My "new" Gillette New has landed.

[Badger Bill]

and I'm really excited!! I picked this bad boy up at an antique show I recently attended, and although it was in no way whatsoever one of those rare super great/cheap buys, I've been wanting one of these for a long time and I had to jump at the chance when it was staring me in the face. I've actually always wanted to try a NEW and I absolutely love the look of these ones with the diamond knurling. I think the seller got a more than fair price and I got a fair razor for the price.... Wish it were a bargain, but what can you do.... RAD, you know.

Anyhow, here it is as it was presented to me:


Nasty, isn't it!!
But I saw the beauty within, and that's why I just had to pick it up. Plus, all the teeth were perfectly straight. After several rounds of serious cleaning (being careful to protect the silver, of course), I was left with a gorgeous gorgeous new addition to my collection. I am super happy. There is some extremely minor brassing in a few small spots, but overall this one turned into quite the beauty. And now, pics, because otherwise it didn't happen (as you all know)



I personally have an OCD problem where I like to finish a blade all the way through in a single razor before I switch to the next one, but once my current 39C blade is done, I know which razor I'll be reaching for!!!!

- Badger Bill

 

[Stampede]

Wow! What a transformation. It looks great and will shave great as well.

 

[Bearded Buckeye]

Nice work, man! That thing is gorgeous! You should an 'after' photograph to the seller.

 

[Jeff_H]

Bill....that thing looks fantastic. It's so amazing how well they clean up. I can't tell if that's the NEW Standard or the NEW Deluxe head....I'm not good yet at telling the difference by sight only. The Deluxe is supposed to give a more aggressive shave than the Standard. But either way, it is going to be a fantastic shave. I love the look of those handles too. I have a short one on a Tuckaway model. I wish that handle had more grip, but it is beautiful.

See what you think about it with the standard handle and then try it with another heavier handle, a Weber, or Sabi or something else you have. It will really make a great deal of difference.

How long do we have to wait around for your OCD to be satisfied? I'll happily send you some blades if you'll just shave with the darn thing so we can hear abou it!!!!!

 

[GLOCKREAPER]

That's not a NEW.

 

[Stampede]

Might it be a New Improved Silver Bostonian?

 

[GLOCKREAPER]

Looks like it.

Great find, whatever it is.

 

[Stampede]

That's not a NEW.

There is no question that it is a New. The question is: "Is it a New Standard or A New Improved?"

http://www.mr-razor.com/Rasierer/New Improved/New Improved.htm

 

[mblakele]

There is no question that it is a New. The question is: "Is it a New Standard or A New Improved?"

http://www.mr-razor.com/Rasierer/New Improved/New Improved.htm

I would call it a New Improved, because that term describes the head design for the whole family of razors. It is not a NEW, which was a different design with no cap studs.

This one is a long-thread three-piece New Improved. Originally it might have been sold in any one of several sets, including New Standard, Traveler, or Richwood, Bostonian. Different cases, same razors.

 

[Stampede]

You are right. The New Improved is NOT a New. I didn't mean to cause a hang up on the semantics of model names. My thought was, since it appears to be a New Improved as you seem to agree with, that it came from the New Family, My bad. I am still learning.

 

[Shutterbug57]

Looks great. Let us know how you like the shave.

 

[duki92]

Looks fantastic.

 

[mblakele]

You are right. The New Improved is NOT a New. I didn't mean to cause a hang up on the semantics of model names. My thought was, since it appears to be a New Improved as you seem to agree with, that it came from the New Family, My bad. I am still learning.

No worries - there are quite a few subtleties, and I make mistakes all the time. Whatever you call this razor, it looks great and should shave very well too.

 

[Badger Bill]

Thanks for all the comments guys!! I'm still new at this (no pun intended!) as far as the Gillette New series is concerned, so please pardon any silliness on my end.

So I'm a bit confused now..... what is this razor that I have acquired? It came in a box that has black leather on the outside and purple velvet on the inside along with a silver blade bank. The box says "New Standard" on the inside and the serial/date code on the razor suggests that it is from 1922. This confirms that it should be a new standard, right? But now some people are saying that a new standard is actually a new improved? My head is spinning!!!

- Badger Bill

 

[Badger Bill]

Bill....that thing looks fantastic. It's so amazing how well they clean up. I can't tell if that's the NEW Standard or the NEW Deluxe head....I'm not good yet at telling the difference by sight only. The Deluxe is supposed to give a more aggressive shave than the Standard. But either way, it is going to be a fantastic shave. I love the look of those handles too. I have a short one on a Tuckaway model. I wish that handle had more grip, but it is beautiful.

See what you think about it with the standard handle and then try it with another heavier handle, a Weber, or Sabi or something else you have. It will really make a great deal of difference.

How long do we have to wait around for your OCD to be satisfied? I'll happily send you some blades if you'll just shave with the darn thing so we can hear abou it!!!!!

Thanks for your comments, Jeff. I was also very pleased with how it cleaned up... I hoped it would, but you never know until you try, so it was quite fun to see this one clean up nicely. I agree that the handle seems to lack grip.... hopefully that won't mess me up too badly when I use it. I must admit I had read that the diamond knurling wasn't very grippy before I bought this, but I think it's one of the prettiest handle patterns I've ever seen so I had to get it anyway.

Also, I'm a bit confused.... and please pardon any stupid questions here as I'm new to this older Gillette scene, but does the baseplate actually come off of this handle? It seems to me as though it's attached pretty firmly... but I didn't want to yank on it too hard either. So far it easily separates into the top piece, the handle with baseplate attached, and a long key that comes out the bottom to tighten down the top. But I like where you are going with using it on a heavier handle... I love heavier handles generally. I actually have been really meaning to pick up a Weber or Sabi handle, maybe even a bulldog (perhaps even ikon, yikes!), but I haven't yet pulled the trigger. You sure are tempting me thought I must say.

And haha you're funny - my current blade will be done in a few days - I can't wait to give this new acquisition a spin and I'll be sure to report back here once I do.

- Badger Bill

 

[Teppanyaki]

I think that is a standard 3-piece setup where the handle twists off. I don't know enough to say if it is a New Improved or a New Standard. I also love the handle aesthetics, but also didn't like the lack of grip.

Sabi (which I assume is just like the Toro Mastiff) handles are very grippy. And heavy, if you like that. I ended up going with a Tech fat handle for my vintage razors.

 

[Stampede]

It is a new Improved IMHO and it is a 3 piece as well like this:

 

[Teppanyaki]

It is a new Improved IMHO and it is a 3 piece as well like this:

Thanks for the correction - I thought it was like my tuckaway handle.

 

[Jeff_H]

Well, if it's like that there is no replacing the handle. Mine is a Tuckaway, so it is a normal 3 piece. I guess Bill will either like that handle or he won't. It is darn beautiful I agree. One of the nicest American patterns on a handle.

Now we just have to wait for his current blade to run out. "Like sands through the hourglass, so are days of our lives."

 

[ironfist]

Beautiful razor, should shave very well!