Vintage Gillette Shave
- Thread starter Jim Kleinkauf
- Start date
Lockback
Forum GOD!
Today's shave with my 1953 (birth year) Gillette Super Speed with a Perma-Sharp in its bay was epic for smoothness and closeness. My appreciation for vintage Gillettes increases each time I use one. I now have four and may add more. Simply stunningly good razors, in this case seven decades old and still working beautifully.
Just like me.
Just like me.
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Jim Kleinkauf
Forum GOD!
Gillette Sheraton, my only one-piece Gillette open comb
Wrong End Chihuahua
Veteran
I didn't have much luck with vintage Gillettes and was about ready to give up on them altogether. Then I won two eBay auctions (five razors total) and realized that it wasn't me, it was them.... the newly acquired razors were all excellent shavers and I was just unlucky enough to start with wrong (for me) models.
So, here's my (small or large, depends on whom I compare with) collection and some personal impressions of each razor, arranged by year:
So, here's my (small or large, depends on whom I compare with) collection and some personal impressions of each razor, arranged by year:
| Razor | Year of manufacture | Shaving Impression |
|---|---|---|
| New Long Comb | 1928 to march 1932 (no patent info on the base plate) | Very efficient, rather aggressive, great with smooth but not very sharp blades, can be a tad too aggressive with really sharp blades. |
| "Pre-War" Tech with triangular lather slots | 1938 to 1945, but as I understand after the end of 1941 when the US was drawn into the war, the razor production was redirected toward war needs and materials / finish changed, so a consumer grade razor of this type was most likely made between 1938 and the end of 1941 | Efficient, medium aggressive. Can leave small cuts if not careful, but rarely gives irritation. |
| "40's style" Superspeed | 1953 | Efficient, medium aggressive. Can get "angry" if not careful - no cuts but skin feels tender. |
| Flare tip Superspeed | 1956 | Mild and efficient. One of the best Gillette shavers (for me). |
| "Post War" Tech with oval lather slots and etched logo on cap | 1960 | This is the razor that nearly made me give up on vintage Gillettes. Mild. Very mild. Way too mild for me. I end up scrubbing my face chasing BBS and getting irritation. An excellent razor for someone who just wants to get a socially acceptable shave while taking minimal care. |
| Slim Adjustable | 1962 | I have two copies, currently being replated. Good shavers, pretty efficient at about setting 5. Good balance. Beautiful mechanically. |
| "Black handle" Superspeed | 1967 | Mild and efficient. Similar to the Flare tip Superspeed but lighter. |
| Super 109 Adjustable (long handled) | 1971 | It can be pretty efficient but I find the balance with the longer handle a bit top heavy and harder to get the right shaving angle with, when compared with the shorter version. |
| Super 84 Adjustable (short handled) | 1972 | Probably the most efficient of my Gillette adjustables. The easiest to maneuver and get the right angle with. Just a bit more efficient at the same setting as the Slim, but not as cool looking  . The pinnacle of Gillette's razor design, all things considered. |
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Jim Kleinkauf
Forum GOD!
Gillette Brit Flare-Tip Rocket
NOS Brit Wilkiie
TRC Cherry Royale 26mm Synthetic
Noble Otter Barrbarr Shaving Soap & Aftershave Splash
Jim Kleinkauf
Forum GOD!
RAZOR: Gillette ‘80s British Tech Imbuia Wood Handle
BLADE: Gillette 7 O'clock SharpEdgeYellow
BRUSH: Frank Shaving 24mm Silvertip Badger
LATHER: D.R. Harris Arlington Shaving Soap
POST: OSP Neroli Scented Aftershave Lotion
Twelvefret
Forum GOD!
Do you shave daily? Do you shave your entire face? Do you use multiple passes?I didn't have much luck with vintage Gillettes and was about ready to give up on them altogether. Then I won two eBay auctions (five razors total) and realized that it wasn't me, it was them.... the newly acquired razors were all excellent shavers and I was just unlucky enough to start with wrong (for me) models.
So, here's my (small or large, depends on whom I compare with) collection and some personal impressions of each razor, arranged by year:
Razor Year of manufacture Shaving Impression New Long Comb 1928 to march 1932 (no patent info on the base plate) Very efficient, rather aggressive, great with smooth but not very sharp blades, can be a tad too aggressive with really sharp blades. "Pre-War" Tech with triangular lather slots 1938 to 1945, but as I understand after the end of 1941 when the US was drawn into the war, the razor production was redirected toward war needs and materials / finish changed, so a consumer grade razor of this type was most likely made between 1938 and the end of 1941 Efficient, medium aggressive. Can leave small cuts if not careful, but rarely gives irritation. "40's style" Superspeed 1953 Efficient, medium aggressive. Can get "angry" if not careful - no cuts but skin feels tender. Flare tip Superspeed 1956 Mild and efficient. One of the best Gillette shavers (for me). "Post War" Tech with oval lather slots and etched logo on cap 1960 This is the razor that nearly made me give up on vintage Gillettes. Mild. Very mild. Way too mild for me. I end up scrubbing my face chasing BBS and getting irritation. An excellent razor for someone who just wants to get a socially acceptable shave while taking minimal care. Slim Adjustable 1962 I have two copies, currently being replated. Good shavers, pretty efficient at about setting 5. Good balance. Beautiful mechanically. "Black handle" Superspeed 1967 Mild and efficient. Similar to the Flare tip Superspeed but lighter. Super 109 Adjustable (long handled) 1971 It can be pretty efficient but I find the balance with the longer handle a bit top heavy and harder to get the right shaving angle with, when compared with the shorter version. Super 84 Adjustable (short handled) 1972 Probably the most efficient of my Gillette adjustables. The easiest to maneuver and get the right angle with. Just a bit more efficient at the same setting as the Slim, but not as cool looking
Razors got more user friendly over time. Branding a model Super Speed means you can safely shave quickly. That was what men wanted. It wasn’t that the razor was aggressive or something else. Any razor will work if the owner knows how to use them.
Wrong End Chihuahua
Veteran
Yes, almost, and yes.
I am pretty positive though that “superspeed” refers to the speed of loading a blade, not the speed of shaving.
They also sold them alongside Techs that in the same time period were extremely mild.
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