Signature Single Ring
Sometime in 1908, according to Robert Waits' A Safety Razor Compendium, "a few" Single Rings were produced by Gillette bearing the signature of King C. Gillette under the head and under the cap. It is not known how many were produced or the reasons and conditions for doing so but they all appear to have been produced in 1908. The late Don Beehler once referenced a Gillette document that mentions that "a few" of these special razors were produced but the exact contents of that document are presently unknown. While the current market value of these razors is not known, it is interesting to note that the 1995 reference guide "Safety Razor Price Guide" lists the 'signature' Single Ring at "$75 and up". Although these "signature" razors do have a serial number, they do not bear the diamond trademark nor are they stamped "Made in U.S.A". It is presumed that there are more still in existence but undiscovered. It is interesting to note, that, so far, no other model of razor produced by Gillette bears this stamp. The following table lists all presently known "Signature" Single Rings.
In September of 2012, B&B member Mark1966 acquired an anomalous Signature Single Ring. The handle portion bears the siganture of KCG on the base plate but is stamped "Pat. No. 28.763 of 02" which appears to be a British patent number. The existence of this razor presents new questions as to the purpose, number and distribution of the Signature Single Ring series.
Signature Single Ring Database
Serial Number | Owner | Link | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
A401182 | B&B Member Sandcounty | thread link | |
A394640 | B&B Member Robert-13 | Show in Waits' Safety Razor Compendium | |
A393541 | B&B Member Mark1966 | thread link | British version of the Signature Single Ring. Signature is only on the base plate, not on the cap piece. Handle is stamped "Pat. No. 28.763 of 02" |
A388088 | B&B Member IronHammer | thread link | Found in Standard Set (script logo) case |
A387253 | Unknown | Confirmed eBay sighting on Aug 27, 2011. Confirmed by IronHammer | |
A386011 | B&B Member Highball | thread link | |
A378554 | Private Collector | Source: Robert Waits | |
A377857 | B&B Member Intrigued | thread link | Found in a Standard Set 460B case |
A375582 | B&B Member Highball | post link | Note: Strangely, only the cap plate bears the signature, not the base plate. |
A389184 | B&B Member Hershey | Post Link | Base plate signature only. Found in Standard Set (No. 460) case w/ script logo and plain "Gillette" cardboard blade sleeves. |
A400433 | B&B Member Rick2035 | post link | Signature is only on the base plate, not on the cap plate. |
A403414 | B&B Member Highball | thread link | Note: has the marking on just the underside of the head |
A372534 | B&B Member Mark1966 | post link | Note: Owner has the cap piece and knob portion but, curiously, also owns a signed handle stamped with English patent numbers! |
A406334 | B&B Member Scout0228 | post | Note: Only the cap bears the signature stamp. |
A428124 | B&B Member 72plymsatellite | post | Top cap signature only. |
A383203 | B&B Member SP3CtRUM | post | |
A374743 | B&B Member Gryffindor | post | Double signed: Baseplate and Top Cap |
A397624 | B&B Member Gryffindor | post | Single singed: Baseplate only |
A379525 | B&B Member Gryffindor | post | Double signed: Baseplate and Top Cap |
A398534 | B&B Member Buick48 | post | Top cap is monogramed with "H.N." which is believed to be the first found like this |
Non-Signature 1908 Single Rings
One area of study is trying to determine if these razors were produced in a single batch of contiguous serial numbers (Contiguous Batch Theory) or if they were randomly selected from the 1908 production line to be specially stamped with the signature of King C. Gillette (Random Batch Theory). If the Contiguous Batch Theory was true, then the number of signature Single Rings produced would be more than 25,000. Finding a Single Ring that is missing the signature but whose serial number also falls within the earliest and latest "Signature" Single Ring would disprove the Contiguous Block Theory, which means that the number of signature single rings made could be much smaller and certainly unknowable without documentation. On May 16, 2011 a 1908 Single Ring without the signature mark but bearing the serial number A400595 (earlier than Sandcounty's and later than Intrigued's) has been confirmed and is owned by Roy Johnson. This appears to prove that the Signature razors were indeed randomly selected from the production line to be specially stamped and handled.
A by-product of this research may also help in identifying the first appearance of the diamond trademark, which also appeared in 1908. The following table lists confirmed 1908 Single Rings that do not bear the King C. Gillette signature.
A by-product of this research may also help in identifying the first appearance of the diamond trademark, which also appeared in 1908. The following table lists confirmed 1908 Single Rings that do not bear the King C. Gillette signature.
Serial Number | Owner | Head Markings | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
A682419 | B&B Member Mark1966 | No marks | |
A656904 | B&B Member Rick1962 | No marks | |
A497830 | Ebay Sighting | No Marks | spotted and confirmed by IronHammer |
A413281 | Ebay Sighting | No marks | Note: Thanks to Mark1966 for spotting this one. |
A409518 | B&B Member nonicks | No marks | thread link |
A400595 | Roy Johnson | No marks | Seems to disprove the "Contiguous Batch Theory" |
A353450 | B&B Member sucuri | No marks | thread link |
A325323 | B&B Member Slivovitz | No marks | thread link |
A298738 | eBay listing | No marks | |
A272610 | B&B Member mr-razor | No marks | image link |
A262398 | Ebay Sighting | No marks | Pictures included with the listing clearly shows no signature on the razor base plate or the cap piece. |
A330217 | B&B Member wscottb7862 | No marks | image link |
A585921 | eBay sighting | No marks | spotted by Mark1966 |
Possible Reasons for using the signature
Some have suggested that the signature was used as a way to trademark the razors before the official diamond trademark had been established. This theory reasons that the stamp was quickly abandoned in favor of the preferred diamond trademark.
Another theory put forth suggests that some razors were selected to be stamped with the signature instead of the normal trademark so they could be used in gift/presentation sets.
Another theory submitted by B&B User Mako72 proposes that Gillette may have used the "signature" Single Rings as a kind of promotion in the style of Willy Wonka's "Golden Ticket" promotion. In this theory, if a consumer purchased a Single Ring Set that turned out to have the signature stamp, they would win a prize from the Gillette Company.
Another theory put forth suggests that some razors were selected to be stamped with the signature instead of the normal trademark so they could be used in gift/presentation sets.
Another theory submitted by B&B User Mako72 proposes that Gillette may have used the "signature" Single Rings as a kind of promotion in the style of Willy Wonka's "Golden Ticket" promotion. In this theory, if a consumer purchased a Single Ring Set that turned out to have the signature stamp, they would win a prize from the Gillette Company.
Related Links
Signature King Gillette 1908 Single Ring, How Rare / Common Is It? This thread is an ongoing discussion of the nature and origins of the "Signature" Single Ring
Additional discussion pertaining to this topic is available in this thread.
Additional discussion pertaining to this topic is available in this thread.
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