I found this for sale on the web. There are two words on the sheath, the second is definitely "Gillette". It also says "U.S. 1641." Can anyone identify this?
Mystery "Gillette" razor
- Thread starter moshulu
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I have no info about this razor, but have to say this looks downright uncomfortable to try to use.
I assume it is meant to be held like a typical straight, but maintaining the correct angle for a DE blade with a handle like that would seem to feel unnatural, and difficult.
I assume it is meant to be held like a typical straight, but maintaining the correct angle for a DE blade with a handle like that would seem to feel unnatural, and difficult.
The Gillette on that piece is not the King C Gillette signature. The first word looks like "John" and the G in Gillette is not the way King signed his name.
Looks like one of the many hopefuls trying to take advantage of a famous last name.
Interesting piece. Maybe a hair trimmer?
Looks like one of the many hopefuls trying to take advantage of a famous last name.
Interesting piece. Maybe a hair trimmer?
That would be my guess as well. I've not ever seen anything remotely close to that in the Gillette stable.
If I remember rightly there was another Gillette company around in the early 1900's that made razors. It's probably one of theirs.
That was George W. Gillette, King Camp's nephew. He founded the George W. Gillette Razor Co. which later became the Eureka Razor Co. in Ohio. He had a couple designs but he didn't make very many razors. His razors found today are expensive collector's items. This might be one of his razors but I doubt it. The head looks more like a Durham Duplex. It might be a copycat using the Gillette name. The Durham Co later became Wade Butcher of straight razor fame, I believe.
Len
That's right. It was known as the Geo W Gillette Razor Co. Their Eureka Safety Razor does have a head like a Durham but it has a straight, fixed handle, it doesn't fold.
The number is not a U.S. Patent number (1641 is for an improvement in surgical trusses) and doesn't appear to be a U.S. Trademark number.
But that's definitely not a razor manufactured by King Gillette's company. I doubt it was one manufactured by his brother's company. From what I recall, he made more traditional DE safety razors as well.
King Gillette's company did make some other cutting devices, but no razors like that.
His brother, George, did make a razor similar to the OP's - but the one pictured is not a George Gillette razor either.
There may have been a John Gillette company that made razors, but I don't have any info on it.
But that's definitely not a razor manufactured by King Gillette's company. I doubt it was one manufactured by his brother's company. From what I recall, he made more traditional DE safety razors as well.
King Gillette's company did make some other cutting devices, but no razors like that.
His brother, George, did make a razor similar to the OP's - but the one pictured is not a George Gillette razor either.
There may have been a John Gillette company that made razors, but I don't have any info on it.
gillette or not it's look like an interresting item ,if it was me i'm going to have it replated .
Actually looking at it closer, that would be my best guess as well.
It's a hair shaper using a DE blade. Made before the current trend in hair shapers that users a longer, thicker, non-flexible blade.
Actually given how uncomfortable it would be to shave with this device, I am almost 100% that it is in fact a hair shaper.
I have seen razors like this before, but not this brand. They were Safety Straight Razors that used disposable blades. The blades came pre-sharpened and were very thick compared to DE disposable blades. I will try to find out more, if I can.
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That's a Gillette office knife. Someone must have mislabeled it a scalpel.
Dang.... Someone should have told me sooner. I've performed several surgeries with this thing!
Russ
Dang.... Someone should have told me sooner. I've performed several surgeries with this thing!
Russ
1641 was an interesting year in Massachusetts:
(search for Capitall Laws)
http://history.hanover.edu/texts/masslib.html
It would be a strange thing to commemorate on a razor though.
-jim
It's a hair trimmer. Definitely an odd looking one, as most old school hair trimmers look like traditional straights with that comb piece on them.
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- #18
No kidding. Especially this part:
If any man or woeman be a witch, (that is hath or consulteth with a familiar spirit,) They shall be put to death.
If any person shall Blaspheme the name of god, the father, Sonne or Holie Ghost, with direct, expresse, presumptuous or high handed blasphemie, or shall curse god in the like manner, he shall be put to death.
If any man or woeman shall lye with any beaste or bruite creature by Carnall Copulation, They shall surely be put to death. And the beast shall be slaine, and buried and not eaten.
If any man lyeth with mankinde as he lyeth with a woeman, both of them have committed abhomination, they both shall surely be put to death.
If any person committeth Adultery with a maried or espoused wife, the Adulterer and Adulteresse shall surely be put to death.
