REV579

About Me

My Shave Den

Hardware

Gillette Razors & Sets

Open Comb

​

• 100 The "Gillette", aka The Double Ring
• 102 Gillette Pocket Editions: 500, 501B, 503B, 504, 504B
• 102 ABC Pocket Editions: 500, 501, 501B, 502, 502A, 502B, 503, 503B, 504, 504B, 505
• 102 sets(Combination Set No. 00, Standard Set, 460, 460B, Cambridge No. 202, British Standard Set, Khaki Set)
• Bulldog(1920 Nickel)
• Big Fellow(Old Type & New Improved)
• 102a(Brownie, Excelsior)
• New Improved 106, 126(New Standard; Bostonian; Tuckaway)
• Goodwill(160, 162, 164, 175)
• NEW, Long Comb(Red & Black, Windsor)
• NEW, Deluxe(Lady Gillette DeLuxe, Criterion, Red & Black Art Deco Handle)
• NEW, Short Comb(Tuckaway, Norfolk, Red & Black, Cambridge, Big Boy Hybrid, Thin Common Bar, Thin Uncommon Bar)

Open Comb Twist-To-Open

​

• Sheraton
• Senator

Safety Bar

​

• Tech(Pre-war, Post-War NDC, Date 50's, 60's, 70's)

Safety Bar Twist-To-Open

​

• Aristocrat(1941, 46-47, 48-50)
• Diplomat
• Ranger Tech
• Milady(1940)
• 40's Super Speed
• 50's Super Speed
• 60's Super Speed
• Red Tip
• Blue Tip
• Rocket
• Parat/54a
• 500 HD Rocket

Adjustable Twist-To-Open

​

• Fatboy
• Slim

Other Razors & Sets

• Star
• Ever Ready
• GEM(Junior Bar, Damaskeene, 1912, MMOC, MMCP, Bullet Tip, Featherweight Deluxe, G Bar)
• Le Taillefer Silver Old Type
• Otto Roth Long Comb
• Probak
• Enders Speed
• Eversharp Krona
• Schick Krona
• Merkur 34C HD
• Edwin Jagger 89

Blades

• Astra Platinum
• Feather Hi-Stainless
• Gillette 7 O'Clock SS Green
• Gillette 7 O'Clock SharpEdge Yellow
• Gillette Silver Blue
• Perma-Sharp
• Personna Blue
• Polsilver Super Iridium
• Voskhod

Original Brushes

• Ever-Ready 200CC "Set In Rubber" Boar(x2) in rotation
• Ever-Ready 200CC Boar
• Ever-Ready 200CC "Made in U.S.A." Boar(x2)
• Rudy Vey Jade & Horn 2-Band Silvertip
• Semogue 830
• Simpson Wee Scot 1(w/case) made for Hoffritz
• Simpson Wee Scot(x2)
• Vie Long Blanco American Barber 04513

Restored Brushes

• Century 4(restored w/24mm TGN Best)
• C●Mon 77-3(restored w/24mm Maggard Beige)
• Ever-Ready 100T(restored w/20mm Maggard B&W)
• Ever-Ready 1612(restored w/16mm TGN Finest)
• Hess Deluxe 5(restored w/26mm Maggard Blended)
• Rubberset 200-4(restored w/26mm Maggard Timberwolf Grey)
• Simpson Duke 1(restored w/20mm TGN Silvertip A)
• Star(restored w/16mm TGN Finest)
• Whiting-Adams Barber Handle(restored w/18mm Finest)

Scuttles, Mugs, & Sets

• Kronheimer & Oldenbusch Shaving Floral Themed Mug-Brush Set(restored w/16mm TGN Finest)
• Kronheimer & Oldenbusch Floral Themed Shaving Mug w/Milk Glass w/o Brush
• Queen City Silver Plain Mug
• Georgetown Pottery G12
• Captain's Choice Terra Cotta Scuttle

Software

Soaps

• Captain's Choice Bay Rum
• Pre de Provence No. 63 Puck
• Sterling Deep Blue Sea
• Sterling Dunshire
• Sterling Executive Man

Creams

• Jack Black Supreme Cream
• Neutrogena Skin Clearing
• Nivea Mild
• Pre de Provence No. 63 Cream
• Proraso Green
• Taylor of Old Bond Street Jermyn Street
• Taylor of Old Bond Street Mr. Taylor's
• Taylor of Old Bond Street Sandalwood
• Taylor of Old Bond Street St. James Luxury

After Shave

• Captain's Choice Bay Rum, OF
• Captain's Choice Bay Rum, NF
• Pre de Provence No. 63 After Shave Cream

Wanted

I created this page to share the things I have and the things I am looking for. Since I am no longer in the 2019 Shaving Purchase Sabbatical, I am not limited to only trading. If you have something I am looking for, drop me line!

Razors

• Something different, unique

Soaps/Creams

• Something that smells like Armani Privé Amber Eccentrico
• Something that smells like Armani Privé Myrrhe Imperial
• Sterling Dunshire
• PDP No. 63 Puck(I'd like to make a shave stick out of some)

Brushes

• Earlier, the better
• Different, unique

Other

• ??

Unfinished Business In The Den

I love tinkering with things. Cleaning up and restoring old razors and brushes is relaxing, among other things.

Active Projects

Razors

• None At This Time

Cases

• ABC Pocket Edition
• Richwoodx2

Brushes

• Albright Rubberset Barber Handle
• E&J Bass Silverplated Brush(unrestored)
• Erskine
• Ever-Ready Ferrule
• Rubberset 49-3
• Unknown Horn & Bone
• Unknown Ebony & Wood
• Unknown Bone Handle w/ferrule
• Unknown Silverplated Brush(unrestored)

Needing New Inspiration or New Homes

Razors

• Various Tech razors
• Old Type
• NEW, Long Comb
• ABC Pocket Edition Case 500, 501
• Gillette Pocket Edition Case 500, 501, 503, 504
• SE Razors(GEM, Ever-Ready)
• Straight Razor Projects(Dubl Duck Goldenedge, Bowdins Edge, & Unknown)

Soaps/Creams

• Palmolive Classica
• WARS Fresh
• ToOBS Eton College

Brushes

• Rubberset 500N(Canadian)
• Ever ready 1000

Other

• ??

Gillette Timeline

What we know about Gillette safety razor serial numbers and date codes. Razors made in USA often left the factory with serial numbers or date codes, which can be used to establish their manufacturing dates. During certain periods some or all models were unmarked.

1903-1929 (serial numbers)

Production Year	Serial Numbers	Models Produced			Notes
1903	n/a	Double Ring (1903-1906)			For notes on the early company history, see Gillette Timeline.
1904	1‑45424		Old Type (1904-1929, including Single Ring, Ball-End, etc.)|	Serial numbers did not begin until midway through the year, and an estimated 55,000 were produced without serial numbers.
1905	45425‑370424
1906	370425‑770424
1907	770425‑999999 A1‑A195424
1908	A195425‑A675857	ABC Sets Being Production; With Latches			Diamond logo in use on blades by September, and perhaps on some razors and sets during or after Christmas.
1909	A675858‑A999999 B1‑B222220
1910	B222221‑B697600	ABC Sets with Latches and Fancy Framed Top Rivets. Aristocrat Model introduced.			John J. Joyce buys out most of King Camp Gillette's stock. Gillette remains honorary president, but effectively retires.
1911	B697601‑B999999 C1‑C80508
1912	C80509‑C260238
1913	C260239‑C407806
1914	C407807‑C578360	Bulldog handle intoduced			Nickerson invents an improved automatic honing machine, allowing increased blade production.
1915	C578361‑C911806				Launch of Milady Décolleté, first women's razor.
1916	C911807‑C999999 D1‑D516474				Joyce retires to California, dies shortly afterward leaving controlling shares to John E. Aldred.
1917	D516475‑D999999 E1‑E449207	Military Sets			Aldred reorganizes Gillette as a Delaware corporation. Annual sales exceed 1.1M razors.
1918	E449208‑E999999 F1‑F999999 G1‑G999999 H1‑H999999 J1‑J7344				All J Series are WWI production. Annual sales near 5M razors in 1918. "I" was not used as a serial number prefix.
1919	J7345‑J999999 K1‑K927216			Big Fellow introduced
1920	K927217‑K999999 M1‑M999999 N1‑N459887				Annual sales exceed 2.1M razors in 1920. "L" was not used as a serial number prefix as it had already been used to stamp razors returned for repair.
1921	N459887‑N999999 P1‑P679777 1A‑863912A			New Improved (1921-1929, including Bostonian, Big Fellow, etc.)| "O" was not used as a serial number prefix. Original 1904 patents expire November 15, 1921. May launch of New Improved razor with new serial number format, starting with 1A. The Old Type continues as "Brownie" and various other sets, but without serial numbers. Annual sales exceed 4.2M razors.
1922	863913A‑999999A 1B‑336676B
1923	336677B‑391575B
1924	391576B‑485927B
1925	485928B‑602049B
1926	602050B‑770070B				Gillette celebrates its 25th anniversary as a company. In Germany, competitor Roth-Buechner is purchased.
1927	770071B‑902611B				From Oct 18 1927 to Aug 27 1928, there were no serial numbers used.
1928	1C‑94800C				Serial numbers resume. Nickerson retires. Gillette develops Kroman blades, and declines to purchase a new strip-based blade design offered by Henry J. Gaisman (Auto Strop).
1929	94801C‑241755C	The NEW (1929-1940?)| Auto Strop begins selling Probak razors and blades, using Gaisman's new design. The Probak reaches the market before Gillette launches the NEW in 1930.

1930-1949 (the "NDC" years)

In 1930 Gillette stopped using serial numbers on razors. So razors made from 1930-49 can be difficult to date precisely. However, blades made in those years were stamped with a date code: A for 1930, B for 1931, etc., plus 1-4 for the year quarter. So "A-1" means January-March 1930. In 1950 this system was expanded to include razors, too (see below). If a vintage razor is found with its original blades, the blade codes can be used to establish a rough date for the razor. This is not 100% accurate, since the blades may not be original or may have been made before or after the razor.

Production Year	Models Produced				Notes
1930		The NEW (1929-1940?)|		Gold plated Big Fellow intro'd as NEW Big Boy Deluxe. In this year only De Luxe models were numbered, starting with 1-D, and often the final D was omitted. Kroman blade introduced. Patent fight and merger with Auto Strop. Stock falls from over $100 to below $30.
1931	Goodwill				Henry J. Gaisman (Auto Stop) succeeds tainted management after financial scandals. Stock falls below $5. King Camp Gillette resigns as President.
1932					Blue Blade introduced. Death of King Camp Gillette on July 9, 1932
1933
1934			Gillette Aristocrat 1930s		The Aristocrat becomes the first Gillette TTO razor.
1935
1936
1937			Sheraton
1938	3 Piece Tech (1938-1979)			Senator	Thin Blade introduced. Gaisman retires, succeeded by J.P. Spang, Jr. New emphasis on sports advertising.
1939					"World Series Special" Tech.
1940			Regent Tech		Regent Tech introduced as the first closed-comb TTO.
1941		Aristocrat (1941, 1946-1951)	Ranger Tech	Milord (1941, 1946-1953)	"Cavalcade of Sports" theme introduced.
1942					War Production Board orders dedicated military production for all razors and most blades.
1943
1944					War Production Board lifts orders late in 1944.
1945
1946		Aristocrat (1941, 1946-1951)		Milord (1941, 1946-1953)	Introduction of razor end caps.
1947			40s Style Super Speed (1947-1954)
1948					Introduction of notched post.
1949					First plastic case: red/clear styrene

1950-1988 (letter codes)

The single-letter date codes are accompanied by a number, which corresponds to the quarter of the year. So 'O-1' means 1969, January-March. Date codes on blades (see above) also continued through this period.

Year	code	Models Produced						Notes
1950	V	3 Piece Tech (1938-1979)	40s Style Super Speed (1947-1954)		Aristocrat (1941, 1946-1951)	Milord (1941, 1946-1953)		Razor Date Coding Begins with V-3
1951	W			Black Tip Super Speed (1951-1952)
1952	X
1953	Y						President
1954	Z			Flare Tip Super Speed				40s Style Super Speed TV Special Z3 & Z4
1955	A		Blue Tip and Red Tip Super Speed (1955-1960)
1956	B
1957	C				Toggle (1957-1958, 1960)			Toggle Goes on sale Christmas '57
1958	D						"Fat Boy" Adjustable	50s Style Super Speed TV Special
1959	E
1960	F				Toggle (1957-1958, 1960)	195 Adjustable ("bottom dial")
1961	G				"Slim" Adjustable	Lady Gillette
1962	H
1963	I
1964	J
1965	K
1966	L		Black Handle Super Speed				The Knack (1966-75)
1967	M
1968	N			Black Handle Super Adjustable
1969	O
1970	P
1971	R							Some razors produced with Gillette code-Q. Trac II introduced.
1972	S
1973	T
1974	U
1975	V							Atra/Contour introduced. Good News disposable introduced.
1976	W
1977	X							Black Handle Adjustable gets plastic bottom plate
1978	Y
1979	Z
1980	A
1981	B
1982	C
1983	D
1984	E
1985	F							Atra Plus/ Contour Plus introduced, first lube strips.
1986	G
1987	H
1988	I							One of the last batch of USA-made DE razors.

Resources

Boar Knot Options

Omega Brushes By Knot Size
Ht x Loft x Base x Knot
Knot/Loft

18mm Knot

Omega 10086
88x42x46x18
18/46
Omega 20086
88x46x42x18
18/46
Omega 50068
74x46x28x18
18/46

19mm Knot

Omega 63184
97x53x54x19
19/53

20mm Knot

Omega 21047
73x43x30x20
20/43
Omega 10015
96x49x47x20
20/49
Omega 63171
92x50x42x20
20/50
Omega 63173
92x50x42x20
20/50

21mm Knot

Omega 50014
90x45x45x21
21/45
Omega 13522
93x46x47x21
21/46
Omega 10099
100x48x52x21
21/48
Omega 10275
93x48x45x21
21/48
Omega 40099
100x48x52x21
21/48
Omega 11130
114x49x65x21
21/49
Omega 90075
95x49x46x21
21/49
Omega 63325
101x50x51x21
21/50
Omega 90077
98x50x48x21
21/50
Omega 10290
105x51x54x21
21/51
Omega 11648
105x51x54x21
21/51
Omega 63183
94x51x43x21
21/51
Omega 66229
105x54x51x21
21/54
Omega 66230
110x56x54x21
21/56

22mm Knot

Omega 10075
94x49x45x22
22/49
Omega 13564
96x49x47x22
22/49
Omega 90072
104x49x55x22
22/49
Omega 90081
104x49x55x22
22/49
Omega 10077
98x50x48x22
22/50
Omega 10072
105x51x54x22
22/51
Omega 10218
103x51x52x22;
22/51
Omega 10219
103x51x52x22;
22/51
Omega 63185
100x51x49x22
22/51
Omega 80056
100x51x49x22
22/51
Omega 91087
104x51x53x22
22/51
Omega 13111
103x52x51x22
22/52
Omega 63188
107x53x54x22
22/53
Omega 63167
109x54x55x22
22/54
Omega 33174
103x55x48x22
22/55
Omega 66149
111x55x56x22
22/55
Omega 643167
110x55x55x22
22/55
Omega 31232
112x56x56x22
22/56
Omega 63164
104x56x48x22
22/56
Omega 63181
108x56x52x22
22/56
Omega 81229
106x56x50x22
22/56
Omega 643174
104x56x48x22
22/56
Omega 646150
112x56x56x22
22/56

23mm Knot

Omega 40033
88x48x40x23
23/48
Omega 90005
105x49x56x23
23/49
Omega 10018
103x50x53x23
23/50
Omega 10019
103x50x53x23
23/50
Omega 81056
100x50x50x23
23/50
Omega 90018
103x50x53x23
23/50
Omega 90051
93x50x43x23
23/50
Omega 90065
100x50x50x23
23/50
Omega 10051
93x51x42x23
23/51
Omega 63186
105x52x53x23
23/52
Omega 33176
106x53x53x23
23/53
Omega 63162
103x53x50x23
23/53
Omega 13109
104x54x50x23
23/54
Omega 31241
110x54x56x23
23/54
Omega 33175
107x54x53x23
23/54
Omega 343312
115x54x61x23
23/54
Omega 10810
109x55x54x23
23/55
Omega 11137
113x55x58x23
23/55
Omega 11148
105x55x50x23
23/55
Omega 63187
109x55x54x23
23/55
Omega 80257
95x55x40x23
23/55
Omega 80266
105x55x50x23
23/55
Omega 10081
109x56x53x23
23/56
Omega 10105
114x56x58x23
23/56
Omega 11573
106x56x50x23
23/56
Omega 11574
106x56x50x23
23/56
Omega 11575
106x56x50x23
23/56
Omega 31231
111x56x55x23
23/56
Omega 46113
110x56x54x23
23/56
Omega 63180
113x56x57x23
23/56
Omega 80280
109x56x53x23
23/56
Omega 81052
106x56x50x23
23/56
Omega 81230
109x56x53x23
23/56
Omega 80265
105x56x49x23
23/56
Omega 643188
110x56x54x23
23/56
Omega 31073
109x57x52x23
23/57
Omega 10029
103x59x53x23
23/59
Omega 11150
115x59x56x23
23/59

24mm Knot

Omega 80267
104x44x49x24
24/44
Omega 643186
106x51x55x24
24/51
Omega 11121
104x52x52x24
24/52
Omega 10065
105x54x51x24
24/54
Omega 10066
105x54x51x24
24/54
Omega 10005
110x55x55x24
24/55
Omega 11126
115x55x60x24
24/55
Omega 11205
108x55x53x24
24/55
Omega 81054
111x55x56x24
24/55
Omega 66231
112x55x57x24
24/55
Omega 66232
112x55x57x24
24/55
Omega 80097
106x55x51x24
24/55
Omega 90103
114x55x59x24
24/55
Omega 40652
106x56x50x24
24/56
Omega 81569
109x56x53x24
24/56
Omega 80005
111x56x55x24
24/56
Omega 640652
106x56x50x24
24/56
Omega 63169
114x57x57x24
24/57
Omega 63170
114x57x57x24
24/57
Omega 21139
118x60x58x24
24/60
Omega 80067
109x60x49x24
24/60

25m Knot

Omega 290049
121x57x64x25
25/57
Omega 343178
111x57x54x25
25/57
Omega 346235
112x57x55x25
25/57
Omega 31156
115x58x57x25
25/58
Omega 31020
113x59x54x25
25/59
Omega 31025
113x59x54x25
25/59
Omega 31064
113x59x54x25
25/59
Omega 63178
112x59x53x25
25/59
Omega 50107
125x68x67x25
25/68
Omega 80080
112x58x54x25
25/58

26mm Knot

Omega 46186
108x54x54x26
26/54
Omega 46151
110x56x54x26
26/56
Omega 646186
108x54x54x26
26/54
Omega 10083
128x64x64x26
26/64

27mm Knot

Omega 10104
113x55x58x27
27/55
Omega 71278
114x60x54x27
27/60
Omega 20102
121x64x57x27
27/64
Omega 20248
128x64x64x27
27/64
Omega 10049
128x65x63x27
27/65
Omega 10098
145x65x80x27
27/65
Omega 20106
135x66x67x27
27/66
Omega 20480
132x69x63x27
27/69

28mm Knot

Omega 50068
73x44x29x18
28/44
Omega 10048
133x70x65x28
28/70

Simpson Brushes

Indentification

Establishing a Vintage date requires an understanding of which operation was involved in it's manufacturing. Carter, Illminster, Nimmer, Somerset, Vulfix, Pre-Vulfix. The material used also can be an indicator. The font used for labeling the brushes and the stamps are also helpful.
I don't believe there is any distinction between the pre-Vulfix/Vulfix boxes. I think the only way to tell is to look at the labeling on the brush itself.

Pre-Vulfix=Lampblack
Vulfix=Engraving

Pre-Vulfix=boxes came with branded instructions
Vulfix=boxes came with "care of your shaving brush" slip.

Made in England stamp can be found in older boxes, not all pre-Vulfix boxes.

Different color labels are used for different grade hair
Pure Badger=Green
Best Badger=Red
Super Badger=Blue

Timeline and Significant Dates

There appears to be at least 4, likely 5 eras:
1919-1941: London Era Brushes
1st Factory opened at Macaulay Road, London E6. Simpson branded brushes made and sold for the first time and our old family brand name 'Bajer' still being made and sold. Brushes made from ivory, bone, horn and vulcanite.
1929
Moved to 53 High Street, Clapham, London SW4. 'Bajer' branded brushes still being made alongside 'Simpson' branded brushes with newer brands 'Simie', 'Alexsim', 'Simbal' and the stand alone 'Wee Scot' being added, although Wee Scot brushes had been made since 1919. The actual oldest brush design still in production is the Wee Scot.
1938
London; label unification-Simpson dropped brand names 'Bajer', 'Simie', 'Alexsim', 'Simbal' and 'Wee Scot' and began to unify the branding with 'Simpson' being the sole brand name used.
1940
Due to World War II, large quantities of stock (ivory, horn, hair, silver and gold) moved out of London to one of my grandfather's houses in Warfield, Nr Ascot, Berkshire.
1941
Clapham Factory hit by German bombs
1941-1990: Somerset Era Brushes
1941
Simpson & Coates together at Nimmer Mills after the London factory is destroyed. Water-powered lathe. Brushes after the move following the factory bombing in 1941 have 'Made in England'. Prior to the move, the brushes say 'Made in London'.
1942
Simpson Acquires Coate's
1950s Nimmer Mill made Simpson 40 series brush. In the 50s a lot of the 40 series were sold in quantity to the 'high street' chemists - eg. Boots
Marshall Fields & Co. 1960's brush - one of the 'American's' that were popular from the 50's through to the late 90's (Abraham & Strauss, Aspreys, Bentley, Boots the Chemist, Brooks Brothers, Cable Car Clothiers, Cecil Jacobs, D.R. Harris, E.R. Cooper, Floris, HMP (His/Her Majesty's Prisons), Macys, Maitlands, Rolls Royce, Tiffany, Trumper.... to name a few for you).
Simpsons primarily used Catalin up until the end of the 80's. The material used then was a bespoke polyester material. This Somerset material was either pinkish or a deeper buttery color. Also a greater density than the modern material being used.
1990-2008: David Carter Era; 'Somerset' brushes - just not made at Nimmer Mill.
1990 Production moved from Nimmer Mill in Somerset to Ilminster, also in Somerset, about five miles from Nimmer. Electrically powered lathe.
1991 Boar brushes were no longer made.
Somerset material was difficult for Carter-Woodhouse to sort out turning it. Simpson under Carter-Woodhouse ownership discontinued ordering the Somerset stock(a bespoke polyester material) before the sale to Progress-Vulfix. *Rooney secured the material to use for handles.
2008-Current: Vulfix Era; Isle of Man
The light Grey box is about 2011 and earlier
2011-2014 The Green Grey(Darker)
2014 - Current The Red Box