The Mystery Of The Two Fat Boy Adjustment Dials

[ras120]

Something I noticed a while ago was that the Fat Boy came with two different adjustment dials, one with a collar on the bottom and one without. Initially I thought that one was an earlier design, but I have seen both styles on razors from the same year. In fact, both razors pictured below are 1960 F1 models, so the different dials were produced side-by-side. More interesting than the aesthetic difference is the difference in feel between the two dials. Every Fat Boy I have ever handled has some play in the dial when the TTO knob is not locked down, but the one with the collar has no play in it at all and feels like a Toggle or Red Dot adjuster. As you can see, It appears that the collared dial has a more robust spring.

I noticed that the Adjustable Executive has a dial with a collar featuring the same "no play" functionality, and then I realized that the years that I have seen both collar and non-collar dials on Fat Boys was on 1958 (D) and 1960 (F) models -- which is the same two years that the Executive was produced (both dials may be on E and G models, but I have only seen D and F). So, I'm guessing that Gillette used left over Executive dials on Fat Boy models, which explains why there were two different dials.

So, it appears that a lot of men were getting Executive quality shaves for an entry level price if they happened to buy a Fat Boy with a collar on the dial.

 

[ironfist]

Interesting thread

 

[nemo]

Great observation. My F-2 has the collar.

 

[Copierguy]

Interesting observation. Thanks for sharing.

 

[inspiringK]

I love it when you find a thread so interesting that you just have to stop and go look! Great stuff ras120. Both of my 59's have the collar. Interesting, very interesting.

+1 Great observation, this is one of the many threads that make B&B invaluable, thanks for the info.

Alas, my lone remaining FatBoy does not have the collar.

 

[mr-razor]

very interesting. Not all Executive has the collar. I´ve a 1960 F4 Executive without collar.

 

[kirk 988]

very interesting

 

[Mark1966]

Very interesting observations - great work Ras!

 

[celestino]

Great observations.

 

[ras120]

very interesting. Not all Executive has the collar. I´ve a 1960 F4 Executive without collar.

Hmm, that skews my theory a bit. Is there any play in the adjustment dial?

And to the others that own models with the collar, do the dials have any play or are they pretty firm?

 

[chongo gordo]

I have an E-2 with a collar. There is some play when the doors are open.
sorry...

 

[mr-razor]

Hmm, that skews my theory a bit. Is there any play in the adjustment dial?

And to the others that own models with the collar, do the dials have any play or are they pretty firm?

I can´t check the play - I´ve sold the set

 

[ras120]

My Fatboy has no collar and is very firm.

I have an E-2 with a collar. There is some play when the doors are open.
sorry...

Okay, theory completely skewed. It sounded good at the time, but who the hell knows why Gillette did anything they did.

 

[ERVARGASNY]

Nice Observation Ras120, Either way at least i know which FatBoy i Prefer "With The Colar" )

 

[eizan70]

Nice thread. Now I can't wait to get home and look.

 

[MacDaddy]

Definitely an interesting observation, even if we don't quite have it nailed down yet.

Looking closer, though, the "collar" isn't part of the dial at all -- it's on the handle under the dial. The main visible difference seems to be the length of the knurled section of the handle -- look at the positions of the two black trim bands in your side-by-side shot above and you can see that the one with the "collar" starts down just slightly lower, and the adjustment dial rides up and down over a smooth nickel-plated section above the band. On the other the knurled section extends up higher about the width of the trim piece, and the dial runs down over top of that ring. (I've compared my own examples here, too, just so I wasn't solely relying on your photo, and they show the same thing.)

I went through a batch of Fatboys that I'm in the process of cleaning up right now and here's what I have:

• D-3 - has collar
• E-1 (x2) - has collar
• E-3 - has collar
• F-2 (x2) - no collar
• G-1 (x2) - no collar

I would put my money on this being a design change that happened sometime around the end of Q1 in 1960. That would account for ras's two F-1s in both styles, and there could have been enough slop over in parts use to account for Doug's F-2 with the "old" style.

 

[cwnidog]

I'm reading this at work - I'm definitely going to look when I get home.

 

[maxman]

Well now have to go dig out my fat boys and executive and have a peek.
you learn something new everyday around here

 

[bakerbarber]

Could it be the difference of tolerance for "clocking and over clocking" the adjustment when fine tuning the razor before packing for sale?

 

[HLS]

Now I have to get up and go look at mine............and I just got comfortable. Excellent observation!!