Identification Gillette New Open Comb Short vs Long Comb

Discussion in 'Safety Razors' started by markjnewcomb, Sep 6, 2014.

  1. markjnewcomb

    markjnewcomb Well-Known Member

    I have a single Gillette New Open Comb, so I have nothing to compare it against. I am trying to figure out if it is a short comb or a long comb.

    When I look at this picture, I am pretty sure that it is a "U.S. Long Comb New".
    OpenCombs-1.jpg
    My reasoning is that mine has the ridge on the bottom of the bottom plate, it says "MADE IN USA", and has a diamond shaped Gillette logo on the lower part of the plate. However, unlike the picture above, mine is in brass.

    Are the logo and the ridge the only way to tell a short comb from a long comb, or am I missing something?
     
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  2. TitanTTB

    TitanTTB Well-Known Member

    The stamps are an easy way to tell what it is as well as the length of the comb.
    If you have a picture of it we can tell you.
     
  3. gorgo2

    gorgo2 geezerhood

    If you look here, it's got a nice pic of a Short comb to compare yours to. Once you see one of them, you'll know at a glance if the other is longer or shorter.
     
  4. markjnewcomb

    markjnewcomb Well-Known Member

    My markings are NOT like the one in the thread shown above.


    You will have to forgive the terrible pictures. My phone just does not do good close shots.

    What do you think it is?

    IMG_20140906_143902.jpg

    IMG_20140906_144408.jpg
     
    ObiDon likes this.
  5. Darkbulb

    Darkbulb Cookie Hoarder

    SC = centered logo, LC = logo at the end
     
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  6. Razor Blade 79

    Razor Blade 79 Well-Known Member

    You have a long comb version. The gillette stamp is off to the side instead of under the hole and the combs angle down further hence "long comb".
     
    ObiDon likes this.
  7. markjnewcomb

    markjnewcomb Well-Known Member

    Thanks. I appreciate the definitive answer.
     
    Razor Blade 79 likes this.
  8. Jayaruh

    Jayaruh The Cackalacky House Pet

    Supporting Vendor
    Hey, that is a pretty good explanation. I have a SC USA and an LC England.
    new_sc_lc_2.jpg
    SC logo in the middle. LC logo in the end. That makes it easy.
    new_sc_lc_1.jpg
     
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  9. Stubbl E

    Stubbl E Well-Known Member

    [​IMG]

    Jay nailed it, sho' nuff. Just look at the length of the comb (I know...genius, right) - see how the long comb sort of droops off the blade guard and the short comb doesn't. That's it.

    [​IMG]

    Lemon squeezy.
     
  10. Slow Joe

    Slow Joe Relishing his obsession

    Thanks for the info, just figured out my new er.. New is a short comb. Logo in the middle. :)
     
    markjnewcomb likes this.
  11. markjnewcomb

    markjnewcomb Well-Known Member

    Thanks, guys. BTW - it is an excellent shaver.
     
  12. BigMark

    BigMark Tests razors by shaving Wookies

    Man those are gorgeous!
     
  13. Doryferon

    Doryferon Well-Known Member

    You can look for "Gillette identification" at
    http://www.mr-razor.com
    The guy's name is Achim from Berlin-Germany.
     
    markjnewcomb likes this.
  14. RetLEO-07

    RetLEO-07 likes his penguin deep fried, with pink sparkles

    My NEW Short Comb which I'm using for OCtober
    IMG_0097.JPG
    Circa 1932-1940
    Figured this might be a useful thread for the new kids on the block. If you can score one of these you should. This was my first vintage Gillette and was a fleamarket find for $5.
     
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  15. Jim99

    Jim99 Gold Water Shaver

    I've not yet acquired a short comb, but my long comb is one of my favorites. Gillette could have stopped there developing the DE.
     
  16. RetLEO-07

    RetLEO-07 likes his penguin deep fried, with pink sparkles

    In light of their multi blade cart insanity you might have been onto something there Jim!
     
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  17. Jayaruh

    Jayaruh The Cackalacky House Pet

    Supporting Vendor
    That is definitely on my favorites list. It was my second vintage DE razor. I found it with case and blade bank for $20. I liked it so much it was my first razor to have replated.
    new.jpg
    100_1951b.jpg
     
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  18. TADIII

    TADIII Active Member

    Here, let me put out this fire with a can of gasoline:
    Jim, your English Long Comb is known as a Raised Flat Bottom (RFB); the US Long Comb has a center profile the same as your Short Comb.
    Meanwhile, in addition to the SC and the LC, there is the NEW Deluxe (imagine Jayaruh's RFB extending all the way to the teeth), AND there are two different configurations of the Deluxe base plate - 15mm flat between the two rows of teeth, and 17mm.
    Also, the LC served as a donor head for one of the Goodwill versions.
    Now, back the SC: apparently, Gillette released SCs with whatever cap was on hand. The original SC cap design (I think) had squared-off corner stanchions. Note the cutouts at the four corners of the SC base plate (blade guard). I believe this made for a tighter fit. Later SCs came with the same caps as the LCs, and still later, with the came caps as the pre-war Techs.
    Still with me? Here are some NEWs (ignore the iKon B1 in the back row!):
    upload_2017-10-11_7-40-2.jpeg
    Jim99 opined that Gillette could have stopped DE development with the LC, but for the people who prefer the three-hole blades, the New Improved, which preceded the NEW, and on which the LC NEW was based, might have been the pinnacle of Gillette razor design:
    upload_2017-10-11_7-48-36.jpeg
    Have I done enough damage?
    Tom
     
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  19. RetLEO-07

    RetLEO-07 likes his penguin deep fried, with pink sparkles

    Nicely done Tom! No matter how you slice it, these Gillettes are fantastic shavers. We're lucky Gillette was so prolific that there are still so many around.
     
  20. Jayaruh

    Jayaruh The Cackalacky House Pet

    Supporting Vendor
    I think you may be on to something there, Tom.
    New Improved_01.JPG
     
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