Paging all you Single Ring experts

[Chickpea McGee]

I recently acquired what I believe is a Canadian Gillette Single Ring as part of a Standard Set. In trying to place a date on the razor, I settled on 1912, since the last seven digits of the serial number on the base plate read C139445. The only problem with this is that the serial number has an extra letter "S" at the beginning. Can someone help me figure out the meaning of this "S", or if I am missing something? Since the razor lists the Canadian Patent Info on the handle, I assume the "S" may just be a Canadian factory designation?

Also, the case has space for two blade containers, both of which are now missing. Would anyone know if this version of the Standard Set, in a silver-plated and velvet-lined case, would have contained the silver-plated blade containers, or the the purple cardboard containers? The case is in nice condition, and I think I would like to complete the set.

Enough. Here are pics (after a couple of rounds with the baking soda & aluminum but still awaiting the scrubbing bubbles and Q-tips):

Thoughts on the "S" and the type of blade containers I need to hunt down?

 

[Nitrosnail]

That looks just like my big fellow(old fellow?) 1920 razor pm me you email and I will send you a pic. More wisdom will come soon...

 

[Chickpea McGee]

PM Sent, Nitrosnail. If we have a match, I will post the pics here. Although I have never seen a big/old fellow in person, this seems like a standard sized razor.

 

[D.Irving79]

i think the knurling is just thicker.

 

[Oldguy]

You have the standard set 460B with the Single Ring. This set was made with the metal blade cases. A big Fellow razor has a handle that is much too long to fit in this case. The Old Type Big Fellow came in the wooden case and with one metal blade case.

Len

 

[Chickpea McGee]

Thanks Oldguy,

My search begins for matching metal blade cases.

Any idea about the "S" at the beginning of the serial number?

 

[midniterambler]

i think the s refers to sterling silver or silver; there is a statement about it in the krumholz book on collecting gillette razors; i will check it further when i have the chance.

 

[Oldguy]

i think the s refers to sterling silver or silver; there is a statement about it in the krumholz book on collecting gillette razors; i will check it further when i have the chance.

I believe it stands for silver as well. I did a check in the Krumholz book as well but couldn't find it. If you find it could you post the page?

Len

 

[mr-razor]

I know the "S" only after a SN from the New Improved (Krumholz page 184). I´ve never seen a Old Type with "S"

 

[midniterambler]

as achim stated: pg. 184 the complete guide gillette collector's handbook (p. krumholz): "new improved razor sets are known to have been produced by the gillette factory in sterling silver, are numbered with an "s" after the serial number." so it seems this does not apply to your razor. sorry, no help.

 

[eyeguy]

Is there any possibility that a batch of these got through without getting stamped with the "S" & had to be stamped again after a quality control person caught the error, & then accidentally stamping the "S" at the beginning?
Oh yeah, first post here. This is a great site!!

 

[Chickpea McGee]

Interesting, thanks for the research (and for the noob post!). The US razors that were repaired received an "L" stamp in front of the SN, correct? Could the "S" designate a re-plating by Gillette, or maybe be a Canada-specific designation?

Would there be a way to determine if it was solid silver without damaging the razor? I found no plating loss, either on the exterior or interior. The inside of the barrel seems to be silver-plated (at least) as well.

Or perhaps, as proposed, this was a simple mistake.

 

[dantodd]

SG of brass is 8.4-8.7 grams/cc
SG of silver is a little over 10 grams/cc


You could always play Archimedes.

 

[Chickpea McGee]

Off to buy thr graduated cylinders and scales!

No, not really.

I don't mind the razor keeping it's mystery to itself, for now at least.

Thanks again to everyone.