How to fix end caps on a Gillette Superspeed ?

[Maxime D.]

I have this nice flare tip 1956, pratically immaculate, not a single brassing spot BUT the thing haven't any end caps :-/ Is there a way to fix it ?

 

[damhans]

You can find a donor razor which is other wise beat-up but the caps are fine, and use those. The caps are soldered on, so you'll have to carefully heat the cap up to melt the solder, then epoxy the caps onto your good razor.

 

[JDTTO]

Are you sure this razor had them originally?

It's not something that is easily lost on an otherwise "practically immaculate" SS.

 

[Doppelgaenger]

a 56 SS would have them, from what I remember you have to go into the early 40s to find a gillette razor without them.

 

[LegionPrime]

I have 3 Aristocrats, one has endcaps, one HAD endcaps and the other didn't ever have endcaps. I had contacted West Coast Razors about replating and Dave said in addition to replating he can replace endcaps. If all else fails he might be an option.

 

[Mendel]

To be clear, should all Superspeeds have end caps. I have a 1959 e1 flair tip with no end cap. Should it have an end cap?

 

[BBrad]

To be clear, should all Superspeeds have end caps. I have a 1959 e1 flair tip with no end cap. Should it have an end cap?

Yes, all SS were produced with end caps. The pre-war predecessor, the Ranger Tech, did not have them when first introduced, but they were added with the post-war production in 1946. All TTO from then on had them.

 

[Maxime D.]

I can clearly see the old solders, maybe it was manufactured on a Monday by a lazy worker. I wan't a refund !!

 

[the_edski]

Unless you REALLY want them, they aren't needed. Its a purely cosmetic part of the razor and has no bearing on the shaving performance. It might just be easier to look for another SS that explicitly states it has endcaps.

 

[bakerbarber]

Remove the old solder and polish the metal.

I've transplanted before and too much heat can discolor the finish.

The damn things are tiny and a pain to get on straight and even. Especially when hot.

 

[Maxime D.]

Unless you REALLY want them, they aren't needed. Its a purely cosmetic part of the razor and has no bearing on the shaving performance. It might just be easier to look for another SS that explicitly states it has endcaps.

noted

 

[rxonmymind]

Good to know....

 

[Maxime D.]

I removed the solder with my dremel and a brass brush (Very effective and without risk for the razor, It didnt even scratched it)than fix the caps with epoxy. They seems to be solidely anchored.