's a '48-50 Aristocrat, even beyond the issue of the missing end caps.

• The indentation between the lather channels on the top of the base plate started in 1946. That supposedly makes a small difference in the shave versus the pre-war TTOs.
• It has notches on the center bar.
• The top "ring" on the handle is knurled.

 

[fengcs]

The early ones without end caps are original, and what I want to know is whether the later ones without end caps are original or restored，thanks！

 

[nemo]

... what I want to know is whether the later ones without end caps are original or restored

Not original. Hopefully a "restored" razor would have them.

 

[Hair Scraper]

I agree that it's a '48-50 Aristocrat, even beyond the issue of the missing end caps.

• The indentation between the lather channels on the top of the base plate started in 1946. That supposedly makes a small difference in the shave versus the pre-war TTOs.
• It has notches on the center bar.
• The top "ring" on the handle is knurled.

And “U.S.A.” is post-war, versus “USA” which is pre-war. Plus, the swaged ring on the bottom plate, between the patent wording, is milled flat. If memory serves me right that manufacturing step ended in mid ‘49. (Correct me if I’m wrong.)

 

[Razrnewb]

I was just thinking that BRG would be able to replace them and be able to match them to the original if you didn’t feel comfortable doing it

I have a Red Tip enroute back from BRG that was missing the caps. Shaved just fine without them. Chris puts them back on for $10 each with replate, so I’ll do that again.

 

[GR5233]

I have a Red Tip enroute back from BRG that was missing the caps. Shaved just fine without them. Chris puts them back on for $10 each with replate, so I’ll do that again.

I have a 1948-50 aristocrat that’s missing a cap. It works fine without it. For me it would mostly be an aesthetic thing versus functionality

 

[WVShaver]

I'd say it's a 48. Since the wording inside says "Package" instead of "Pkg". Most notched bar razors have the latter but yours is still using the older version. It doesn't seem to be rare, but it is less common then a notched bar with "Pkg" since they were made from 49-51. They may have even used "Package" on some 49s but I'm not really an expert.

Your end caps do look well finished for ones that are lost. I would have thought it was a 41 myself if I had only seen the end caps. But you can always tell quickly if it's 41-47 or 48-51 just from the handle alone. The handles on the 41-47 didn't have knurling on that very top section but the 48-51 like yours does.

I'd personally just use it like it is. You can find Aristocrats fairly cheap on auctions if you keep an eye out. You can probably find a mint one for cheaper then a replate would cost. I don't mind the wear as long as it shaves good so I'm not much of a replate person. I'd rather spend the money on another razor to try.

 

[AndyPanda]

I have one that looks just like it (but mine has end caps). I have been thinking mine is '48 for all the same reasons given above. (notched, "Package", the creases by the lather slots, knurled top ring, swagged ring is milled flat etc.)

I'd just leave the caps off - yours looks great without them.

These are wonderful razors and give a fantastic shave! Enjoy it!

 

[njpaddy]

My first post here in 2009, was about an unused Aristocrat set found hidden in my stepdad's dresser after he died. With the L-4 blades in the set, members here confirmed it as a '41. The pics in that post no longer show up, but I can take new ones if anyone is interested. It's still unused.

 

[Wombat ESQ]

My first post here in 2009, was about an unused Aristocrat set found hidden in my stepdad's dresser after he died. With the L-4 blades in the set, members here confirmed it as a '41. The pics in that post no longer show up, but I can take new ones if anyone is interested. It's still unused.

Totally Interested, please.

 

[BradWorld]

The notched bar indicates 48 or newer to me. I am not an expert on the verbiage indicators though. I had two with only one end cap each. Sent them both to BRG and had him revamp the better one. I had him keep the donor, and sent him some other spare vintages for a bit of a discount on the plating and revamp work. Amazing results.

 

[njpaddy]

Totally Interested, please.

Found an old pic of the 1941 Aristocrat. Other than missing a few blades, it's unused and seems complete. Next week, I'll try to take more detailed pics of the DE itself.

 

[GR5233]

Found an old pic of the 1941 Aristocrat. Other than missing a few blades, it's unused and seems complete. Next week, I'll try to take more detailed pics of the DE itself.

View attachment 1895065

Beautiful razor

 

[Wombat ESQ]

Found an old pic of the 1941 Aristocrat. Other than missing a few blades, it's unused and seems complete. Next week, I'll try to take more detailed pics of the DE itself.

View attachment 1895065

HOT DANG Holy Dooly Bantam !! O M G Sa Wheat ! That would look good in my greasy lil paws ... the white gloves would come out, and I think I would even be cautious about laying the razor on the top of the case too, but thats me, Fussbum Esq