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I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around this one.

Gary H

Gary H

Type "Bottom Dial" here in the search box and you should find plenty to read on the history of that beauty.
 
Lexicon Devil

Lexicon Devil

It's a bottom dial fatboy adjustable. More than a limited release, it is actually a prototype and is quite rare. It's in great condition (apparently anyway) and cased, which is a plus. I certainly wouldn't pay that much but then I'm a shaver first and a collector second, if at all.
 
Dalejr

Dalejr

It's a Gillette oddity in my book and fairly rare. It's a collectors dream. Sadly I don't have the income to compete with the big boys...
 
rxonmymind

rxonmymind

whatever the collectible maybe be it glass bottles, Zippo lighters or old army stuff, pens, comic books however insignificant it may be to you they're all those niche collectors go find those items priceless. Also keep in mind the collector might have every single Gillette but that one and that razor will complete this whole set.
 
A

Arval512

I'm not knocking anyone here but as I was browsing and came across it I thought there had to be a story behind it and wanted to find out about it. Thanks for posting the wiki link Turtle and everyone else for their input... It appears it might not have ever been a retail item but the name 195 came from the asking price of $1.95. I know it can be said about a lot of stuff but don't ya wish you had a crisp $20 bill to spend on these guys in 1960?!

Is this one of the rarest vintage razors?
 
Copierguy

Copierguy

Arval512 said:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-GILLETTE-Bottom-Dial-Model-195-Adjustable-F4-Nine-Setting-SAFETY-RAZOR-/130892303900?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT&nma=true&si=B23CLcO62gL%252BeQEnn0brgCfcZSY%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

Why is this priced over $1500? I'm new to wet shaving (Bet you haven't heard that before) and was browsing vintage razors on ebay and came across this little nugget. Is it a limited release, rare, anyone know the story here?

And which one of you bought it? :001_tt2:
Click to expand...


This sale is rather unique. The razor comes up for sale from time to time but not often. One thing that is more rare than this razor is it's case and this case looked pretty good. Another item than is even more rare than the case is the warranty card. These items together in one ebay listing was the trifecta of Bottom Dial sales.

And sadly the winner was not me.
 
Copierguy

Copierguy

Arval512 said:
***edit It appears it might not have ever been a retail item but the name 195 came from the asking price of $1.95. I know it can be said about a lot of stuff but don't ya wish you had a crisp $20 bill to spend on these guys in 1960?!

Is this one of the rarest vintage razors?
Click to expand...

Historically there has been some confusion about this model and it being a prototype. This sale should support the idea that the 1-9 Bottom Dial was a retail item. Why else would you find a warranty card in the set and I would not think prototypes are found with display cases. There is another model with a bottom dial than could fit the definition of prototype.
And that is the 1-5 Bottom Dial, which has machined parts in the TTO assembly unlike the stamped parts in the 1-9 model. Also the 1-5 version has no date code while the 1-9 does, F-4.
I have only seen four, 1-5 Bottom Dials to date and never with a case. A higher number of 1-9 models show up on ebay each year.

If one of these versions is a prototype, I would bet on the 1-5 Bottom Dial.

attachment.php
 
alex2363

alex2363

Copierguy said:
Historically there has been some confusion about this model and it being a prototype. This sale should support the idea that the 1-9 Bottom Dial was a retail item. Why else would you find a warranty card in the set and I would not think prototypes are found with display cases. There is another model with a bottom dial than could fit the definition of prototype.
And that is the 1-5 Bottom Dial, which has machined parts in the TTO assembly unlike the stamped parts in the 1-9 model. Also the 1-5 version has no date code while the 1-9 does, F-4.
I have only seen four, 1-5 Bottom Dials to date and never with a case. A higher number of 1-9 models show up on ebay each year.

If one of these versions is a prototype, I would bet on the 1-5 Bottom Dial.

attachment.php
Click to expand...

What we mean it is a Prototype design razor ( not a actual Prototype) , we all know that it is a scarce razor and not a real rare razor, and we all know they are not really Red Dot Fatboys but just Gillette Adjustable with a red dot indicator.....also it is really not a Fatboy but a Gillette 1.95 adjustable ..........:001_smile
 
HerrHepcat

HerrHepcat

Meh... it is what it is. They are SUPER rare. AND this one was in the case. Fantastic!!

I was watching it, but knew it would be too much for me.
 
TheHammer

TheHammer

I believe they have gone for even more than that in the past. I'm actually surprised that it didn't go for more than what it did. My cased bottom dial is even more minty than that one, so I was excited to see what it sold for. Even for double that, I still don't think I would be able to part with it!
 
rxonmymind

rxonmymind

Looks like Gillette took back the crown of the highest priced razor. Woot! The Darwin took it for a minute at $1200? (Don't shoot me just going off memory.) This BD bkew past that by good measure.
Anyone know what the highest price ever paid for a razor?
 
A

Arval512

The history of razors... How intriguing! I searched the bay for completed listings and noticed there was only one other bottom dial that had sold recently (That I saw) and that was in February. The closing bid was near $800 if I recall but just like you pointed out copier, no case and no warranty card. Amazing how much value that adds to the piece.
 
kcb5150

kcb5150

The way I see it, that is a piece for hardcore collectors who need the most exclusive stuff. I'd say a lot of us are more along the lines of collectors who collect a lot of stuff to use, or because we think it is cool and occasionally sell off one or more to fund other acquisitions/experiments, or just wetshavers who pick a few razors they like after an experimentation period and stick with them for the most part.
 
Last edited:
kcb5150

kcb5150

I'm glad it spanked the Darwin price-wise if only for the fact that you see so many more darwins than these on ebay....
 
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