"Vintage" Gillette Thins

[ezmike]

When I first returned to wet shaving, the first Super Speed I purchased came with a gold colored Gillette blade box. In there were several still in the wrapper Gillette Thin blades, the gold colored blade. So I gave it a try and the shave was excellent, so I tried another, same results. Although I liked them I noticed that usually on the bay they are pretty expensive per blade. Since I could buy other exceptional blades for half or more the price I stayed away from them.

Well, last week I scored 30 of them for a "reasonable" price. I was eager to try them so this Monday I put one in my British Rocket 500 HD and whoa!! it was like shaving with a dull blade, whiskers and weepers galore. At the same time I was trying a sample of one of Italy's more famous, now discontinued soaps, so I basically chalked it up to my inexperience with the soap. I continued to shave with another blade. The next morning, determined to get a good shave with it, I tried it again. Better. After 2 1/2 shaves I disposed the Gillette Thin.

Fast forward to today, after receiving the Aristocrat #21 I purchased from Jake yesterday I was excited to try my "new" razor with an appropriate vintage blade. So I grab another Thin, lathered up some Palmolive in the green tube (not taking any chances) and begin to shave. You guessed it, another painful experience. Weepers all over the place and it felt like I had to chop through the whiskers.

So I ask you, what's going on? Is it possible that those first few shaves were a fluke? I've talked to others and the y raved about these blades but just don't buy them because of cost.

What say you?

Mike

 

[Straight Arrow]

In my experience it depends on how old the Thins are. It's possible the first ones you tried were newer than the second batch you bought. I have had excellent shaves with Thins from the '70s but sub-par experiences with ones from the '40-'50s.

 

[HoosierTrooper]

I've got a box of the brown Thins that was unopened when I got it. Each blade is wrapped in a paper similar to wax paper, date code W2 (1951), and inside the red and black paper wrapper. I've tried a couple of them and the shave was brutal, no way I could finish even one side of my face. The box is now on display.

 

[ezmike]

The ones I'm using are double wrapped. I need to check the date codes. Unfortunately I have no way of knowing if the 4 boxes of 4 blades each are from the same batch or time unless I open each one. Unless you know of a way to tell?

Mike

 

[HoosierTrooper]

Not that I know of. The box of 10 I have doesn't have any dates on the box, just the blades. I guess even if they're sealed up the blades still deteriorate with the passing of time.

 

[WinstonSmith]

Storage matters too. If the second batch was stored in the bathroom for the last few decades, the edges may be ate up.

Perhaps try a light stropping of the blades before use to polish the edge a bit?

 

[ateace]

I have a supply of them, also from the bay. They're the gold ones, so from late 60s or early 70s by my guess.

Let's just say I wasn't inspired to try a second one of these.

As I understand, these were the bottom of the Gillette line at the time.

 

[ezmike]

Thanks gents for your input.

Well I tried another on Saturday, date code A1 (1955), again not good. I checked the date code on another box and they are H1 (1962). I'm beginning to think that the shaves I got from the very first two blades was a fluke or much later blades. I think my foray into these vintage blades is over. I'd hate to keep opening them just to check date codes.

I'll probably keep a few around for "collecting" sake but sell the others on the B/S/T board.

Mike