New guy with 2 old Gillette's found in house.

[FrBrown]

Hello, I'm new to the forum but not new to shaving with a DE razor. I started using DE's about 15 or so years ago, a few Merkur's, but for the last 3 years I have grown a full beard. We recently bought an old(er) house from the original owner. Her late husband was a pilot in the Air Force (Army Air Corp first) and our house near the former Air Force base where he retired. When cleaning out the house to move in I found these two old Gillette's in the bathroom in the back corner of the top shelf of the bathroom closet. I hope to clean them up and use them as I'm starting to shave again.

 

[JoWolf]

Hello, I'm new to the forum but not new to shaving with a DE razor. I started using DE's about 15 or so years ago, a few Merkur's, but for the last 3 years I have grown a full beard. We recently bought an old(er) house from the original owner. Her late husband was a pilot in the Air Force (Army Air Corp first) and our host is near the former Air Force base where he retired. When cleaning out the house to move in I found these two old Gillette's in the bathroom in the back corner of the top shelf of the bathroom closet. I hope to clean them up and use them as I'm starting to shave again.
View attachment 1363925

View attachment 1363928

View attachment 1363929

View attachment 1363930

Welcome to B&B @FrBrown
Lucky find. Enjoy your shaves

 

[rbscebu]

Welcome to B&B.

A clear photo of the underside of the base plates showing their markings (if any) would help in identification.

 

[stone and strop]

Hello, I'm new to the forum but not new to shaving with a DE razor. I started using DE's about 15 or so years ago, a few Merkur's, but for the last 3 years I have grown a full beard. We recently bought an old(er) house from the original owner. Her late husband was a pilot in the Air Force (Army Air Corp first) and our house near the former Air Force base where he retired. When cleaning out the house to move in I found these two old Gillette's in the bathroom in the back corner of the top shelf of the bathroom closet. I hope to clean them up and use them as I'm starting to shave again.
View attachment 1363925

View attachment 1363928

View attachment 1363929

View attachment 1363930

Score!!

 

[FrBrown]

Welcome to B&B.

A clear photo of the underside of the base plates showing their markings (if any) would help in identification.

Thanks for your help. I hope these are clear enough. Here is what I think is the newer one.

Here are some more of what I'm guessing is the older one in the case. It has a serial number H601812 on one side and Made in U.S.A. in the other.

 

[MilkCrate]

Nice scores!

 

[FrBrown]

I just told my wife I posted about those 2 razors and she said she forgot to tell me she found another one in the other bathroom.

 

[luvmysuper]

Thanks for your help. I hope these are clear enough. Here is what I think is the newer one.

View attachment 1363933

View attachment 1363934

Here are some more of what I'm guessing is the older one in the case. It has a serial number H601812 on one side and Made in U.S.A. in the other.

View attachment 1363938

View attachment 1363939

View attachment 1363940View attachment 1363941View attachment 1363942

That Old Type serial number says it's from 1918

 

[NickCutlip]

Welcome to B&B !!

 

[Lightcs1776]

Welcome to the forums. Those are wonderful razors.

 

[JaggardJ]

Thanks for your help. I hope these are clear enough. Here is what I think is the newer one.

View attachment 1363933

View attachment 1363934

Here are some more of what I'm guessing is the older one in the case. It has a serial number H601812 on one side and Made in U.S.A. in the other.

View attachment 1363938

View attachment 1363939

View attachment 1363940View attachment 1363941View attachment 1363942

Nice case!

 

[Dominic]

Hello, I'm new to the forum but not new to shaving with a DE razor. I started using DE's about 15 or so years ago, a few Merkur's, but for the last 3 years I have grown a full beard. We recently bought an old(er) house from the original owner. Her late husband was a pilot in the Air Force (Army Air Corp first) and our house near the former Air Force base where he retired. When cleaning out the house to move in I found these two old Gillette's in the bathroom in the back corner of the top shelf of the bathroom closet. I hope to clean them up and use them as I'm starting to shave again.
View attachment 1363925

View attachment 1363928

View attachment 1363929

View attachment 1363930

Awesome find! Here is the Gillette Date Code page if you’d like to know the year (or date range) they were manufactured.

US Gillette Dating Information

This page documents what we know about Gillette safety razor serial numbers and date codes. Razors made in USA often left the factory with serial numbers or date codes, which can be used to establish their manufacturing dates. During certain periods so

www.badgerandblade.com

 

[dmshaver]

Congrats on finding some nice old razors. The first pic is an Old Type in an ABC case, the second gold razor ( as you correctly stated as being newer) is a Post-War Tech. The last razor is a Knack. Soak them in warm water with Dawn dishwashing soap. Change the water after an hour or so & soak them again in warm water & Dawn. Do not use boiling water, it will damage the varnish. After a couple of soaks use a toothbrush & dip it in the water solution & scrub the razor with the toothbrush. Get into the nooks & crannies of the razor & it will clean up pretty good. Soak it again in warm water & Dawn & repeat the process until you're happy with how pretty they look. The gold finish on the razors is very thin, I suggest not using any kind of polisher as the abrasiveness of the polish could very likely remove the gold wash finish. After you clean them, put a blade in them & enjoy them. The Tech is a fabulous razor that gives a wonderfully smooth, mild shave. The Old Type is a great razor but be ready for it to bite you. The Knack is a plastic-handled razor that gives a mild shave. Enjoy your shaves & welcome to your new home!

 

[Invicta]

Welcome to B&B.

 

[Dnallehekaj]

What a score! Wow!

Welcome to the forum! Please post pics if you clean then up

 

[ajkel64]

Welcome to the forum from Australia. Nice finds you have there. The Gold Tech is one of my favourite razors, especially when paired with a sharper blade such as a Feather. Congratulations.

 

[BigJ]

Congrats on finding some nice old razors. The first pic is an Old Type in an ABC case, the second gold razor ( as you correctly stated as being newer) is a Post-War Tech. The last razor is a Knack. Soak them in warm water with Dawn dishwashing soap. Change the water after an hour or so & soak them again in warm water & Dawn. Do not use boiling water, it will damage the varnish. After a couple of soaks use a toothbrush & dip it in the water solution & scrub the razor with the toothbrush. Get into the nooks & crannies of the razor & it will clean up pretty good. Soak it again in warm water & Dawn & repeat the process until you're happy with how pretty they look. The gold finish on the razors is very thin, I suggest not using any kind of polisher as the abrasiveness of the polish could very likely remove the gold wash finish. After you clean them, put a blade in them & enjoy them. The Tech is a fabulous razor that gives a wonderfully smooth, mild shave. The Old Type is a great razor but be ready for it to bite you. The Knack is a plastic-handled razor that gives a mild shave. Enjoy your shaves & welcome to your new home!

Great advice! And some fine razors!!

 

[cryhavoc]

Welcome to B&B!

 

[FrBrown]

Congrats on finding some nice old razors. The first pic is an Old Type in an ABC case, the second gold razor ( as you correctly stated as being newer) is a Post-War Tech. The last razor is a Knack. Soak them in warm water with Dawn dishwashing soap. Change the water after an hour or so & soak them again in warm water & Dawn. Do not use boiling water, it will damage the varnish. After a couple of soaks use a toothbrush & dip it in the water solution & scrub the razor with the toothbrush. Get into the nooks & crannies of the razor & it will clean up pretty good. Soak it again in warm water & Dawn & repeat the process until you're happy with how pretty they look. The gold finish on the razors is very thin, I suggest not using any kind of polisher as the abrasiveness of the polish could very likely remove the gold wash finish. After you clean them, put a blade in them & enjoy them. The Tech is a fabulous razor that gives a wonderfully smooth, mild shave. The Old Type is a great razor but be ready for it to bite you. The Knack is a plastic-handled razor that gives a mild shave. Enjoy your shaves & welcome to your new home!

Thanks! I'll start soaking the Tech tonight. It's got a little rough part on one corner where I'm guessing it was dropped. Do I need to do anything top that or just not use that side? I'm fairly handy with files and could very carefully smooth it out. I know that would etch the finish around that spot, but it's goobered up already. I'm fine with leaving it as is.

 

[dmshaver]

Thanks! I'll start soaking the Tech tonight. It's got a little rough part on one corner where I'm guessing it was dropped. Do I need to do anything top that or just not use that side? I'm fairly handy with files and could very carefully smooth it out. I know that would etch the finish around that spot, but it's goobered up already. I'm fine with leaving it as is.

View attachment 1364532

View attachment 1364533

I would be concerned if you repair it that one, or more, of the edges won't be in line with how it originally was, & that could affect the shave. It could affect it to the point where you might get nicked on that edge either through more blade exposure or from a rough edge. Go ahead & try your hand at filing it since it is already damaged. Just be prepared for it to not shave properly. But who knows, it just may shave wonderfully! If all else fails, just shave with the other side only.