Rocket-style Gilette Aristocrat #16

[apino]

I've been trying to find some info on the Rocket-style Gillette #16. It looks to me like a heavier version of Aristocrat Jr. - same baseplate but with a heavier (?) HD Rocket handle.

According to Shavewiki, the #16 weighs 80 grams but I'm supposing that only means the rhodium plated version?

 

[apino]

OK, I'm puzzled... Shavewiki says #16 came either rhodium or gold plated. So is the Rocket-style version rhodium?! I thought only the barber poles were rhodium plated.

I can't think of any other Aristocrat that has the 430,030 base plate and a HD Rocket-style handle. And the one I've seen wasn't gold.

 

[Greybeard]

OK, I'm puzzled... Shavewiki says #16 came either rhodium or gold plated. So is the Rocket-style version rhodium?! I thought only the barber poles were rhodium plated.

I can't think of any other Aristocrat that has the 430,030 base plate and a HD Rocket-style handle. And the one I've seen wasn't gold.

It has been generally concluded through some testing that the rhodium plated #16 has a nickel plated head and a rhodium plated handle.
The #16 also comes in gold plate. They are the same razor (barber pole) except for the plating and weigh the same.
The rocket style handle with the solid TTO knob and 430030 base plate come on the #16 and the slimmer handled #53 Aristocrat Jr. (which weighs 72g).

 

[apino]

The rocket style handle with the solid TTO knob and 430030 base plate come on the #16 and the slimmer handled #53 Aristocrat Jr. (which weighs 72g).

So the Rocket style handle of the #16 really is rhodium? As I wrote, I thought only barber poles had rhodium.

 

[Greybeard]

So the Rocket style handle of the #16 really is rhodium? As I wrote, I thought only barber poles had rhodium.

Yes, the handle of a #16 is rhodium plated.
I'm not sure what you mean by "barber pole". The handle of a #16 has the spiral cut pattern.
Photo courtesy of Mr. Razor from his web site.

 

[apino]

Yes, the handle of a #16 is rhodium plated.
I'm not sure what you mean by "barber pole". The handle of a #16 has the spiral cut pattern.
Photo courtesy of Mr. Razor from his web site.

I've understood "barber pole" as meaning the fatter handle with the spiral pattern (like in the picture).

The Numbered British Gillette Information chart (http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/index.php/Numbered_British_Gillette_Information) gives both Barber-pole and Rocket style for the handle of the #16 set. So there must have been two versions of the #16 with different handles: 1) spiral cut and 2) Rocket style, right?

And the one I saw had the "ordinary" HD Rocket style handle with the 430,030 base plate. So I'm confused if it was or wasn't a #16. And if it was, what was the plating on the handle.

 

[Greybeard]

I've understood "barber pole" as meaning the fatter handle with the spiral pattern (like in the picture).

The Numbered British Gillette Information chart (http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/index.php/Numbered_British_Gillette_Information) gives both Barber-pole and Rocket style for the handle of the #16 set. So there must have been two versions of the #16 with different handles: 1) spiral cut and 2) Rocket style, right?

And the one I saw had the "ordinary" HD Rocket style handle with the 430,030 base plate. So I'm confused if it was or wasn't a #16. And if it was, what was the plating on the handle.

You will find that the wiki is not always correct (although usually), but in this case it is. Read the entry as one description "Barber pole, rocket type".


What you have probably seen is a #53 Aristocrat Jr. which has a high quality nickel plated handle.

Edit: "Rocket type" means that the TTO mechanism twists up into the handle as the silo doors are opened.
"Barber pole" is the pattern on the handle.

 

[apino]

You will find that the wiki is not always correct (although usually), but in this case it is. Read the entry as one description "Barber pole, rocket type".

Thanks for the clarification! I'm just wondering what does "Rocket style" mean, then? To me, the handle of the #16 looks pretty much the same as a #66.

What you have probably seen is a #53 Aristocrat Jr. which has a high quality nickel plated handle.

Nope, I own an Aristo Jr. myself (and what a wonderful shaver it is! )

Actually, I must be remembering it all wrong - I can't think of any Gillette with a HD Rocket type handle and a 430,030 base plate! The handle must have had the spiral rhodium finish after all.

 

[Greybeard]

Thanks for the clarification! I'm just wondering what does "Rocket style" mean, then? To me, the handle of the #16 looks pretty much the same as a #66.



Nope, I own an Aristo Jr. myself (and what a wonderful shaver it is! )

Actually, I must be remembering it all wrong - I can't think of any Gillette with a HD Rocket type handle and a 430,030 base plate! The handle must have had the spiral rhodium finish after all.

I guess I edited my original post after you read it.
Rocket type means that the TTO mechanism twists up into the handle as the silo doors are opened. The TTO knob ends up flush with the handle shaft.

 

[apino]

Rocket type means that the TTO mechanism twists up into the handle as the silo doors are opened. The TTO knob ends up flush with the handle shaft.

I thought all the British TTO Aristocrats work in this fashion apart from the first Aristocrat Junior (#48, 1948) which had the American Superspeed kind of mechanism? Still "Rocket style" is only mentioned for #16 and #66 on the shavewiki chart.

 

[Greybeard]

I thought all the British TTO Aristocrats work in this fashion apart from the first Aristocrat Junior (#48, 1948) which had the American Superspeed kind of mechanism? Still "Rocket style" is only mentioned for #16 and #66 on the shavewiki chart.

As I said before, the wiki is not always correct or complete.
e.g. the #53 Aristocrat Jr. which is as close to a Rocket type as you're going to get.

 

[apino]

As I said before, the wiki is not always correct or complete.

It's just my bad that I couldn't read it . The chart has been very helpful along the way.

What got me confused was that I started to wonder if there were some obscure Aristocrat versions with a Rocket looking handle. This misconception was reinforced by my vague recollections of actually having seen one. But, as you pointed out, "Rocket style" just refers to the Rocket mechanism.

 

[Greybeard]

No need for . You pick things up as time goes on and you see and read more. This forum is great that way.

As an aside, I also have a #53 Aristocrat Jr. and it's in my top 4 shavers.

 

[apino]

BTW, did the #16 ever come in a bare metal case that had two blade holders inside or is it a mismatch?

 

[Greybeard]

BTW, did the #16 ever come in a bare metal case that had two blade holders inside or is it a mismatch?

I've never seen or read of a #16 case with two blade holders. I'd be very inclined to think it's a mismatch but I couldn't say I'm 100% sure.

 

[mr-razor]

I've never seen or read of a #16 case with two blade holders. I'd be very inclined to think it's a mismatch but I couldn't say I'm 100% sure.

+1

There is no bladecase, only a cream dispenser:

 

[apino]

This one has one metal blade case under the razor:
http://mr-razor.com/Rasierer/One-Piece%20solid guard bar/1948 Aristocrat No16.JPG

The box I asked about had this design but the box was bare metal on the outside:
http://mr-razor.com/Rasierer/One-Piece open comb/1938 Aristocrat No20.JPG

 

[whydert]

This type of razor has come in different cases.
I have one in the black leatherette case like this #21
http://www.mr-razor.com/Rasierer/One-Piece solid guard bar/1948 Aristocrat No21.JPG

 

[apino]

This type of razor has come in different cases.

There are two reasons I thought of a mismatch in this case's case laugh:...):
1) All the other #16's I've seen (the ones with metal blade holder) have had only one blade holder, beneath the razor in the box.
2) The razor seemed to rest in the box at an angle (the head lower than the knob). All other Gillettes I've seen seem to rest level in the box?

It's been rather surprising how many mismatches are around, seems very common.

 

[midniterambler]

Rocket type means that the TTO mechanism twists up into the handle as the silo doors are opened. The TTO knob ends up flush with the handle shaft.

interesting; i always assumed "rocket style" meant the shape of the endplates, as opposed to the us manufactured gillette's endplates.