Pricing Guide?

[VALevey]

I'm new to the wetshaving scene, and of course, am interested in purchasing a few vintage razors to use. I've already got my hands on a couple (1964 Gillette Superspeed and a 1904 Gillette Double Ring). Is there some sort of guide to determine that model _____ is worth _____ in _____ condition?

Note: The Double Ring was a gift from my father who picked it up on a whim at an estate sale. He said he paid a dollar

EDIT: Pictures of the Double Ring below.

 

[JDTTO]

Not sure if there is such a thing.

Prices go up and down (more up than down) and certain razors get hyped which affects the prices temporarily.

Values are for a large degree determined by forums like this one.

 

[VALevey]

How does one determine which razors are getting hyped? Just frequenting the b/s/t and other threads?

 

[JDTTO]

When there is a lot of (possitive) talk about a certain type of razor this does affect pricing especially on ebay where people sometimes bid against eachother as it's the razor on earth.

I feel that prices on the BST are less affected but those razors are just sold more quickly.

 

[dcobranchi]

Note: The Double Ring was a gift from my father who picked it up on a whim at an estate sale. He said he paid a dollar

Pics or it didn't happen.

 

[VALevey]

I've also got a box which is in terrible shape. I don't believe it's original and have no idea how the pair ended up together. I also have the "Sharp" and "Dull" boxes, which aren't in great condition either. But here are the pictures

 

[redbike]

That's in very nice condition. Did you clean/polish it?

 

[MacDaddy]

Nice. It looks like a "PAT APL'D FOR" model, too, if I'm seeing that correctly. Has it got a serial number?

I've also got a box which is in terrible shape. I don't believe it's original and have no idea how the pair ended up together. I also have the "Sharp" and "Dull" boxes, which aren't in great condition either.

I'd definitely be interested in seeing these, too. We can help you out with the case ID if you're stuck there.

 

[jamesspo]

Great Double Ring there! To your question about pricing...really, no guide could ever be made that is in any way useful. It's a market, and the prices fluctuate based on supply and demand. To get typical prices for certain models, just search on eBay for the model you want, and filter for completed sales. That's the best way to gauge what something is selling for recently, and that'll give you a good guide of what to expect for a given model.

I'm new to the wetshaving scene, and of course, am interested in purchasing a few vintage razors to use. I've already got my hands on a couple (1964 Gillette Superspeed and a 1904 Gillette Double Ring). Is there some sort of guide to determine that model _____ is worth _____ in _____ condition?

Note: The Double Ring was a gift from my father who picked it up on a whim at an estate sale. He said he paid a dollar

EDIT: Pictures of the Double Ring below.

 

[VALevey]

Yes, I had to polish it a lot. Here's the one photo I took before I cleaned it. It is a "PAT APL'D FOR" model, and does not have a serial number. It's in great condition for its age (IMO), but does have a crack in the barrel of the handle. Here are the pictures of the box. Anyone have any ideas?

 

[MacDaddy]

Wow. I'm pretty sure that that style of blade sleeve with the plain "Sharp" and "Dull" without any decoration is the oldest version of those, which would match up with the age of your razor. Later ones had "Gillette" inside of a decorative shape, or "Dull" and "Sharp" inside a decorative shape. And I'm also fairly certain that the case you've got is actually the original case -- the style and latch hardware are all correct -- well what's left of it anyway. Here's a similar example to yours from AsylumGuido that's in a bit nicer shape:



Condition aside, the covering on yours is really the only strange part. It looks almost like someone recovered it with something like contact paper at some point. But looking at it closer, I can see where it's been nailed through by the tacks that would have held the lower piece of the latch into the case. I'd need to see larger photos of it or see it in person to be able to tell better what's going on there.

Regardless, it's definitely a very, very cool pick-up.

 

[VALevey]

The covering is the whole reason why I thought it wasn't original. I hadn't considered that someone may have recovered the box with a different material. As mentioned earlier, I'm new to this whole thing and this was just all by chance. Is there anyway to tell if it's a 1903 or a 1904? I haven't seen anyone try to compare between the two. I don't believe I'd sell it, because my father gave it to me. I did mention to him that it was find and he was just curious about how much this would be worth. Any ideas there?

 

[alex2363]

Nice. It looks like a "PAT APL'D FOR" model, too, if I'm seeing that correctly. Has it got a serial number?



I'd definitely be interested in seeing these, too. We can help you out with the case ID if you're stuck there.

Those boxes are more sought after than the cases it seems.

 

[alex2363]

The covering is the whole reason why I thought it wasn't original. I hadn't considered that someone may have recovered the box with a different material. As mentioned earlier, I'm new to this whole thing and this was just all by chance. Is there anyway to tell if it's a 1903 or a 1904? I haven't seen anyone try to compare between the two. I don't believe I'd sell it, because my father gave it to me. I did mention to him that it was find and he was just curious about how much this would be worth. Any ideas there?

Made prior to November of 1904 will have "PAT. APL'D FOR" on the band the bottom knob,after Nov 1904 has "PAT. NOV. 15.04" on the band. First 25,424 carriedmarkings "PAT. APL'D FOR" and the unnumbered ones too.

 

[MacDaddy]

Is there anyway to tell if it's a 1903 or a 1904? I haven't seen anyone try to compare between the two.

Not so far as I know. Without the patent date and with no serial number, the best you can pin it to is that it's one of the first 50,000-something razors that Gillette ever made. I've only ever seen one variation, and it's this Double Ring that I own where the inscription on the handle is "PAT AP FOR" in ridiculously small type compared to the usual "PAT APL'D FOR". And I still don't really know what to make of it for certain.

I don't believe I'd sell it, because my father gave it to me. I did mention to him that it was find and he was just curious about how much this would be worth. Any ideas there?

Assuming that there's no hidden issues there, I'd say less than $100 would be a steal, and I wouldn't be surprised to see it break $200. You'd probably need a good tailwind to reach $300, though it wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility if you had a couple of people who were really itching for an early Double Ring for their collection. I've seen loose 1903/'04 Double Rings on their own clear that before.

 

[alex2363]

View attachment 299187View attachment 299188View attachment 299189Yes, I had to polish it a lot. Here's the one photo I took before I cleaned it. It is a "PAT APL'D FOR" model, and does not have a serial number. It's in great condition for its age (IMO), but does have a crack in the barrel of the handle. Here are the pictures of the box. Anyone have any ideas?

1903-04 - PAT APL'D FOR /no serial Double ring ............PM me so i can put it in the Double ring database

Double Ring Database

Double Ring Razors registered by B&B Members.

Date Purchased​	Year​	Patent Info​	Serial Number​	Location ​
June, 2012	1904	Pat. Apl'd For	4647	Glendale, NY
Jan 15, 2010	1904	Pat. Nov. 15.04	33019	Houston, TX
June 5, 2009	1904	Pat. Apl'd For	???	Canberra, Australia
April 14, 2010	1906	Pat. Nov. 15.04	???	Melbourne, Australia
November 15, 2009	1905	Pat. Nov. 15.04	63837	Weston, MA USA
May 20, 2010	1905	Pat. Nov. 15.04	209740	Portland, OR USA
July 21, 2010	1904	Pat. Nov. 15.04	21964	Charleston, WV
July 6, 2010	1904	Pat. Nov. 15.04	45107	Charleston, WV
May 24, 2010	1903-1904	Pat. Apl'd For	No Serial No.	Charleston, WV
Feb 26, 2011	1904	Pat. Nov. 15.04	589850	Quebec, Canada
Mar 6, 2011	1904	Pat. Apl'd For	15673	Michigan
Apr 2, 2011	1904	Pat. Apl'd For	10190	Indiana
Feb 11, 2011	1904	Pat. Apl'd For	6768	Decorah, IA
Jun 28, 2011	1906	Pat. Nov. 15.04	458142	Shekou, China
Sep 9, 2011	1905	Pat. Nov. 15.04	272396	Shekou, China
Sep 9, 2011	1905	Pat. Nov. 15.04	58903	Shekou, China
Jul 07, 2011	1905	Pat. Nov. 15.04	61408	Canberra, Australia
Jul 19, 2011	1904	Pat. Nov. 15.04	27300	Canberra, Australia
Dec 07, 2012	1904	Pat. Nov. 15.04	44757	Birmingham, AL
Nov 26, 2011	1903-1904	Pat. Apl'd For	No Serial No.	Canberra, Australia
August 1, 2011	1905	Pat. Nov. 15.04	64345	Indiana
January 2, 2011	1903-1904	Pat. Apl'd For	No Serial No.	Wichita, KS
March 9, 2012	1904	Pat. Apl'd For	16951	Jenks, Oklahoma
March 15, 2012	1903-1904	Pat. Apl'd For	No Serial No.	IL, USA
July 6, 2012	1905	Pat. Nov. 15.04	256251	Parma, Italy
Oct 18, 2012	1904	Pat. Nov. 15.04	38815	Detroit, MI
Oct 18, 2012	1905	Pat. Nov. 15.04	236598	Detroit, MI
June 14, 2012	1904	Pat Apl'd For	12789	Harrisonburg, VA
November 29, 2012	1905	Pat. Nov. 15.04	265555	San Antonio, TX
September, 2012	1905	Pat. Nov. 15.04	50038	Appleton, WI

 

[amishmotorboat]

Condition aside, the covering on yours is really the only strange part. It looks almost like someone recovered it with something like contact paper at some point. But looking at it closer, I can see where it's been nailed through by the tacks that would have held the lower piece of the latch into the case.

I believe you are seeing tack holes through the paper because the latch had been removed when putting the paper on, and then reattached when it was done, but forever damaging their ability to do the job of keeping the latch on, which is why they fell out.

 

[alex2363]

Not so far as I know. Without the patent date and with no serial number, the best you can pin it to is that it's one of the first 50,000-something razors that Gillette ever made. I've only ever seen one variation, and it's this Double Ring that I own where the inscription on the handle is "PAT AP FOR" in ridiculously small type compared to the usual "PAT APL'D FOR". And I still don't really know what to make of it for certain.



Assuming that there's no hidden issues there, I'd say less than $100 would be a steal, and I wouldn't be surprised to see it break $200. You'd probably need a good tailwind to reach $300, though it wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility if you had a couple of people who were really itching for an early Double Ring for their collection. I've seen loose 1903/'04 Double Rings on their own clear that before.

Porter, I remember that post( linked one) last spring.....No real final conclusions, yet.

 

[VALevey]

Thanks for the information everyone! It's greatly appreciated.

 

[alex2363]

Val is in the Double Ring Elite club now

Double Ring Database

Double Ring Razors registered by B&B Members.

Date Purchased​	Year​	Patent Info​	Serial Number​	Location ​
June, 2012	1904	Pat. Apl'd For	4647	Glendale, NY
Jan 15, 2010	1904	Pat. Nov. 15.04	33019	Houston, TX
June 5, 2009	1904	Pat. Apl'd For	???	Canberra, Australia
April 14, 2010	1906	Pat. Nov. 15.04	???	Melbourne, Australia
November 15, 2009	1905	Pat. Nov. 15.04	63837	Weston, MA USA
May 20, 2010	1905	Pat. Nov. 15.04	209740	Portland, OR USA
July 21, 2010	1904	Pat. Nov. 15.04	21964	Charleston, WV
July 6, 2010	1904	Pat. Nov. 15.04	45107	Charleston, WV
May 24, 2010	1903-1904	Pat. Apl'd For	No Serial No.	Charleston, WV
Feb 26, 2011	1904	Pat. Nov. 15.04	589850	Quebec, Canada
Mar 6, 2011	1904	Pat. Apl'd For	15673	Michigan
Apr 2, 2011	1904	Pat. Apl'd For	10190	Indiana
Feb 11, 2011	1904	Pat. Apl'd For	6768	Decorah, IA
Jun 28, 2011	1906	Pat. Nov. 15.04	458142	Shekou, China
Sep 9, 2011	1905	Pat. Nov. 15.04	272396	Shekou, China
Sep 9, 2011	1905	Pat. Nov. 15.04	58903	Shekou, China
Jul 07, 2011	1905	Pat. Nov. 15.04	61408	Canberra, Australia
Jul 19, 2011	1904	Pat. Nov. 15.04	27300	Canberra, Australia
Dec 07, 2012	1904	Pat. Nov. 15.04	44757	Birmingham, AL
Nov 26, 2011	1903-1904	Pat. Apl'd For	No Serial No.	Canberra, Australia
August 1, 2011	1905	Pat. Nov. 15.04	64345	Indiana
January 2, 2011	1903-1904	Pat. Apl'd For	No Serial No.	Wichita, KS
March 9, 2012	1904	Pat. Apl'd For	16951	Jenks, Oklahoma
March 15, 2012	1903-1904	Pat. Apl'd For	No Serial No.	IL, USA
July 6, 2012	1905	Pat. Nov. 15.04	256251	Parma, Italy
Oct 18, 2012	1904	Pat. Nov. 15.04	38815	Detroit, MI
Oct 18, 2012	1905	Pat. Nov. 15.04	236598	Detroit, MI
June 14, 2012	1904	Pat Apl'd For	12789	Harrisonburg, VA
November 29, 2012	1905	Pat. Nov. 15.04	265555	San Antonio, TX
September, 2012	1905	Pat. Nov. 15.04	50038	Appleton, WI
December 1st, 2012	1903-1904	Pat. Apl'd For	No Serial No.	Chicago, IL