ID please - Aristocrat?

[BlkKnight]

I've just picked up this from ebay for 12UK£

I've a feeling it's an aristocrat - looks like it has some plate loss on the handle.

The code (from what I can make out) is J 1 the colour is GOLD

Can anyone confirm?

What's the usual price for these?

I'll post better pics when it arrives

 

[Merkur25]

That sure is an Aristocrat Adjustable. They range from $25-$50, depending on condition. With a nice case I have seen them go for $150-$200.

 

[BlkKnight]

Cheers.

No case sadly.

 

[Eddieb208]

The J1 date code means 1964, first quarter. It's a Slim Adjustable, gold plated Aristocrat model.

 

[BlkKnight]

Is the only difference between a slim and the aristocrat the gold paint?

 

[luvmysuper]

The Slim was nickel plated and the Aristocrat was Gold plated.
That and the case is the only difference.

 

[BlkKnight]

Just taken delivery of it this morning.

Oh my what a beauty.

Absolutely no plate loss at all - and given the photo's (from ebay) I'm really surprised.

The majority of the gunk is either soap scum or limescale.

I have my first restore on my hands

 

[luvmysuper]

Be careful, that gold plate is really thin and can be polished off in the blink of an eye.

 

[Aberneth]

The only way to polish it and preserve the plating for sure is to soak it in ammonia for 30 seconds to a minute, then polish it gently with jeweler's rouge on a dremel tool flannel wheel on the lowest possible speed. Any other polish (flitz, maas, brasso, silvo, etc) will risk taking off the plating.

 

[BlkKnight]

Will barbicide be OK?

 

[Oldguy]

The gold plating on this razor is protected by a thin layer of lacquer. I would worry that the heat built up by using a Dremel wheel of any type would damage the lacquer. I would just clean the razor with warm water and dish soap and not use polish of any kind.

A 20 minute soak in Barbicide will not hurt it.

Len

 

[BlkKnight]

Thanks.

Plan is soak in water (no additives) overnight.

Gently scrape off the crud with toothbrush/pick

20 minutes in barbicide

More toothbrush/pick action.

Borrow Mum's ultrasonic jewellery cleaner

Rinse & done

 

[BlkKnight]

Some pics after a quick wash














J 1 hidden

 

[Aberneth]

The gold plating on this razor is protected by a thin layer of lacquer. I would worry that the heat built up by using a Dremel wheel of any type would damage the lacquer. I would just clean the razor with warm water and dish soap and not use polish of any kind.

A 20 minute soak in Barbicide will not hurt it.

Len

Are you sure about that? All of gillette's lacquer coated razors have an orange hue to them.

Either way, the heat between the flannel wheel and the razor is negligible. With Rouge, you use NO pressure. You let the rotating wheel do all the work. If it gets warm, the wax begins to melt and acts as a lubricant, which in turn brings the temperature back down.

I have polished lacquered razors with rouge before. I've done 3 NEWs, 2 gold techs, and a contract tech (which has black lacquer). They all turned out marvelously.