Tuckaway with a somewhat unusual handle

[MacDaddy]

This seemingly normal Tuckaway set just sold a little while ago today, but take a closer look at the handle. The simple knurling on the bottom fitting isn't something I can recall seeing before on a Tuckaway handle. I'm used to seeing either the same pierced diamond pattern as is on the handle of the earliest models, or the more common "reversed diamond knurling" that has larger ridges running through the pattern. Has anyone else seen this before?

 

[bakerbarber]

Odd.

 

[mr-razor]

never seen before. What is the serial number?

 

[luvmysuper]

417297b

 

[Luminose]

I'm beginning to think that each Gillette factory had a lot of freedom in how they made the parts for their razors. It could of been as simple as a machinist or forman saying "hey let's try a run of this razor with a bottom like this". I'm sure back then it wasn't exactly easy to make sure that the razors made in different plants in different countries all matched each other.

It's actually really cool because you never know when people will find an original Gillette with mixed or unique parts

 

[ras120]

Here are my two sets. The silver one has serial #37164B (1922) and the gold one has no serial number (1927-1928?). The one you are linking to looks similar to my gold model with one less step in the knurling process.

 

[alex2363]

Plus..i never seen such uneven serial numbers

 

[alex2363]

could it be a factory reject that was not suppose to be sold?

 

[celestino]

Lovely set, regardless!

 

[the beav]

Interesting variations on the handles--thanks.

 

[jbradley]

I was watching this one. Wanted it bad. Went to Lodge and forgot to put a bid in on gixen. Dang it, I really wanted this one. Congrats to whomever got it. I don't know the story behind it, just knew it was...different.

 

[amishmotorboat]

When they were making the regular tuckaway handles, wouldn't there have to be something to interrupt the knurling process at precise intervals to create the large diamond pattern? And if that interruption never occurred, you would get this?

 

[alex2363]

When they were making the regular tuckaway handles, wouldn't there have to be something to interrupt the knurling process at precise intervals to create the large diamond pattern? And if that interruption never occurred, you would get this?

So this has to be a factory reject, that also explains the crooked un even serial numbers

 

[amishmotorboat]

I don't know how that explains serial numbers, or anything at all having to do with the head of the razor. These would have been on different machines.
And it seems odd to me that a factory reject handle would get paired with a factory reject head. I suppose an employee taking parts home could happen, but then again I doubt that either of these pieces was rejected, least of all a bottom plate with nothing wrong but some misaligned serial numbers.

 

[alex2363]

I don't know how that explains serial numbers, or anything at all having to do with the head of the razor. These would have been on different machines.
And it seems odd to me that a factory reject handle would get paired with a factory reject head. I suppose an employee taking parts home could happen, but then again I doubt that either of these pieces was rejected, least of all a bottom plate with nothing wrong but some misaligned serial numbers.

I understand that, but i am talking about the handle being a reject.

 

[alex2363]

I don't know how that explains serial numbers, or anything at all having to do with the head of the razor. These would have been on different machines.
And it seems odd to me that a factory reject handle would get paired with a factory reject head. I suppose an employee taking parts home could happen, but then again I doubt that either of these pieces was rejected, least of all a bottom plate with nothing wrong but some misaligned serial numbers.

I meant to say that either could have been a reject or mistake...these are not common.