why I love my fiance

[CzechCzar]

I was rooting around the local antique stores, and not having much luck. I had been to store after store that either was closed or was a Japanese antique store, a furniture antique store, etc. The last store I was going to try for the day was a hit. Huge boxes full of disorganized clutter... exactly my type of store. I asked if they had any of those "safety razor types of things..." he said he thought they had one, in the front. It was so tarnished I couldn't see a name or a brand, it was almost black, one of the teeth was bent, and it generally looked sad. He asked for $3, and said he would throw in an old Gillette razor blade box for $2 more. I feigned disinterest, trying to hide my excitement... sold!!!

I brought it home, and started boiling some water. My girl demanded that I let her help - she loves cleaning up old stuff and making it pretty. Scrubbing bubbles, boiling water, and a toothbrush and toothpaste do wonders for a razor. She even got out the needle-nosed pliers and straightened out the bent tooth. She's a jewelry-maker, and she whipped out the tarnish-removing cloth and went to work on it.

I wish I had taken some "before" pictures, but didn't think there would be such dramatic improvement, plus my girlfriend went to work too quickly. The results of her handiwork are shown below... What does she want in return? A pack of cheap mechanical pencils...

The razor is (I think) a Gillette DeLuxe. Worth much more than $3. Oh yeah - the pack of razors? Gillette Old Styles!

My first antique store goldmine. Score one for the team!

 

[Joker]

It is fun isn't it? Sounds like you have a nice partner in crime. You better keep her.

 

[r0ckrat]

That's a Gillette NEW with the common bar handle and long tooth comb, late 30's (based on the copper cap). The NEW Deluxe would have had a flat base plate instead of the center ridge (the ridge is machined flat around the threaded post). Great shavers! I have three... 2 short comb, 1 long comb.

 

[Topgumby]

Nice NEW, they shave great, and you have a great story to go with it.

Most impressive is the job she did with the bent tooth, most efforts to straighten them out end up with a busted tooth instead of a bent one. She must have the touch!

 

[e sinker]

good buy... and that blade tin is quite rare as it doesn't have the diamond and arrow logo stamped on it like most do. I would presume that tin was made around late 1907 or early 1908.

 

[Hughies_online]

Yup, she's a keeper. The razor too!!

 

[rac]

hi
wish i could get my wife to clean mine ,nice razor to use as well ,
i only find rubbish normally when i look ,however picked up a nice ever ready 1912 last week.

 

[CzechCzar]

Tried this razor out this morning and I almost couldn't take the pain. It hurt a lot more than using my others. Am I doing something wrong or is this just the open comb in action?

 

[Topgumby]

Am I doing something wrong

Yes!

or is this just the open comb in action?

Yes!

There is no guard bar to stretch the skin for you, and the open comb razors are much less tolerant of blade angle error and the application of pressure.

I cursed my open comb razors as too aggressive and unforgiving when I first tackled shaving with them...the truth was, and is, that I'm a relative neophyte at DE shaving and I had barely mastered using a mild Tech, and the NEW I was trying to shave with was reminding me my technique had a way to go.

They are great shavers, but demand a little more from the user...don't give up on it, and if it doesn't "click" now, put it away for a few months and try it again.

You may be surprised at how much more forgiving that razor has become from just sitting in the drawer. I know I was.

 

[T Rick]

My first major clean up (just a few weeks ago) was an identical razor, and came out looking almost exactly like yours.

I shaved with mine and had no troubles. I think extra care in prep and lather is probably warranted on any unfamiliar razor. And I'm a fan of corking a fresh blade too. Try again when it feels right to do so, and use a blade you've had good luck with. I'll bet you end up really liking it.