Schick Type A - Worth picking up?

[K.T.]

I saw a Schick Type A for sale recently for $25. I really don't know anything about this razor other than it was the first model Schick produced.

Is it worth picking up? It's a repeating razor, but the loading mechanism predates the Injector. I don't know if it's even usable today.

Can anyone tell me more about this razor? Is it worth picking up at this price?

Thanks!

 

[GentsInstinct]

I saw a Schick Type A for sale recently for $25. I really don't know anything about this razor other than it was the first model Schick produced.

Is it worth picking up? It's a repeating razor, but the loading mechanism predates the Injector. I don't know if it's even usable today.

Can anyone tell me more about this razor? Is it worth picking up at this price?

Thanks!

If it looks like this one, I say get it.

 

[K.T.]

Yup, that's the one.

Can you tell me more? Could I use this razor today? How does it shave? What is it worth?

I really am trying to avoid collecting razors I can't use, but if it's a good deal for a desirable razor I would have to get it, wouldn't I?

Thanks.

 

[GentsInstinct]

Yup, that's the one.

Can you tell me more? Could I use this razor today? How does it shave? What is it worth?

I really am trying to avoid collecting razors I can't use, but if it's a good deal for a desirable razor I would have to get it, wouldn't I?

Thanks.

You could use the razor today providing all of the parts are present. It's quite easy to reload the clip with injector blades - but you have to have a clip. These were designed to load like a gun, whereas a gun's clip has bullets, this gun's clip has blades. I don't know what the clip looks like for this first model but my Type B clip looks like a little box walled on both ends and one side. If you can figure out that it's got a clip in there and that the loading spring is present and not damaged, yes, you can fill the clip with blades, and use the razor.

As far as collectable, it's the first razor ever made by Col. Schick and the name of the company was Magazine Repeating Razor Company, not Schick. Circa 1926-1927. Invented and created by Colonel Jacob Schick. He sold his interest in the company to go make dry shavers. Read more here: http://www.safetyrazors.net/schick/schicktech.htm

Personally, I'd love to have a Type A like that. Many people find it highly collectable, especially if it's in good shape, even moreso if you find one in original box with original tube containing a blade clip with blades.

 

[Slivovitz]

I have the types B and C magazine repeaters, have shaved successfully with the type B, and will use the Cs in due course. I'll get an A if I can find one at my price, but that would probably be at a bit below the going rate. If the one you've found is $25 including shipping and sales tax, and if it's in working condition, that sounds like a good price to me.

If you don't have any injectors right now, and just want one that will shave well, you can likely pick up an E or G for under $10, and certainly for no more than $15.

The only thing I'd add to what GentsInstinct said is that the blade is held in only by the clip on top, and that can be a loose fit sometimes on modern blades. On my Cs, I had to mash that clip to get it to hold the blade tightly enough. On the B, it was already okay, but for all I know, a previous owner had done the mashing for me.

 

[hypo_style]

The Type A has a simpler mechanism than the Types B or C. You do not actually need an empty blade clip to load them, but you DO need the internal spring. Or at least the internal spring makes it much easier.

If the Type A you are considering does not have this spring, it is not worth more than $10-15, IMHO, unless it is in mint condition otherwise.

Here are the major things to check, from my experience:
- is the internal spring present, or was it lost?
- how much gold plating remains on the head? This is usually the first thing to become worn, as the plating was thin and exposed to wear.
- is there any pitting or corrosion to the alloy handle? The quality of the casting for these razors seems to vary considerably, from my experience. Either that, or they are prone to heavy pitting from oxidation.

These razors are a pain to clean thoroughly, but it is possible. If the alloy handle is tarnished, as is often the case, you can probably polish it out with some Maas and a clean cloth.

The shave is very, very aggressive for me, and very dependent on proper head angle. I always get a rough shave from mine. They are very cool mechanically, but I rarely shave with them. The later Schicks (Type B included) offer a smoother shave, in my experience, though still very aggressive.

I've seen these range in price on eBay from $13 for a pitted-handled razor with no spring and little gold plating remaining on the head on up to $55 for an excellent-condition razor (near-mint, except for slight gold plating loss on the head) with instructions and original box (but no refill blades). They tend not to go very high price-wise, at least as compared to Gillettes. I'm not sure why, but perhaps it's a combination of shave quality and a reputation for being difficult to load blades into these.

 

[K.T.]

Thanks for the info, guys. That was most helpful. I think I'm going to pass on buying it because it sounds like more trouble than it's worth to use it. I think it's more aggressive than I'd like too. Thanks!

 

[hypo_style]

KT,
I'm sorry to have scared you away from it. That was not my intention.

These really are handsomely-designed razors, and I'd say, if the spring is present inside the razor barrel, it is worth the $25.

If you don't like it, I'm sure you would have no trouble selling it on the BST. I can't ever recall seeing a Type A surface there, and there'd surely be some interest!

 

[brianw]

I certainly would be interested

 

[Ru4scuba?]

I certainly would be interested

I just saw this title and went looking to see if you commented!

 

[K.T.]

OK, I'll look to see if it's still there. It was in a local shop.

If it is, I'll pick it up and pass it along on BST for the cost to buy it, sales tax, and shipping costs. Or trade it for something, like a comparable badger brush.

I'm trying to avoid collecting razors that I don't or can't use. I have too much stuff cluttering the house already! But I'll pass it along since there seems to be some interest.

Best,
K.T.