Restoring Great-Grandpa's Razors

[Mycon]

I have acquired a pair of razors that used to belong to my great grandfather. I would like to clean them up and restore them if possible, but it's going to be interesting. From the looks of the handles, they appear to be a Gillette Old-Type and a New. The outer handle on the New is completely gone, and the post inside is a solid lump of rust. The head is tarnished, but seems to be otherwise well-preserved. The Old is in astonishing condition considering where it's been, but the handle tube is cracked almost top to bottom.
For reference, these razors spent the last 70 years or so stored in a leaky carriage house in the back of a corral. There was a straight with them, but the blade was totally destroyed by rust and the scales were in pieces.

The rust on the heads is from old blades. How could I go about restoring this pair?

 

[Mycon]

Scratch that, upon further examination they are both Old-types, only one has the tube without any inner post, and the other is missing the outer tube.

 

[gaseousclay]

holy mackeral. they look like they've been resting on the bottom of the ocean

 

[Radar O\'Reilly]

holy mackeral. they look like they've been resting on the bottom of the ocean

They were right next to some charcoal drawrings and this blue diamondy necklace.

 

[Triple Beam]

You, sir, need a Cooncat Bob handle. The heads look fair enough and could be salvaged....the handles not so much.

 

[mblakele]

I believe those heads might have some silver plate left. Have you seen the foil trick thread? http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=146433

For the handles... you may be able to salvage the cracked handle with epoxy, but I would be inclined to replace both handles. Add another vote for CooncatBob: http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=80472.

 

[maxman]

You, sir, need a Cooncat Bob handle. The heads look fair enough and could be salvaged....the handles not so much.

+1 to that. Cooncat Bob makes some amazing stuff. Then you'd have something old from your great grandpa and something new you bring with a handle.

 

[Gray Wolf]

+1 for the Cooncat Bob handles. Then see about having the heads replated, and you will have razors for your Great Grandsons to use one day.

 

[Mycon]

You, sir, need a Cooncat Bob handle. The heads look fair enough and could be salvaged....the handles not so much.

This was the eventual plan
I was all geared up to do the foil and soda trick, then my roommates informed me that we are out of foil. I'll get some tomorrow after work. For now, I just gave them a few "bubble baths."
Here are the midway pics. I can't believe the shape that the heads are in.

Cleaning off a half-century of crud revealed a new mystery too. The razor with the bent tooth is not a Gillette. It says "Made in Germany"

 

[Shangas]

If you can get your hands on an ultrasonic cleaner, that's a useful way to try and help clean the crud off these things...

 

[Batman]

...I'm king of the world!!!!!!!!

(Leonardo DiCaprio - Titanic)

 

[Gray Wolf]

This was the eventual plan
I was all geared up to do the foil and soda trick, then my roommates informed me that we are out of foil. I'll get some tomorrow after work. For now, I just gave them a few "bubble baths."
Here are the midway pics. I can't believe the shape that the heads are in.

Cleaning off a half-century of crud revealed a new mystery too. The razor with the bent tooth is not a Gillette. It says "Made in Germany"

The heads look pretty good, probably don't need replating!

 

[Aberneth]

I believe those heads might have some silver plate left. Have you seen the foil trick thread? http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=146433

For the handles... you may be able to salvage the cracked handle with epoxy, but I would be inclined to replace both handles. Add another vote for CooncatBob: http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=80472.

Are you sure they're silver? They look kind of gold to me.

 

[Mycon]

They are definitely not gold. That's a trick of the strange light I have installed above the sink.

Are you guys sure that they are silver and not nickel? The Gillette is definitely an Old, but I haven't got a clue what the German one is. Also, I have never used metal polish before. What kind should I look for, and what's the best way to apply it?

 

[Shangas]

Buy a metal-polishing paste like Simichrome. I use it on all my metal stuff and it works a treat.

Apply the paste SPARINGLY (A tiny tiny, match-head dabble) and then spread it out with a tissue and then rub and polish like crazy. Once you're done, wipe it off and give it another firm buffing and it should bring out the shine. Rinse and repeat until perfection is attained.

 

[HoosierTrooper]

I remember someone (buddydog maybe?) posted instructions on how to repair those split handles. It would be wonderful to restore that old family heirloom and use it again.

 

[DavyRay]

Have you taken these razors apart? These photos show them assembled. Can they be taken apart, like to put a blade in them?

 

[Mycon]

One last question. Do you rise the razor after polishing, or just rub it thoroughly with a microfiber cloth?

In addition, awhile ago I found a Tuckaway belonging to the same great-grandfather. This one was stored in a cabinet, but was solid black with tarnish:

I added it to the lineup

 

[Mycon]

Here we are:

I decided to abandon the handle on the bent-tooth unknown. I think I will keep the handle tube for the Old, but store it and get a replacement for use on the head. I couldn't get the tube 100%, but considering where it was...
The Tuckaway was already in better shape than the others, but she is a beauty now!

 

[Mycon]

Have you taken these razors apart? These photos show them assembled. Can they be taken apart, like to put a blade in them?

They all can be taken apart and have blades put in.