Is this worth anything?

[alexf]

Hi there,

I've recently got into wet shaving with a DE and its an amazing difference!

A few weeks ago my Dad found my Grandads old DE shaver and I just wanted to know if anyone reckons its worth something?

Heres a couple of pics:

There are some markings but unfortunately all I can make out is made in Canada and something "Mark"?

If its not worth a bean I'll clean it up and use it myself I suppose

Thanks in advance!

 

[CoachClassRow13]

Everything's worth something to someone! I say give it a scrubbing bubbles bath and a light scrubbing with a soft toothbrush and see how it shaves!

 

[fidjit]

Yep......

It's priceless !!!

Not only does it look in good condition for it's age, no bent or broken teeth but it's the razor that your Granddad used to shave with.

It's a family heirloom and you can't put a price on that

Give it a good clean up and it's all good to go !

 

[michiganlover]

It's a Gillette Old Type. One of the first Double Edge razors Gillette made. It's worth maybe $15-$20 depending on it's condition. I wouldn't even think of selling it: it's a family heirloom. Not many of us can say that we shave with a razor our grandfather used.

The Vintage Gillette razors were great items that were built to last, it's a true testament to their build quality that a razor 100 years old will still shave the same today, as the day it left the factory.

I doubt that will be said of many of the DE razors being made today.

 

[alexf]

Ok thanks for the info guys thats really helpful.

I'll give it a clean up now and try it in the next couple of days!

You're all correct, it is nice that it was Grandads and it will be good to keep using it.

Cheers

 

[SRock]

If it was from your family it is definitely priceless.

 

[joglander]

I'm a newbie here, so I won't claim expertise, but of the three DE's I've tried, my Gillette Old Type is my favorite. That one will clean up nicely.

 

[Eclectic]

I have one of these. Exactly the same, made in Canada. But I haven't tried using it. These were designed for the old thick blades. I read somewhere that you can use a paperclip as a spacer and then use modern thin blades. But does the paperclip go on top of, or underneath, the blade?

 

[michiganlover]

I have one of these. Exactly the same, made in Canada. But I haven't tried using it. These were designed for the old thick blades. I read somewhere that you can use a paperclip as a spacer and then use modern thin blades. But does the paperclip go on top of, or underneath, the blade?

A shim consisting of a DE blade with the edges trimmed off will work much better, as it will go the entire length of the blade.

The goal is to create a bigger gap between the safety bar, and the blade, so thus the shim would go underneath the blade.

 

[Rumbaldi]

Shaving with our Grandfather's razor is an experience most of us would treasure. By all means hold on to it.

 

[Deltaboy]

Post some more pics after you clean it up. I would not sale my late Grandfather's razors for any amount of money.

 

[valmara1971]

I have one of these. Exactly the same, made in Canada. But I haven't tried using it. These were designed for the old thick blades. I read somewhere that you can use a paperclip as a spacer and then use modern thin blades. But does the paperclip go on top of, or underneath, the blade?

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=142996&highlight=shims

Here you go fella.

 

[Eclectic]

Thanks for the help and advice guys.

 

[Trawlerman]

@Alexf
Not wanting to sound rude or anything but are you intending to participate in this forum or did you just come here to pick our brains on how much to price something for eBay? Because if that's the case then you are abusing our hospitality.

I do hope this is not the case and that we see you around here a bit more in the future.

 

[rkelmy]

Hi there,

I've recently got into wet shaving with a DE and its an amazing difference!

A few weeks ago my Dad found my Grandads old DE shaver and I just wanted to know if anyone reckons its worth something?

Heres a couple of pics:

There are some markings but unfortunately all I can make out is made in Canada and something "Mark"?

If its not worth a bean I'll clean it up and use it myself I suppose

Thanks in advance!

You can have it re-plated. There is a web site which offers razor replating

 

[bran]

As others have said that is a priceless family keepsake. I would love to have either of my grandfather's razors.

 

[Slash McCoy]

It's a Gillette Old Type. One of the first Double Edge razors Gillette made. It's worth maybe $15-$20 depending on it's condition. I wouldn't even think of selling it: it's a family heirloom. Not many of us can say that we shave with a razor our grandfather used.

The Vintage Gillette razors were great items that were built to last, it's a true testament to their build quality that a razor 100 years old will still shave the same today, as the day it left the factory.

I doubt that will be said of many of the DE razors being made today.

It is a testament to how our modern workmanship and attention to quality have slipped in favor of the quick buck and planned obsolescence, that this razor that we gush and gosh over, and that kind of durability, were nothing special when it was made. That's the way things were made, period. It was not specially meant to be a razor that would last for hundreds of years. It was just they way they made them, period. We think that sort of lasting quality is an abberration, because relative to what we have today, it pretty much is.

Because they were not meant to self-destruct and force the owner to buy a new one, the old Gillettes are pretty much still around, which is why they don't bring a fortune on ebay unless they are mint or nearly mint. They probably never will. They don't fall apart. They won't get rare. The monetary value of that razor will never even come close to the sentimental value of a family heirloom. I say keep it, and use it, or give it to someone else in the family who will use it and treasure it.

I am not sure I would have it replated. After all, your great grandkids will just have to do it all over again in 100 more years.

 

[GentsInstinct]

That looks like the basket weave ABC (American Button Company) Gillette case. Can't say if the razor is original to it but I don't think it is as I don't recall seeing that kind of handle in the ABC sets. Money wise, the razor isn't worth much. These are a dime a dozen on Ebay. If it really is your grandfather's, it's got way more sentimental value than the 10 bucks you might get for it on Ebay.

 

[alexf]

I cleaned the razor up and used it for the first time today.

Have to say it gave a lovely close shave, far closer than the beginners razor I have atm, so it will be my new go-to.

Cleaned with metal polish and copious amounts of surgical spirit/vodka/TCP, its come up very well indeed:

And here you can just about make out the Gillette mark (before it was so dirty I didn't know what make it was):

Next all I need to do is get some dedicated hot towels

 

[wimbouman]

Nice!