My first vintage Gillette, what to hunt?

[il dottore]

Oh man... In spite of myself I'm now on the market for a vintage razor. I managed to keep my cool for a while, until I saw a dusty TTO in the window of a local hairdresser. I started searching the web to identify it (turns out it's a Slim Twist/Knack), and all of a sudden I'm tracking items on eBay... So a query for all you guys who've seen it all: regardless of price and condition, how would you rank the following models?

- Super Speed '49
- Super Speed Flare Tip
- Knack with blue handle
- Knack with white handle (if there is any difference)
- Fat Boy

I'd rather buy only one, so try to agree please

 

[Shutterbug57]

Fat Boy - adjustable so you can dial it in for your preference.
49 SS the 40s style is the best of the regular SS style (I prefer the Red Tip)
Flair Tip SS - classic DE
I am not a fan of the Knack.

 

[dcobranchi]

For a first vintage I'd go with either of the SuperSpeeds. Easy peasey shaves and usually cheap. Fatboys are pretty pricey on the 'Bay.

 

[Makubex]

I have Fatboy, SS 40s, and Flair Tip. Overall, I love my Fatboy, but I think Flair Tip and 40s may be even better than Fatboy in terms of cost performance.

 

[Nomad1600]

Consider a Slim in place of the Fatboy. Shave pretty much the same, and if the differences (thinner, longer handle; flatter profile head) are not a problem to you, you can usually find good condition Slims for much less than Fatboys. Prices always fluctuate and are dependent on condition, but a Slim usually can be found for $20-35 but Fatboys generally go for $40-50.

The Superspeeds should be found for even less ($15-30), so if cost is a factor, then getting an SS would get you the taste of vintage razors at a lower entry cost. I happen to lik ethe looks of 40's style Superspeeds but flaretips are usually less expensive.

 

[nemo]

First Gillette from that list -- Super Speed

 

[Rawskin]

Welcome to your next addiction! Buy them all! Then shave with each of them as part of a weekly rotation. Each has its own properties and that is part of the fun!

 

[il dottore]

Well I'll be damned! It is actually a Slim, good thing I took a closer look at this thread!
In full disclosure, the Slim is in mint condition and with the case, so it's more tempting just because of that. Hard to know where it will end price-wise, but it's already at $30 with 2 days left. The Flare Tip looks a bit worn with a fair amount of brassing, the SS '49 and the Knacks are in very good shape.
Keep in mind that I'm a bit limited in selection being in Sweden, and prices are probably higher than in the US. I might take a look at UK eBay, if I find international shipping on some razors. There is also the wild card of the hairdresser's Knack, which is in unknown condition, may not even be for sale but might turn out to be a crazy bargain if it is.
Decisions decisions decisions!

 

[il dottore]

Alright, a little update: the Slim was sold this morning for a whopping 610 SEK, which is about $90 (in real-world value probably more like $60, 1 to 10 is the usual price ratio for american products). It was mint and with the case, but still, it seems a bit steep. The hairdresser's Knack turned out to be broken.

I still have a few items on eBay that I'm watching: a couple 30s Tech, a couple NEW ball end, SS '49, Flare Tips in varying conditions, a couple Knacks. We'll see if I pull the trigger on any of those! A part of me tells me I should get better with my technique first, maybe wait until 2014 before I buy another razor, but those vintage babies look so tempting! Especially the TTOs.

How are the Tech and NEW? I understand the Tech is considered very mild, what of the NEW?

 

[elverdiblanco]

How are the Tech and NEW? I understand the Tech is considered very mild, what of the NEW?

I bought a mint condition British aluminium handle 60's Tech. I tried shaving with it but even loaded with a Feather blade and doing 3 against the grain passes after 1 x WTG and 1 x XTG it still wouldn't shave close. Three ATG passes with a Feather and it didn't irritate at all. So, if you grow anything tougher than peach fuzz on your face and want anything better than a socially acceptable shave then a Tech is probably not the razor for you. For a quick and easy SAS it is great. Mine is used pretty much exclusively by SWMBO to shave the back of my neck, it does a good job of that and as the blade exposed is so little it is almost impossible to draw blood even in an untrained hand.

 

[mistercitizen]

This would be my order of preference:

1. Super Speed '49
2. Fat Boy
3. Super Speed Flare Tip
4. Knack with blue handle
5. Knack with white handle (if there is any difference)

I've never tried a Knack or Slimtwist..... but I never cared for how they look. I'm sure they probably shave just fine, but I can't say for certain.

Good luck with the whole "only buying one" thing .

Ben

 

[rxonmymind]

Fatboy.

 

[il dottore]

I've never tried a Knack or Slimtwist..... but I never cared for how they look. I'm sure they probably shave just fine, but I can't say for certain.

I agree that they look a bit funky, and I'm not a fan of the plastic handles. Still, they're probably a cheap intro to vintage Gillette and they seem to be pretty common around here.

Good luck with the whole "only buying one" thing .

Thanks, I already feel my determination waning

 

[Dave Deluxe]

I'd skip all the TTO's & adjustables and just get a Gillette NEW open comb from the start.

 

[TacticalPanda]

This guy knows what's up.

I'd skip all the TTO's & adjustables and just get a Gillette NEW open comb from the start.

 

[Joe_Karp]

I like the first one on the list, the Superspeed is a great razor. Next to that I'd seek out a good Slim adjustable, both are favorites of mine.

 

[chongo gordo]

Another vote for the 40's Super Speed, or Fat Handle Tech. Both are excellent starter razors.

 

[Teppanyaki]

Another vote for a Gillette New. I find them to be effective and also forgiving. Beautiful as well. Techs are very forgiving from what I've read and based on one (1!!!) shave, but my one shave wasn't quite as close.

I like my 7 O' Clock and New short comb best. Probably the 7 O' Clock/British New, but the short comb is a worthy contender. Long comb is slightly less forgiving for me, although some have found the opposite. My Goodwill is slightly less effective than my 7 O' Clock.

I'd also get a fat handle to put on the razor.

 

[Sunflake]

The New is a fabulous razor. I have two of them. Top one is a 1930's New DeLuxe Red and Black. Middle is a 1930's New Tuckaway Type. If you ever find one like the bottom 1953 Gillette President TTO grab it.. Head is Nickel and the handle is Rhodium. The New is a med. aggressive and very effective. You can't go wrong with any of these. I also have a 1940's SS. In vintage Gillette made wonderful stuff.

 

[il dottore]

Gorgeous razors there Sunflake!
I started being most interested in the TTOs, but the more I read the more I'm curious about the NEW and Tech. And you guys are just pushing me down that road even more! A mild Tech would probably suit me just great.
The ones I'm looking at now are: NEW Regent, British fat handle Tech (there's one more without the box that looks a bit worse) and an intriguing NOS 4-piece Tech with Bakelite stand (blurry pictures on eBay, but it's like this one).
There's also a mystery box, still in its plastic wrapper: a Gillette companion set no22. Could it be a British Aristocrat #22 in a gift box? I don't have high hopes, the box looks a bit cheap so it's probably some kind of Tech. I Googled like crazy and scoured Achims site to no avail, so I asked for more pictures to help determine that.