My first birth year razor 1973

[mpkelley20]

I was intentionally looking to buy a birth year razor but I've been interested in getting an adjustable razor for a little while now. I've been using a Merkur 180 to learn how to properly shave and I have nailed down my process after only a short 2 months! I was going to get either a progress or future but everyone seems to be going back to the Fat Boy.

In my search on Ebay for a Fat Boy, I found a Super Speed black handle (listed as black beauty but it was a short handled version). I noticed it was a 1973 with a T1 label (so I believe that means first quarter which is when my B-day was). Seemed to be in great shape so I decided to get it. $39 with free shipping. Price seemed to be in line with what I found when I researched price ranges ($25 to $50). I'll post up pics when I get it.

This razor seems to get decent reviews on here but maybe not as great as the original Slim or the Fat boy. I wonder how it will be vs. my Merkur 180 which I find to be a good shave (not aggressive in any way)

I'm still looking for a fat boy as well but prices seem outrageous online. Hoping to get something under $50 but most of those seem to be in rough shape. Looks like $75 to $100 is the going rate for a decent one but not sure I'm that addicted to my new shaving hobby just yet!!

 

[brucered]

T1 is my birth year too. I stopped looking as I'm on sabbatical

I'm hoping to land a Super Adjustable Short Handle T1 someday.

Looking forward to the pics. Hope you enjoy it.

 

[mpkelley20]

Found it by accident when I did a search for adjustable razors on Ebay. Wasn't necessarily looking for a specific year but I guess I just lucked out. I am still looking for a Fat Boy so, assuming I get one, if I like it better than my T1, I'll keep you in mind if I decide to let it go.

 

[mpkelley20]

So I got two razors in the mail today. First, the razor stated in my first post, the 1973 black beauty.








My first shave with it didn't go so well. I started on setting 2 and I ended up with the worst razor burn ever from a DE shave. I think it's mostly due to the shave soap I used as I recently bought my first thing of Paraso shave soap. My first shave with that soap using my Merkur 180 was pretty bad too but not as bad as with the super adjustable. Tomorrow I will try the razor using my usual shave oil instead of something I am not used to.

When I set it on 2, I couldn't get a very close shave with it. Turning it to 3 helped but it just didn't seem to glide very well. Hoping it's the shave soap!


The second razor that came today was a Fat Boy. Finally got one off Ebay for under $35. It's a G2 code so I guess that is 1961 second quarter time frame. Obviously I haven't tried that yet but will give it a shot after my next attempt with the super adjustable.

 

[Jeff_H]

Good luck with the adjustable razors. I don't have a black beauty, but my shaving results with the Slim were very similar to your first experience with the BB. Bad razor burn no matter what setting I used. Now, I did have an average, decent shave my first time out with the Fat Boy. Not what I expected. The Slim is much more comfortable in my hand, I like the thinner head profile and I can get under my nose much easier with it. But, the Fat Boy shaved better.

For me, a setting of 3-4 yielded the best results with the Fat Boy. I was afraid to try it on a higher setting, as I started the Slim on 5 and it was an unmitigated disaster. I think I'm finding I prefer open comb razors...and I started with the 180 just like you. Even though I have several vintage razors and a Muhle R89, the Merkur still gives me the best shaves.

Best of luck with your new razors and congrats.

 

[mpkelley20]

Thanks! Other than the 180 and the black beauty, the only other razor I've tried was a 1920 something Probak razor. It killed me! LOL!! I'll give these adjustables a few more shots with a milder blade, maybe a Derby, to see how they pan out. If anything, it will be an experience!!

 

[JSB33]

Congrats on the Fatboy, a G2 is sort of my Holy Grail as its from when I was born.
Keep us updated on how it works for you.

 

[mpkelley20]

Will do. If I don't like either (or more to the point neither produces a better shave than my 180) I will be more than happy to part with these. I'd just look to get back whatever I originally paid.
The T1 I got was by pure coincidence. Wasn't looking for a birth year, it just happened.

 

[brucered]

play with the adjustments and settings.

I've found my Slim is best on 3, 4, 5 for my 3 passes. whereas my Blk beauty is 2, 3, 4. I have a FB but don't use it enough to recall what works best.

The SLIM works best for me.

if they don't work out, you can always post them in the BST when you are eligible (days and post count)

I posted this elsewhere a while back, but here are my take on the Gillette Adjustables i have tried:

1) SLIM - Cheap, perfect weight, balance and function. It gives me the best shave of any razor. I do a reverse aggressive dialing...start on 3, then 4, then 5 for a BBS every time. Lots of feedback from the blade with audible cutting of whiskers. The low profile of the head makes it easy to maneuver under the nose etc.

2) BLK BEAUTY - Again, Cheap, perfect weight and balance. It does not give as much feedback and feels a bit more head heavy and the handle is not as refined looking to me, but function is spot on and it's a great razor. If the handle was made from a nice finish material and didn't show signs of wear easier then the Slim, it may be the better of the SLIM and BLK BEAUTY. I was surprised at how good it was when I put it for a week long test recently. It's my go-to travel/camping razor.

3) FAT BOY - chunkier, heavier, and this one you need to go a bit easier then the above two. Again, I do a 3, 4, 5 with it and get a BBS, but I have to go a bit slower and let the razor do more of the work then with the slim. It's not a difficult razor to shave with, but demands a bit more of my attention then the SLIM and BLK BEAUTY. Not that that is a bad thing, but it may be a weekend razor for me as I have to slow down a bit to get the end result I need. Glad I have one and it feels like a million bucks in my hand.

4) TOGGLE - by far the nicest looking of the 4, but gives me the worst shave. I only used it a couple times on loan from a buddy, but it did not work for me. It was too long, too heavy and seemed to aggressive. I dialed it down from the FB and still couldn't get it to work with various blades. I still wouldn't mind owning one to see if I could tame it, but for now it's just not one I'll search out.

 

[mpkelley20]

Thanks for the info.

Question....is it easy to get razor burn uf you have an adjustable set too mild and it requires more passes to get close? Or another way of asking...is it better to have the adjustable set to a higher number for a closer cur on the first pass to help avoid razor burn?

I started at a 2 with the black beauty and on the first pass it was noticeably not as close as my 180. I switched to 3 and it seemed to get a bit closer but not sure if starting out too mild caused the issue.

As I said, the Poraso shave soap and pre shave cream I recently tried has given me two terrible shaves (with different razors) so perhaps that is the issue. My intent is to try my normal stuff but wanted to see if the above could be the issue.

 

[brucered]

if you got crappy shaves from the Proraso before this razor, I'd try a different product.

Some get irritation on low settings, I haven't found that. but yes, if you are having to do 4-5 passes with a low setting, it will take a toll on your skin.

the less passes, the better it is for your skin. the odd time, I do a 2 pass (WTG, ATG) and when I do, it's with a higher setting and my skin thanks me for it.

if low settings are causing irritation, try jacking it up a number or 2.

 

[mpkelley20]

Yeah...think I will dump the Poraso. I've tried a few shave soaps that have worked well and others not so much (Williams was bad for me). So far, the best shave I get regardless of with a DE razor or cartridge is using (don't laugh) a shave oil called Shave Secret. I get it at Walmart and I can use it by itself without cream.... That will be my next shave with the black beauty.

 

[JSB33]

Will do. If I don't like either (or more to the point neither produces a better shave than my 180) I will be more than happy to part with these. I'd just look to get back whatever I originally paid.
The T1 I got was by pure coincidence. Wasn't looking for a birth year, it just happened.

Cool, I hope they both give you a fantastic result but if they don't, you have a place to unload your Fatboy....