Knurl patterns on The NEW: LC vs SC

[anaguma]

I've been looking around for information about the differences in the knurl pattern on the common bar handles of the long combed NEW razors compared to short combed NEW razors with the same handle.

From the examples I've seen (and these two which I picked up recently), the LC bar handle has no knurled part immediately beneath the smooth area of the handle which attaches to the head. While, on the other hand, the SC version has knurling immediately below that fluted area which attaches to the head.

Is this something that everyone knows, "like duh", or am I on to something here?

I'll try to post some pictures to better show what I'm talking about...

 

[taco8slo]

It is the Red and Black sets (including the Deluxe) that don't knurl all the way up. The common sets do...

 

[MacDaddy]

It is the Red and Black sets (including the Deluxe) that don't knurl all the way up. The common sets do...

This is definitely how they're most commonly seen and what is generally considered "correct"; however, from the volume of examples I've seen it's possible that Gillette wasn't so "hard and fast" with their assembly of these sets. That is, I wouldn't say that a Red & Black set with a handle that was missing the smooth band was definitively "wrong," and I've seen plenty of

So far as I know, there are three main variations of bar handle in this respect (not counting the thin or short ones), and the photos already in this thread show all three of them:

Flat-shouldered neck with smooth band below
(Most commonly seen with the Red & Black DeLuxe)

Round-shouldered neck with smooth band below
(Most commonly seen with the standard Red & Black)

Round-shouldered neck without smooth band below
(Seen with the other bar-handled sets, both short- and long-comb ones)

 

[xillion]

Here is a comparison shot of the various LC New, SC New, and New DeLuxe handles I've come across.

From left:
Ball End, Flat Shoulder Bar, Round Shoulder Bar, Common Bar, Norfolk Bar, Thin Long Bar, Thin Bar, Fat Tech, Thin Tech, Tuckaway.

 

[mistercitizen]

The common bar handle is one of my favorites. Unfortunately, I don't currently have on in my den.

Ben

 

[anaguma]

This is definitely how they're most commonly seen and what is generally considered "correct"; however, from the volume of examples I've seen it's possible that Gillette wasn't so "hard and fast" with their assembly of these sets. So far as I know, there are three main variations of bar handle in this respect.

Great feedback from my peers here at the B&B. Especially thanks to MacDaddy and xillion for the straightforward explanations with the phantasitic photos.

Do you think other people are aware of this? I've already learned that you can't really rely on model names for the "The NEW" Gillettes. If you don't have the box (and even if you do), you still can't be 100% sure what the "model" is. I don't think the King himself could put an exact name on the different models if he were here today and given a test.

So, the three basic NEW types as specific above are:
(1) Flat-shouldered bar w/smooth band
(2) Round-shouldered bar w/smooth band
(3) Round-shouldered bar w/knurled band

Can anyone definitely connect these to a date? Or is it totally an unknown impossibility?

Leisureguy also noted two (sans the flat shouldered version) of the differences (http://leisureguy.wordpress.com/2008/09/16/gillette-new-razor/):

 

[anaguma]

I was browsing the Razor Archive when I came across some interesting Gillette catalogs. Here are two pages from a 1930 catalog. Here is proof that the different models were nothing but case choices:

 

[MacDaddy]

Can anyone definitely connect these to a date? Or is it totally an unknown impossibility?

It's hard to say definitively, and they weren't purely sequential. But roughly speaking, the ball-end NEW sets, like the ones in that catalog, were the earlier ones that started when the NEWs first came out. The Red & Blacks seem to have shown up a few years later, around the mid '30s and on, and the other bar-handled ones like the Blue & Gold seem to have been mostly mid- to late '30s.

I was browsing the Razor Archive when I came across some interesting Gillette catalogs. Here are two pages from a 1930 catalog. Here is proof that the different models were nothing but case choices

Yes, this was definitely Gillette's S.O.P. even back to the Old Types. It was the complete sets that carried the names, not really the razors.

 

[anaguma]

Thanks again, MacDaddy. I don't why, but this is really interesting to me. You've given me a lot of useful information.

The whole Gillette practice of blatantly repackaging the same product was a reflection of the times. Maybe people back in the 30s didn't notice or didn't care about the whole naming / model thing. I know that Gillette was just out to sell blades, but by packaging "new" sets along with blades, he probably was able to pick up a few new converts to the Gillette razor each year.

One thing that I didn't know was that the "Old Types" were actually the first Gillette adjustable razors. In the early advertisements, catalogs and instructions, it explicity tells people to loosen the handle a little (thus extending the edge of the blade) when they wanted a closer shave. The Fat Boy only made it more of a science later on.

 

[MacDaddy]

One thing that I didn't know was that the "Old Types" were actually the first Gillette adjustable razors. In the early advertisements, catalogs and instructions, it explicity tells people to loosen the handle a little (thus extending the edge of the blade) when they wanted a closer shave. The Fat Boy only made it more of a science later on.

You be interested in dropping into this thread and reading the next few posts after this one. Gillette actually kept up that same advice on adjustability even into the TTO era, and there are examples of their instructions from various different models there.

 

[anaguma]

You be interested in dropping into this thread and reading the next few posts after this one. Gillette actually kept up that same advice on adjustability even into the TTO era, and there are examples of their instructions from various different models there.

very interesting ... I don't think I would try loosening the tension on my Aristocrat though. It seems like the blade would be too loose, and it's already very agressive to me.

I'm still waiting for my NEWs to be delivered. I can't wait to try them out.