My Red Tip obsession. Calling Dr. Freud....

[Teddyboy]

I admit it, I am obsessed with the Gillette Red Tip. I am on a journey to duplicate that darn' red color. Freud would say it's a classic case of tip envy.
Anyway, after my first post I learned that Krylon makes a different, apparently "truer" version of International Harvester Red, the color that many swear is the original red tip.

Below is a figure of three Red Tips treated as follows, left to right: [1] International Harvester Red nr. 1118; [2] Untouched vintage Red Tip; [3] Rustoleum Claret Wine. In brief, neither is identical to the untouched Red Tip. In my opinion, [1] is nicer and [3] is closer to [2]. Also, sorry my photography isn't any good.

But I give up!!!

 

[Krona Kruiser]

I've tried the International Red but next, I'm trying the Rustoleum Royal Red.

 

[kingfisher]

I think three is a winner. One is too bright. A real red tip never looked bright like that. It was definitely more burgundy than bright red.

 

[RonV]

OK- I am going to weigh in because the Red Tip is absolutely my favorite DE and when I acquired one quite early in my RAD, I could have just stopped there, but no-o-o-o I had to try everything out there and about 3 dozen razors later- I still love the Red Tip. It is, for me, perhaps the perfect razor. I had three, I gave one away. The guy I gave it to loves his. I still have two in as close to mint as I usually get (but the red paint on the tips of both have flaws) -- so I have been thinking about just what you went and done-- having said all that, I like #3 !!!!! It gives the feel of the original but it is brighter. #1 is too light IMO and looks fake. I think I may have seen replates with that color. #3 could pass though. Thanks for doing this- I will have make a note of the Rustoleum Claret Wine- it is close enough for me.

 

[Teddyboy]

OK- I am going to weigh in because the Red Tip is absolutely my favorite DE and when I acquired one quite early in my RAD, I could have just stopped there, but no-o-o-o I had to try everything out there and about 3 dozen razors later- I still love the Red Tip. It is, for me, perhaps the perfect razor. I had three, I gave one away. The guy I gave it to loves his. I still have two in as close to mint as I usually get (but the red paint on the tips of both have flaws) -- so I have been thinking about just what you went and done-- having said all that, I like #3 !!!!! It gives the feel of the original but it is brighter. #1 is too light IMO and looks fake. I think I may have seen replates with that color. #3 could pass though. Thanks for doing this- I will have make a note of the Rustoleum Claret Wine- it is close enough for me.

Glad to have helped.

 

[ERVARGASNY]

Ad a spec of black to the 3rd one drop at a time, see how it goes ).

Funny that you post this up, as a few days ago i posted a picture of my NOS Red Tip with the Heavy lable still attached to it, and sealed blue blades with instructions as well.

Some how member Questioned How strange to see how dark my red tip was, but i have another Red tip to compare, they bith were identical. I'ts called a Red Tip but i'ts more of a Burgundy or Maron Red, not just Red, Here is the link http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showth...ne-Does-work-Gillette-Red-Tip-Find?highlight=

 

[RonV]

Gorgeous razor Ervargasny and it confirms my opinion about #3-- I don't think I am going to add anything to the Rustoleum Claret Wine when I get round to doing one of my red tips

 

[Teddyboy]

Ad a spec of black to the 3rd one drop at a time, see how it goes ).

Funny that you post this up, as a few days ago i posted a picture of my NOS Red Tip with the Heavy lable still attached to it, and sealed blue blades with instructions as well.

Some how member Questioned How strange to see how dark my red tip was, but i have another Red tip to compare, they bith were identical. I'ts called a Red Tip but i'ts more of a Burgundy or Maron Red, not just Red, Here is the link http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showth...ne-Does-work-Gillette-Red-Tip-Find?highlight=

Beautiful find. The price of Red Tips have skyrocketed recently...yours would have deserved the high price.

 

[DaveNJ74]

I remember a thread somewhere about the blue tip. Someone said they found that the Ford motor company used identical paint to paint their engine blocks. Maybe check other colors like what GM used etc.

 

[fcdiscus]

The red tip is a fantastic razor. I have five of them- two unused in original cases! Doubt I will ever use those two.

 

[cxg231]

I was lucky enough to have recently scored a red tip from eBay for ~$4 shipped. Yes. ~$4! It's no user grade hunk of barely functional metal either, the red paint is ~95% intact and the rest of the razor is pretty nice. Anyhow, enough bragging. The moral of the story is that I never really liked the vintage Gillette TTO razors before I got my red tip. It's a heck of a nice shaver!