When did Gillette design peak?

[Haggises]

Until very recently I had assumed Gillette design peaked in the 50s/60s with the Fatboy/ Slim one two punch.
My first DE shave coming out of a month of GEMini was with an Old Type head and it blew me away.
I suspect Gillette got it right the first time and perfected a DE razor with the Old style open comb head. A home run combination of efficiency and aggressiveness that they tried for the next 60 years to repeat (but eventually gave up and produced carts)

Agree or disagree?

 

[bmilcs]

I shaved last night for the first time with a Gillette Old Type. The balance and weight was perfect for shaving my head, as I prefer lightweight, sleek designs. It was extremely efficient at gliding over my bald head and slicing down my daily stubble.

I've used 2-3 different Super Speeds (40's model, 2 flair type), and a Gillette Slim. Of those, I preferred the Slim but I have to say that OC design is awesome. I love how it feels against the skull and how efficiently I could maneuver it around my ears and neck. It's aggressive but not overly so... I didn't get any razor burn or any nicks with a BBS finish.

In addition to picking up my Old Type (2 actually), I also got a Fat Boy and black handled flair SS yesterday. I've heard the Slim is usually proffered over the FB but we shall see!

 

[whavens]

I, too, think they hit it out of the park early on. My single Rings and Bulldog shave as well as anything else I have. Although my British Aristocrat 66 is a mighty fine shaver.

 

[ateace]

Well, Gillette switched to carts so they could get some patent protection, mostly.

They did make some very nice DE razors, though. Very well-designed and constructed, and at many price points.

My favorite ones are the humble, everyday workhorses like Techs and Super Speeds.

 

[maxman]

Funny things those razors.
I love the Tech. It's just such a great simple design and it shaves beautifully.
Then there is the tech marvel like the Toggle. I get equally as good shaves from that.
Add to the mix the British Rocket or even better the Aristocrat Jr.

I've never been able to shave with the Old Type razors. But that Tech, now that's a razor that stands the test of time.

 

[onotoman]

From an engineering viewpoint, I'd say that the English Aristocrats were fantastic for 1930/40s, those thick base plates and rhodium plating. The Adjustables of the late 50s take some beating too for sheer sophistication and bulletproof design.

Five blades held in a plastic sheath and attached to a much larger piece of plastic is real progress though, or so we are told

 

[Haggises]

Funny things those razors.

I've never been able to shave with the Old Type razors. But that Tech, now that's a razor that stands the test of time.

I've never been able to shave with the Tech. But that Old Type razor, now that's a razor that stands the test of time.

 

[Haggises]

I, too, think they hit it out of the park early on. My single Rings and Bulldog shave as well as anything else I have. Although my British Aristocrat 66 is a mighty fine shaver.

I have have to get me a Bulldog, see what those big handles can do.
Well, that and a Double Ring. Just for completeness sake of course....

 

[Haggises]

From an engineering viewpoint, I'd say that the English Aristocrats were fantastic for 1930/40s, those thick base plates and rhodium plating. The Adjustables of the late 50s take some beating too for sheer sophistication and bulletproof design.

Five blades held in a plastic sheath and attached to a much larger piece of plastic is real progress though, or so we are told

I get the engineering standpoint of the Slim + Fatboy, but still feel the shave is behind the Old type.
I guess I need to jump on the British Aristocrat too, purely for research possibilities.

Why does every thread I start end up costing me money?

 

[Haggises]

Well, Gillette switched to carts so they could get some patent protection, mostly.

They did make some very nice DE razors, though. Very well-designed and constructed, and at many price points.

My favorite ones are the humble, everyday workhorses like Techs and Super Speeds.

I think I could make a good case for the Superspeeds - from the design of the TTO through to the simplicity and ease of the shave.
But not for the Tech

 

[the beav]

The early safety razors were more aggressive. They closely mimicked the feel and shave of a straight, but without the risk involved.

After WW2, time had moved on enough that fewer people remembered what a shave with a straight razor felt like. Thus razor aggressiveness declined and became more generic over all brands of DE's and SE's. This made shaving for newcomers even safer than before; that is, fewer weepers. Cartridges were even easier to use, thus their popularity today.

 

[MacDaddy]

I have have to get me a Bulldog, see what those big handles can do.

If you really want to drive yourself nuts you need to try to get your hands on a British NEW Richwood. The combination of the thicker handle and the British NEW head will make you weep.

For me, this era -- the '30s and '40s -- was Gillette's pinnacle. There's hardly a single razor from this era that makes me say, "Meh."

 

[mistercitizen]

It's hard to say because of the endless combinations of handles and heads IMO. I have a 1913 ABC Empire Pocket Edition Old Type that I don't care for too much from a shaving standpoint, although it is beautiful, but I have 1920 Old Type with the Bulldog handle that is right up there with my favorites. When you start looking at the New and New Improved heads with modern, heavier handles like a UFO Kaiser short stainless steel handle for instance.... all bets are off. Another joy of a razor for me is my 1930's Big Boy New Short OC Chromium Deluxe. My best Gillette razor would have to be my 1953 President. It's a very smooth shaver with a solid feeling build and looks that will knock your teeth out. I've never tried a No. 66 British Aristocrat though.... I suspect it could give my President a run for its money.

Ben

 

[mistercitizen]

If you really want to drive yourself nuts you need to try to get your hands on a British NEW Richwood. The combination of the thicker handle and the British NEW head will make you weep.

For me, this era -- the '30s and '40s -- was Gillette's pinnacle. There's hardly a single razor from this era that makes me say, "Meh."

That truely looks like an excellent shave right there!!

Ben

 

[Haggises]

If you really want to drive yourself nuts you need to try to get your hands on a British NEW Richwood. The combination of the thicker handle and the British NEW head will make you weep.

For me, this era -- the '30s and '40s -- was Gillette's pinnacle. There's hardly a single razor from this era that makes me say, "Meh."

Oh my.
Those things show up all the time right?

If there is one thing I would change on the Old, it would be having a longer comb like the NEW LC. Sometimes the comb can feel just a tad harsh.

Bulldog
British Aristo
Richwood

 

[mblakele]

As far as shaving goes, the NEW variants are the best designs I have used. So 1930s-40s.

There are arguments to be made for the manufacturing optimizations of the Tech family, and for the engineering that went into the TTO and adjustable razors. Those were great designs in their own ways, but my best shavers are from the NEW family.

 

[Mojo88]

In search of the perfect shave I think I have tried every blade and razor combination out there. I really like the old but I have to say the New Improved that I have provides some great shaves. I have several British razors and the Aristocrat Jr. is as good as anything I have found in the modern era. As far as American razors the Toggle and Executive rank the highest for me.

 

[santamariasteve]

I have about 35 DE razors, mainly Gillette's. When did Gillette peak? Uh, between about 1904 and about 1964, if you get my drift. I've never understood why a company who made such outstanding shaving hardware would no longer be the original independent company, unless . . . unless money. Corporate buy outs generate serious money. And there is serious money to be made if a large percentage of shavers during their lifetimes can be convinced to buy a new model Gillette every 5 or 10 years.

Follow the money.

 

[DrAwkward]

As far as shaving goes, the NEW variants are the best designs I have used. So 1930s-40s.

There are arguments to be made for the manufacturing optimizations of the Tech family, and for the engineering that went into the TTO and adjustable razors. Those were great designs in their own ways, but my best shavers are from the NEW family.

+100

 

[MacDaddy]

Oh my.
Those things show up all the time right?

I'll put it this way: I've seen two for sale. I bought two.