Schick Type M injectors for dummies

[BBS-1]

The aim of this is to update and clarify best as possible the various style of adjustable injector razors and when they were produced. Using dial and handle stickers strictly to date the razors is not really since they weren't used in a linear fashion for the most part. The only consistent delination is the addition of the guard lock originally the proctector feature on the razors in 1973. Any razor without is 1964 - 1973 and any with is 1973 onward regardless of handle or dial stickers.

I am going to drop Appleby's designations outright except for calling them Type M injectors and instead identify them by a combination of the style of dial sticker, handle sticker and guard feature. Keep in mind there are a few stragglers out there that are not representative of the packaging. I will elaborate more on those towards the end of this write up.

Now to define the razor characteristics

Dial stickers
D1 black dot in middle
D2 no black dot in middle
D3 cross in middle


D1 and D2 in advert on the left, D3 on the right

Handle stickers
H1 Schick adjustable
H2 Schick Dial
H3 Adjustable by Schick
H4 no sticker


H1 on the left
H2 middle left
H3 middle right
H4 on the right

Guard Protector lever
G1 without
G2 with


G1 on the left, G2 on the right.

Now onto the combinations and years produced. As far as how each shaves compared to each other is unknown and outside the scope of this synposis.

 

[BBS-1]

First up are ones without a guard protector lever. This covers from 1964 - 1973.

The first iterations were marketed as Schick Adjustable razors and were produced between 1964 - 1966.
These came with the following stickers and using the first post's identifiers came in 2 variations with either an D1 or D2 dial sticker along with the H1 handle sticker and G1 guard.

The earliest instance I found was here
Ad from the Indianapolis Star Sept. 4th 1964


In 1966 Eversharp rebranded these razors as Schick Dial Injector Razors. These were produced between 1966 - 1969 or 1970.
These came with the following stickers and using the first post's identifiers came in 2 variations with either an D1 or D2 dial sticker along with the H2 handle sticker and G1 guard.

Ad from the Lancaster Eagle Gazette Jun. 15th 1966


Ad from the Selma Times Journal Dec. 28th 1969


Sometime between 1969 and 1970 they switched the branding back to Schick Adjustable Injector. This may have coincided with the sale of the Schick brand from Eversharp to Warner Lambert. These differ by the cases from the earlier 1964 - 1966 versions. The earlier versions came in black clamshell cases, these were in either blister packs or rectangular cases. These were produced between sometime 1969/1970 through 1973.
They came with the following stickers and using the first post's identifiers came in 2 variations with either an D1 or D2 dial sticker along with the H1 handle sticker and G1 guard.

Ad from the Democrat and Chronicle Sun Apr. 5th 1970


Ad from the Albany Democrat Herald Feb 20th 1973


Some notes even though these razors came with 2 styles of dial stickers you almost never see them when they come up for sale which is often with the D1 style. There were also a few stragglers probably produced in 1973 with the D3 center cross style stickers on handles with the H1 sticker and G1 style guard they are uncommon but some do exist out in the wild.

Full page ads as attachments.

 

[BBS-1]

In 1973 the only major functional change to these razors was introduced with a new guard lever marketed initially as the protector that locked the guard from moving when you adjusted the dial and in such a way that you could grab the razor head without cutting your fingers.

This covers from 1973 -1984 / 86.

These razors came with the D3 dial sticker, H3 handle sticker and G2 style guard. There were a few stragglers produced probably right when they switched over in 1973 with the D2 dial sticker on them instead.

Ad from the Lebanon Daily News Aug 28th 1973


About approximately 1980 the handle style changes to an H4 with the D3 dial sticker and G2 style guard. These razors can be broken down into 2 time frames, the ones between 1980 and 1982 were like all prior versions of the adjustables in that they lacked any Schick logo on the razor head. The ones made from 1982 - 1984 had logos etched on the heads. These were sold through mail order by Warner Lambert past 1984 until at least 1986.

1980 -1982 variant in picture on the left
1982 - 1984 variant in picture on the right, razor on the right.

Ad from the Democrat and Chronicle Sun Dec. 30th 1984


Full page ads as attachments

 

[Rich_C]

So the people on ebay selling M’s that are clearly not adjustable are mistakes, or are there non adjustable M’s?

Schick Vtg Razor Ribbed Handle Type M Injector Black Silver MB1 Or M81 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Schick Vtg Razor Ribbed Handle Type M Injector Black Silver MB1 Or M81 at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

I dont know why people cant take 2 minutes to clean the razor with some soap and a toothbrush before taking a pic. Thats why I dont want to buy one of these used.

 

[BBS-1]

So the people on ebay selling M’s that are clearly not adjustable are mistakes, or are there non adjustable M’s?

Schick Vtg Razor Ribbed Handle Type M Injector Black Silver MB1 Or M81 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Schick Vtg Razor Ribbed Handle Type M Injector Black Silver MB1 Or M81 at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

I dont know why people cant take 2 minutes to clean the razor with some soap and a toothbrush before taking a pic. Thats why I dont want to buy one of these used.

In this case the person is calling it as Type M because of the tooling mark on the razor head. Usually they say things like Mxx where xx is any 2 digits. People like that don't know anything about collector nomenclature except maybe they seen that term Type M in an ebay search trying to figure out how to price the razor.

I wouldn't worry about them being dirty if the price is right. As long as there isn't any rust on the razor head they almost always clean up nicely.

 

[MyOldKentuckyHome]

In this case the person is calling it as Type M because of the tooling mark on the razor head. Usually they say things like Mxx where xx is any 2 digits. People like that don't know anything about collector nomenclature except maybe they seen that term Type M in an ebay search trying to figure out how to price the razor.

I wouldn't worry about them being dirty if the price is right. As long as there isn't any rust on the razor head they almost always clean up nicely.

I see those things as opportunities to get a good deal. Sometimes people think just because it's an old razor it must be worth $150 dollars, but usually if they label it wrong or call it a Gillette Regus or just list "vintage razor" then you can get a good price on the item.

And I've bought a few that looked cruddy but didn't have any signs of rust and they clean up great!

 

[Rich_C]

Thanks everyone. I just want to be careful since I have heard that the heads could be damaged and that they are hard to clean into the crevices of the head. Although someone else did comment to me as well recently that the heads aren't that hard to clean.

If I give up on the Supply, which I have been talking about in another thread, I will probably go with a Type M adjustable eventually. I just can't see myself keep trying other different models to find just the right aggressiveness. I am not sure if the lowest to the highest setting cover the whole range of Injectors's aggressiveness, but I am sure with so many settings I will find one that is just right.

 

[shoegoo]

Thank you all so much for posting this info! I am really happy to have picked up my first vintage razor. Because of this thread I realized I have a D2 - No dot in middle, H1 - Schick Adjustable, G1 - No guard protector lever. Mine was used but looks almost new!

 

[lvd4]

Great overview! I am just missing, what I expect to be the first model of the adjustable. On the attached photos, it is the most left one. As you can see, both the head and especially the dial are very different. Notice that the mildest setting is with the 1 on top (aligned with the triangle on the head), while the newer versions have the alignment below the dial. Also, as you can see on the second picture, the underside of the head is different from later generations adjustables.