What is this short handled Old type

[mattface]

I nabbed a nice ebay lot of 3 razors last night. It was a good price, so I'm already a happy camper even though I'm not sure what one of the 3 razors is. Just wondering if anyone can help me identify the short handled old type. Looks like a single ring, but maybe an inch shorter.

 

[mblakele]

I suppose it could be a knock-off by another maker. The first short handle that I am aware of was the 1915 Milady, and it looked different. But more likely it could be a repair job. Those handles were prone to cracking, and we have seen a few examples where someone appears to have removed the cracked portion. Does it have the patent date band on the handle? Normally that would be at the bottom of the handle, but it might have been where the crack was. Or it might now be at the top, upside-down.

What do the cap threads and knob barrel look like? I would expect any repair like that to also require modifications there. Any serial numbers?

 

[mattface]

What do the cap threads and knob barrel look like? I would expect any repair like that to also require modifications there. Any serial numbers?

Time will tell for now I only have the auction pictures to go by, and that's really the best one.

I'm was also thinking the handle might have been shortened as a repair.

 

[KingGordon]

That is one pretty redtip. I am curious about that 3rd one as well.

 

[MacDaddy]

I'm was also thinking the handle might have been shortened as a repair.

That's my immediate thought from just that one picture, too. The only little thing nagging at me is that the bottom knob looks very slightly off. The grooves on a typical Single Ring's knob are usually much closer to dividing the total height of the knob into thirds than they appear on that one. The bottom one, in particular, looks closer to the bottom of the knob than it should. But that could just be a trick of the angles in the shot.

One thing to check once you get it is that, if it is actually a sawed-off Single Ring, the inner barrel would likely have had to have been cut down, too. Otherwise I would think that it would be hitting the base of the neck before the bottom of the handle tube with as much as it looks like they would have taken off the tube there.

 

[tubeandplate]

The 3rd one in question is a very abused and damaged single ring 1904 style Old Type.

I was going to bid on that auction, to get the 2 open combs (I have no use for a SS anymore), but both were damaged, the 1904 very badly (the other auction pictures blurrily showed the female threaded barrel being cracked with a missing piece, and some very badly bent teeth, as well as the actual blade seat being bent out of stright across it's breadth/length).

IIRC the middle one, the NEW Gillette, had some bent teeth or else I decided it was too much to pay to get my major interest in the 3 that was so badly damaged.

It was not a short or travel razor when it was in original condition...it was Gillette's first (2nd version) and flagship razor from 1903 to I guess WW 1 or so.

Nice artifact.

The Red Tip looks to be in great shape!


Chris

 

[amishmotorboat]

The only little thing nagging at me is that the bottom knob looks very slightly off. The grooves on a typical Single Ring's knob are usually much closer to dividing the total height of the knob into thirds than they appear on that one. The bottom one, in particular, looks closer to the bottom of the knob than it should. But that could just be a trick of the angles in the shot.

One thing to check once you get it is that, if it is actually a sawed-off Single Ring, the inner barrel would likely have had to have been cut down, too. Otherwise I would think that it would be hitting the base of the neck before the bottom of the handle tube with as much as it looks like they would have taken off the tube there.

It could be a replacement knob. If the total height removed was deeper than the old knob's threads went, a knob with deeper threads would be required.

 

[mattface]

and the winner is... a VERY badly butchered Old type. Both the handle and knob were shortened to make it work. If this had been done with a common tool like a pipe cutter it might have been nice. If it had been done with a hack saw and a file to finish the edges it it may well have been very nice. That is not what happened to this poor razor though, not even close. it looks like someone just hacked away with a dull object, then grew tired of that and broke it off leaving jagged splintered edges on both pieces. I could have done a better job with a serrated butter knife. Actually I could do better with a nail file. I'll post some pics of the carnage next time I have my camera out.

It was not a bad deal anyway. The Red tip is really nice, and the Bar Handle NEW is about par for that type of razor, and I have a scratched up plastic Gillette box that I can use a a useful box for putting things in.

 

[Shave_Rat]

and the winner is... a VERY badly butchered Old type. Both the handle and knob were shortened to make it work. If this had been done with a common tool like a pipe cutter it might have been nice. If it had been done with a hack saw and a file to finish the edges it it may well have been very nice. That is not what happened to this poor razor though, not even close. it looks like someone just hacked away with a dull object, then grew tired of that and broke it off leaving jagged splintered edges on both pieces. I could have done a better job with a serrated butter knife. Actually I could do better with a nail file. I'll post some pics of the carnage next time I have my camera out.

It was not a bad deal anyway. The Red tip is really nice, and the Bar Handle NEW is about par for that type of razor, and I have a scratched up plastic Gillette box that I can use a a useful box for putting things in.

You may still be able to file the rough edges or carefully cut like 1/16 off with a fine saw and make it your own modified shorty travel razor.

 

[mattface]

I COULD trim it even further, but I don't see any reason to bother. I've got a perfectly nice Tuckaway, and this thing is pretty much scrap brass.

 

[Shave_Rat]

I COULD trim it even further, but I don't see any reason to bother. I've got a perfectly nice Tuckaway, and this thing is pretty much scrap brass.

View attachment 292500

Yikes... that poor defenseless razor. I just hate seeing vintage ones having to be scrapped.