red and black

[clayglen]

Well here we go with open combs now. RAD is on full bore it seems.
Questions... a red and black is essentially a Bar handle deluxe in a red and black box, true? What blades did they come with if any? (my acquisition has about 10 packs of red and black blades)
What are they made of? Brass or some kind of plate?
If brass are they lacquered Anyone have any success of cleaning and re-lacquering them?
The case is gastly humble... any products for an outside recover known to work, methods of going around corners?

Much thanks!!!!

John

 

[MacDaddy]

Questions... a red and black is essentially a Bar handle deluxe in a red and black box, true?

Well, yes and no. The Red & Black sets came with both DeLuxe and standard NEWs, both with bar handles. Though we more commonly see the flat-shouldered handle with the DeLuxe head and the round-shouldered one with the standard head, that doesn't seem to have been universally true. It doesn't appear that Gillette sold these any differently -- the set was 49¢ regardless -- and they likely didn't consider them to be separate "models."

What blades did they come with if any? (my acquisition has about 10 packs of red and black blades)

They came with a pack of 5 Blue Blades. Here's one of Achim's as an example:

And here's one of mine showing how they would have looked sitting on the shelf:

What are they made of? Brass or some kind of plate?
If brass are they lacquered Anyone have any success of cleaning and re-lacquering them?

They're brass with a very thin layer of gold plate, which is then covered with a layer of lacquer. I cannot personally vouch for it, but I've read of other folks using oven cleaner (like Easy-Off) to strip the lacquer. I've used brass lacquer on "naked" razors to keep from having to polish the brass as often and that works well. Look for something used by folks who work on brass instruments and you're good to go.

The case is gastly humble... any products for an outside recover known to work, methods of going around corners?

I'd say you're going to be pretty much on your own here. The Red & Black cases seem almost more plentiful than the razors, so it might just be easier to find one in better shape. But if you want the project rather than the product, I'd be looking for a thin, synthetic fabric with a bit of give to it (to give some stretch in the corners) and then just use spray adhesive to stick it to the case. If you can keep it tight enough you should be able to limit all of the puckering to the inside of the lid where you'd cover it over with a felt headliner like the original. I've not done a case refurb on one of these though, so I'm mostly just speaking generally there.