Is this a 1904 Gillette single ring? I'm not sure

[Heljen]

Hello all

I got this one in the mail yesterday. I checked the razor with this site http://www.renaldo.us/grbd.php and the markings may point out it's a 1904 single ring.
Pat. Nov. 15.04 is stamped on the razor and the serial number says. F149743.

 

[Mike H]

F codes were produced in 1918

 

[Heljen]

F codes were produced in 1918

Thank you Mike. Could it be that the bottom part is older than the one with the number on? Or are there also razors from 1918 marked with Pat. Nov 15.04

 

[Mike H]

No, I believe it is original. Here is a nice 1920 example - http://www.mr-razor.com/Rasierer/Old Type/1920 Standard Set No460.JPG

I do not know when Gillette stopped putting the 1904 Patent date on razors. Hopefully, one of the DE experts will chime in directly.

You have a really nice razor there, but I was wrong on the date, should be 1919, not 1918. http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/US_Gillette_Dating_Information

 

[Heljen]

No, I believe it is original. Here is a nice 1920 example - http://www.mr-razor.com/Rasierer/Old%20Type/1920%20Standard%20Set%20No460.JPG

I do not know when Gillette stopped putting the 1904 Patent date on razors. Hopefully, one of the DE experts will chime in directly.

Seems to me it isn't easy to date a razor . Another piece of info. There are no markings on the bottom of the blade holder (don't know the correct term for this)

 

[Mike H]

Interesting, could the F actually be a B? And what does the Logo inside the case look like?

 

[Heljen]

Interesting, could the F actually be a B? And what does the Logo inside the case look like?

Here are some additional photo's. The F does seem to be a real F since there are no signs of scratches or markings anywhere near it. The F is stamped higher than the rest and the last number (3) is slightly lower.

 

[MacDaddy]

Patent dates have little to do with the manufacture date of any item. All it tells you is that the item in question was (likely) made prior to the expiration of the patent being referenced. In this particular case, all Single Rings that were made in the US after the patent was issued and before it expired (in 1921) were stamped with that same date. Having no other markings than the patent date and serial number is perfectly normal for a razor from the time period that your serial number indicates.

The case that you've got there is from the British market, and I would normally expect to see an English-made razor in it; however, WWI was also massively disruptive to Gillette's manufacturing during this time. We know, for instance, that the Canadian plant did extra heavy duty to make up for plant closures in Europe. So, while they could have been matched up after the fact, it's not entirely out of the question that your set there with a British case and American razor would be how it came originally.

 

[chongo gordo]

Su-weet razor. Give it the 'ol baking soda and aluminum treatment. Ill bet the plating is near perfect.

 

[Heljen]

Patent dates have little to do with the manufacture date of any item. All it tells you is that the item in question was (likely) made prior to the expiration of the patent being referenced. In this particular case, all Single Rings that were made in the US after the patent was issued and before it expired (in 1921) were stamped with that same date. Having no other markings than the patent date and serial number is perfectly normal for a razor from the time period that your serial number indicates.

The case that you've got there is from the British market, and I would normally expect to see an English-made razor in it; however, WWI was also massively disruptive to Gillette's manufacturing during this time. We know, for instance, that the Canadian plant did extra heavy duty to make up for plant closures in Europe. So, while they could have been matched up after the fact, it's not entirely out of the question that your set there with a British case and American razor would be how it came originally.

Thank you very much for the information. I really is great to hear about the WOI and Gillette razors. Always have been interested in WOI so having a razor from that period always is nice.

Su-weet razor. Give it the 'ol baking soda and aluminum treatment. Ill bet the plating is near perfect.

That is what i'm hoping for. . Will post pictures when it's done. Will have time this weekend or next week.

 

[Heljen]

Well as promised here are the pictures of the razor after the aluminum foil / baking soda treatment.

I have put it in the mixture 2 times for about 10 min each time and finished with some polish and elbow grease. I'm proud of my new old shiny razor.

 

[chongo gordo]

Nice! I've got a couple of single rings that I cleaned up. I've yet to treat them to a polish though.