Like the title says.I could have swore I read a post that said the 1956 was different but I cannot find it.I have a '55 and I was thinking I would buy a '56 if the shave was different.
Paul
Paul
Is there any difference between a 1955 and a 1956 Red Tip SS
- Thread starter Easttexasman
- Start date
I wouldn't think there would be any discernible difference at all. Most people only need one red tip. If you want a different feeling superspeed, get a mid-to-late 50's nickel flair tip or a late 40's style. Or, go for a slim or a fatboy and you can get different levels of aggression. I believe a red tip is basically like a fatboy set on about 5. I own a 55 red tip myself and it's the only one I feel I need of that type. I have all of the razors I mentioned in this post, BTW.
- Thread starter
- #3
Thanks,Vinnie I was just curious.I am headed to a huge flea market at the end of the month and I will see if I can pick up something there.
Paul
Paul
Hey Paul,
I have a 40s SS that I would gladly sell or trade with you, if you're interested.
Long story short, my grandfather passed away a few years ago. This past weekend I was visiting my grandma, and it turned out that she still had his 1955 Red SS. The sentimental value of that, and the fact that I also have a slim, pretty much negates any need for me to hang on to this other one I picked up from a craigslist deal (post-AD downsizing).
PM me if you don't find anything locally and we can work something out. Otherwise I'll likely be throwing it in to a newbie kit.
Cheers,
Brian
I have a 40s SS that I would gladly sell or trade with you, if you're interested.
Long story short, my grandfather passed away a few years ago. This past weekend I was visiting my grandma, and it turned out that she still had his 1955 Red SS. The sentimental value of that, and the fact that I also have a slim, pretty much negates any need for me to hang on to this other one I picked up from a craigslist deal (post-AD downsizing).
PM me if you don't find anything locally and we can work something out. Otherwise I'll likely be throwing it in to a newbie kit.
Cheers,
Brian
I have two red tips which have different knurling. I have only used one, so I don't know if the shave is different. I also don't know the date codes off hand.
It's possible the is a difference in the head design as well.
- Thread starter
- #6
BigL,
Let me know if you find that they are different.
Paul
Let me know if you find that they are different.
Paul
The year? 
Now that I've looked, one is a E1 1959 and the other is a B2 1956. I've only used the '56. I don't see any difference in the head, but that doesn't mean it isn't there.
I have a 1956 B2 red tip and a 1957 C4 red tip with + + marks under the head. I always felt that the C4 shaved slightly better, even before I noticed the + + marks. The razors look identical except for the + + marks.
I read a post once that two razors supposedly identical can feel different. I put it down to this or my imagination. I've read that the + + marks are only to make it easier for Gillette to identify which heads go on red tips in the assembly process. Maybe I'm wrong.
I don't worry about it since the perceived difference is very slight, but I'll sell the B2 when I decide to thin the herd.
I read a post once that two razors supposedly identical can feel different. I put it down to this or my imagination. I've read that the + + marks are only to make it easier for Gillette to identify which heads go on red tips in the assembly process. Maybe I'm wrong.
I don't worry about it since the perceived difference is very slight, but I'll sell the B2 when I decide to thin the herd.
I may have read where they switched to a lower profile head in 1958. As for the ++ marks, that was to delineate the heavy razor (red tip) from the others. It did not show up on all red tips and as far as I know is not separated by date.
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?p=1478061
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?p=1478061
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There was a difference between 1957 and 1958 in the handle. The ring is higher on the early model. The fixing screw in the TTO knob gave way to the C-clip then as well. This change occurred at the same time in the ordinary SS too with no change in the heads.
Yeah, you're right. I read that somewhere too about the handle and maybe saw a picture showing the difference but couldn't find it. I also read that about the head being different but that must have been wrong. I have three 55-56 Redtips and they are all similar.
