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How does a President shave?

I absolutely live the look of that Rhodium and hefty handle, but I'm a little scared of the price.

My favorite razor is a '48-'49 SS. Do you think I would like the shave of the President, or Aristocrat, Senator for that matter? - All are available with rhodium plating, right?
 
I have a President and it looks sweet, but it does not shave as well as the 48-50 SS for me. It is a nice shave but just not as close for the same number of passes and the same brand of blade. I have seen it written that the President is more aggressive, but I do not think so. My Progress is more aggressive.
Larry
 
I actually have a different experience. The president i had shaved pretty much exactly like a 47 SuperSpeed, with one difference: It was NICER to look at :w00t:
 
I absolutely live the look of that Rhodium and hefty handle, but I'm a little scared of the price.

My favorite razor is a '48-'49 SS. Do you think I would like the shave of the President, or Aristocrat, Senator for that matter? - All are available with rhodium plating, right?

Actually, the Executive was the only rhodium plated American made Gillette.
 
I thought the Gillette President also was supposed to have Rhodium plating. It sure isn't the typical nickle or chrome.

The President was prepped much like the British nickel plated razors of that same era. The brass was buffed to an ultra smooth surface which made for a very smooth looking nickel plate. The Executive was always advertised as being rhodium plated. It is the only American razor advertised in that manner.
 
Two questions then: 1) what is that plating that looks so great, and what other razors use it? And, 2) how does an Executive shave?

Gillettes are only plated in nickel, gold, silver or rhodium. Only the earliest Gillettes were silver plated. After that all silver tint American ones were nickel plated except for the Executive. The Executive shave is very similar to an Aristocrat except for the thrill of its beauty.

The President is much like a proof coin if you are familiar with coins minting. The surface is ultra smooth and thus it appears to be shinier even though it has the same plating as a standard Super Speed which didn't receive the same preparation.
 
Gillettes are only plated in nickel, gold, silver or rhodium. Only the earliest Gillettes were silver plated. After that all silver tint American ones were nickel plated except for the Executive. The Executive shave is very similar to an Aristocrat except for the thrill of its beauty.

The President is much like a proof coin if you are familiar with coins minting. The surface is ultra smooth and thus it appears to be shinier even though it has the same plating as a standard Super Speed which didn't receive the same preparation.

I do, of course, want to add due to a brain fart that there was one other plating on American Gillettes. Certain NEW Norfolks and Criterions were chrome plated.

Thanks to an old friend for the nudge!
 
I think JFK preferred a straight razor shave, administered by a skilled barber.

Don't know what Clinton used, but he didn't mind bringing a barber aboard AF-1 on the apron at LAX, tying up the airport for hours.
 
The President shaves just the same as the late 40s Aristocrats IMO. As Guido points out, it is the look that makes it special.
 
I do, of course, want to add due to a brain fart that there was one other plating on American Gillettes. Certain NEW Norfolks and Criterions were chrome plated.

Thanks to an old friend for the nudge!

Do you know what type of plating was used for the "gunmetal" finish advertised on some of the old Pocket Editions?
 
The President shaves just the same as the late 40s Aristocrats IMO. As Guido points out, it is the look that makes it special.

I haven't tried my president yet and don't have an aristocrat, but I always thought that they should shave the same. I thought a president was basically a nickel aristocrat with a slightly different handle texture on some areas.
 
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