Hi all, how we doing? Any ideas, Whats a Gillette Safety Razer No. 430,030? Thanks.

[Ryan Holland]

Hi guys im Ryan I C Holland from New Zealand. Today whilst working in my father Ian C Hollands shed i came across my grandfather Charles A A Hollands razor. I used to pretend to shave with this whilst i was a child and have always been fascinated with it. I have borrowed it to try it out and see how well it works as im now 30 and am keen to furful my childhood dream of using the razor my grandfather had used. This was in the bottom of a box of tap fittings and old rolls of tape so im sure my father wont mind me borrowing it for a few days. My grandfather died 3 years before i was born and my grandmother passed when i was 3. I have no interests in parting with this razor but was hoping someone may be able to fill me in on its age etc. My grandfather was a soldier in the scottish Blackwatch and this used to be in a case containing his war medals, his badges, his bagpipes and his tartan. I am his only grandson also a former soldier in the NZ Army. On the back of the razor clamp it says BRIT PAT NO.430,030 GILLETTE MADE IN ENGLAND
There are some other small numbers i cant read that i will find a magnifying glass to read later. The case is Green with a Stainless steel lip around the inside edges of the case. Inside it says Gillette Safety Razor. Any help identifying this would be much appreciated. I will take a few photos of it once i have had a shave and post them up later. Thankyou.

 

[Jeff_H]

Hi Ryan,

I don't know enough to identify that razor by the patent number, but some here do. Pictures would certainly help. My guess based on your description of your grandfather and his things would be a Gillette Old Type, probably some sort of military set. Gillette supplied razors to the military of several countries for many years in the first half of the 20th century.

Is the razor an open comb razor, meaning it has "teeth"? As I said, pictures will likely solve the mystery and the small numbers will be a serial number, which can be used to narrow down the date of manufacture, at least to the year.

 

[dcobranchi]

Here's the patent: http://worldwide.espacenet.com/publ...PODOC&locale=en_EP&CC=GB&NR=430030A&KC=A&ND=4

There are several English Gillettes with that patent number. They all date to the mid to late '40s. Yours sounds like an Aristocrat No 21 set: http://www.mr-razor.com/Rasierer/One-Piece%20solid%20guard%20bar/1948%20Aristocrat%20No21.JPG

 

[Ryan Holland]

Thankyou, nailed it. The picture in the link you put up is identical to the one i have of my grandfathers, including the case. !940s aye, wow i wonder where he would have been at that time. My father was born in 1944 a year after he returned from service so im guessing he got it whilst stil on active duty or as some kind of gift when my father was born. Thank you for your help.

 

[dcobranchi]

You're welcome. And welcome to B&B!

BTW, that Rhodium plated Aristo is highly sought after. It's a beautiful piece of British engineering.

 

[Ryan Holland]

Sorry i jumped the gun a bit, its a #22 it has the number tiny as inside. i had a look on mr razors site and there it was. will post some photos shortly. Cheers.

 

[vsingh]

It's the patent no for the British aristocrat 15, 16, 21 and 22.