Has anyone ever had one of these? I was wondering if they were ever produced. Perhaps the double ring improvement came around before production started. Any thoughts?
The first prototype Gillette
- Thread starter Docd
- Start date
Has anyone ever had one of these? I was wondering if they were ever produced. Perhaps the double ring improvement came around before production started. Any thoughts?
Not as far as I know. That looks like the illustration from US775134, filed in late 1901. But the application notes "NO MODEL" so it may never have existed. You might notice that the drawing lacks a classic feature of the Old Type: the bullet-shaped studs that align the blade. It used a center hole, with slots cut on either side. If any razors were made according to that design, they might not have worked with the three-hole blades. The other patent filed at the same time, US775135, does have the three-hole design and was much closer to the Old Type design - but was also filed without a working model. This patent also mentions adjusting the razor by loosening the handle, and also points out that the cap covers the corners and unsharpened edges of the blade. The bolt appears to be of the shorter type, unlike the double ring and single ring with their longer bolts.
By the time those patents were filed, Nickerson had already been working for the new company for a couple of months. But reading Nickerson's account leads me to think that no work was done on the holder until the spring of 1902. According to Nickerson, he and Richardson experimented with everything from the number of teeth to the thickness of the blades. Probably they made quite a few experimental prototypes, but I suppose they were scrapped once the final design was worked out.
By the time those patents were filed, Nickerson had already been working for the new company for a couple of months. But reading Nickerson's account leads me to think that no work was done on the holder until the spring of 1902. According to Nickerson, he and Richardson experimented with everything from the number of teeth to the thickness of the blades. Probably they made quite a few experimental prototypes, but I suppose they were scrapped once the final design was worked out.
Not aware of anyone having one either.
Not as far as I know. That looks like the illustration from US775134, filed in late 1901. But the application notes "NO MODEL" so it may never have existed. You might notice that the drawing lacks a classic feature of the Old Type: the bullet-shaped studs that align the blade. It used a center hole, with slots cut on either side. If any razors were made according to that design, they might not have worked with the three-hole blades. The other patent filed at the same time, US775135, does have the three-hole design and was much closer to the Old Type design - but was also filed without a working model. This patent also mentions adjusting the razor by loosening the handle, and also points out that the cap covers the corners and unsharpened edges of the blade. The bolt appears to be of the shorter type, unlike the double ring and single ring with their longer bolts.
By the time those patents were filed, Nickerson had already been working for the new company for a couple of months. But reading Nickerson's account leads me to think that no work was done on the holder until the spring of 1902. According to Nickerson, he and Richardson experimented with everything from the number of teeth to the thickness of the blades. Probably they made quite a few experimental prototypes, but I suppose they were scrapped once the final design was worked out.
Very good observation, its so small i would have overlooked it.
John, thanks for serving in military
I did´t own him, but it gives this prototype:
Very nice, Achim. Where did that photo come from?
I´ve this photo from the Gillette plant in Berlin. I believe you can see it in the 75 year Gillette booklet too.
Thanks. It sounds like the prototype was still in Gillette's possession around 1976. I hope P&G did not sweep it out with the trash after they took over.
Did you go in as a museum tour or was it auction to get the pics ?
I work in the plant. They know that I´m collecting old Gillette stuff and some years ago they give me a CD with pictures for date some items and Ads.
