Using a Vintage Probak blade w/ Goodwill razor

[tomviolence]

Hi All:

I wanted to get a feel for how vintage blades worked with razors of that same time period. Since I don't (yet) have a Probak razor, I thought a Goodwill would be a fun razor to test. 1931 was an interesting time in shaving history, as Probak and Gillette had been rivals mired in suit, now joined. The new type of slotting on the Goodwill and the slotting on the Probak can be seen to match here.

I did "cork" the blade - to ensure it was clean. The blade is not as sharp as contemporary blades, and it did "tug" more. However, no cuts, nicks, or gaping wounds. I did two passes, WTG and ATG, which is generally all I do. I have a beard and just do my neck every other day or so.

Overall, fine. Not worth seeking out these blades as a replacement for anything you are currently happy with, but I envison trying them with various razors over time as well as trying some other vintage blades. For me, the fun of shaving is trying these vintage things, razors as well as blades.

 

[Super Mario]

Bringing this back from the dead! Got a 1930 Gillette New LC with blade case from BST via Peter's coin; well the blade case had a few vintage Probak from 1929 + few more modern Gillette Blue blades.....saw this thread and opened up one of the Probaks to load to the New LC....sounded like a fun idea!

First fun thing, on the inside of the wrapper is a neat advertisement inviting the blade user to acquire a Probak razor for the cost of $0.25 sent via post to some address, and one will be dispatched for trial! Cool. Plus tells me the blades were made and packaged before the Probak buyout, apparently post merger the blade packaging included markups saying made by Gillette...

Blade is wicked thick compared to modern paper thin DE blade....loaded and took way more tightening of the handle to close the cap down....

As the OP mentions, "tug" it did...so much so I started taking some unfriendly burn on the right cheek and jaw line. No Bueno! Discharged the blade, cleaned it up, back to the wrapper. Dropped a trusty, made in Russia (MAGA?), Gillette Silver Blue into the New and .....viola! A super smooth clean shave......so - vintage razor check! Vintage blade....nope! Blade technology must have advanced several times to get the precision and quality available today...trying to imagine leaving the straight razor behind to go to one of these DE Probaks??? And this is the blade that Gillette had a patent fight that caused them to buy out Auto Strop???? Wow - maybe 89 years of mild oxidation or something dulled that Probak.....but before ever trying again, probably needs to hit a hone and a strop!

 

[BigJ]

Thanks for the review!

 

[Storch4]

It is hard to discern a blade that is nearing the 100 year mark or 20 for that matter. Who knows how the blade has deteriorated or how it was stored. It's a crap shoot. I would keep the elder blades under wrap and not put them to ones facha. Dispenser blades are usually dull and oxidized. Who wants a nasty carbuncle or lock jaw from an old blade?