When is a Senator not a Senator?

[Jake]

I acquired a very pretty open comb razor this week while visiting NYC. It is a Made in England TTO open comb that has a handle much like a Senator, but the head is the #15. The handle appears to be silver-plated and the head is rhodium-plated.

The Pat No. on the head is 400621 and the handle has the 430030 patent No. I have not had a chance to photograph this razor, but wondered if anyone knew the model based on this information. It is not a razor I had seen before and seems to be a more utilitarian version of the classy #15.

Comments appreciated. And I will post some photos at the end of the weekend.

 

[**Bingo_Bob**]

pics please

 

[**Bingo_Bob**]

does it look like this?:

 

[Jake]

Yes, I will post photos and did not mean to be incomplete in my query. I am particularly curious and was unable to get any photos taken yet.

No, the razor is not a #15. The handle is not rhodium-plated and the head, although in most ways very much like a #15 head, opens differently. And the handle is very much like a silver-plated Senator.

More to come.

Thanks Bingo... B14 maybe?!

 

[hypo_style]

I have to ask:
where did you find such a creature in our fair city?

 

[Jake]

There are so many antique stores in MYC... Actually it had been in the collection of my British friend's father. She had inherited his estate. This was in the collection.

 

[bythbook]

the pic is not a #15, I think - it's a Popular. I believe the popular came in a number of versions - gold, rhodium, even a black-handled one (?)....

can't wait to see the pics of your razor!

 

[Sabledog]

It's beautiful regardless of the name!

 

[hypo_style]

There are so many antique stores in MYC... Actually it had been in the collection of my British friend's father. She had inherited his estate. This was in the collection.

Yes, there are many antiques stores here, but they are typically much pricier than they are any place else, as a rule. I don't even bother looking around my own city for that reason. There's a great place that sells amazing cufflinks on 9th Street, but they run about 10x what you can get them for on the 'bay.

I was mainly holding out hope that you had found that elusive, cheap, unknown hole-in-the-wall place that hadn't already been picked over!

You know...the same place where they give away those buckets o' razors!

 

[blantyre]

the pic is not a #15, I think - it's a Popular. I believe the popular came in a number of versions - gold, rhodium, even a black-handled one (?)

If it looks like that it jolly well should be popular - I'd certainly like one.

Are you planning to put it on BST or keep in your own collection Jake?

 

[texbilly]

Jake, I agree - it sounds like the Popular. I have the #47 model as shown in the previous thread from Achim's site. Wonderful shaver. It's essentially a small-diameter handle #15. Awaiting confirmation thorough your pics!

 

[Jake]

I see where Achim has identified and displayed the #47 Popular, a beauty with features similar to the #15 -- but that is not this.

I was going to wait until morning when there would be natural lighting and the photos would be more true to the silver & rhodium colors of this razor. But for the benefit of the research and insight, I rushed these photos into production. The condition of this razor is excellent. The colors are quite bright and shiny, but you can use these photos mainly to get a better understanding of the shape and design of this TTO razor.

One feature of the opening is displayed in photo 5. The doors do not just butterfly open. They move up and then flap open for inserting the blade.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

 

[mr-razor]

very nice find! I´ve the same razor in gold - he looks like a british Sheraton (with solid base plate), but I know nothing about him. The blades are from 1939 (J3):

 

[Jake]

Thanks Achim.... Strange that there would be so few of these 1939 razors, but maybe it was the buildup and outbreak of WWII that changed the production schedules for these rarities. I am looking forward to trying it out.

 

[bythbook]

Fantastic razors - a great find, Jake....


damn. Another one to... need.

(two, if I "need" the gold one as well.)


I bet it shaves great, too!


very very nice!


Jon

 

[copperhead]

It amazes me to see such Gillette variants pop up from time to time and stump even the best of us. I don't really think we can ever say for certain how many models Gillette actually produced and to make matters even more confusing, the famous "Gillette Switcheroo", putting the same razor in different cases and giving it a new name. Anyhow, this is a great find.

 

[texbilly]

It amazes me to see such Gillette variants pop up from time to time and stump even the best of us. I don't really think we can ever say for certain how many models Gillette actually produced and to make matters even more confusing, the famous "Gillette Switcheroo", putting the same razor in different cases and giving it a new name. Anyhow, this is a great find.

+1 Fantastic, Jake!

 

[Jake]

A few more photos, taken with artificial but better lighting. For your interest & curiosity and enjoyment.

Happy holidays!

 

[bythbook]

that is a terrific razor. It looks to have the same relationship to the #48 (and the Aristo Jr, etc etc) that the Senator has to the Ranger Tech (and the superspeeds)... the open-comb precursor to the great TTO's to follow.

As Achim says - the Brit. equivalent to the Senator/Sheraton.

Wish I had one (of each - nickel & gold).

thanks for the pics -

have you shaved with it yet?

 

[amishmotorboat]

Interesting features.
Looks like a senator, but has the rivets like a sheraton.
Has those fins on the blade bar like an early SS.
And instead of having those little hidden bent tabs to keep it from opening too far, that one has them right on the outside curving underneath.