My 1953 Gillette President just arrived with the postman. I had much trepidation about this razors arrival. Time for a brief backstory. I had been watching a pristine president and case on the bay a few weeks back lusting mightily after it as no razor before(ya right!)and figured it to be a little out of my league price wise. But lust being the powerful motivator that it is I set a max bid a little south of $200 and that was blown out of the water on morning of last day. Sold north of $300. I figure President in that good of shape not in my future realistically. Week later another shows on the bay for a sell price north of $200, only three photo's but what could be seen was sweet other than minor blemish on case. Still more bread than I wanted to drop. Price gets reduced $190 and to make my self feel better I make low ball offer(still a lot of cash for a razor) and shockingly to me it is accepted. Now I am panicked thinking I just bought my second most expensive shave machine ever with out even being able to scrutinize it well(only three photos)and I am going to learn a bitter lesson. Anyway I see postman coming to the door and thought with sick feeling "well...here we go" I am afraid to open the box expecting unseen angles in photos to be less than hoped for. I opened the case and looked it over twice and almost wept. It is beautiful.(to me) Thank you sir whoever you may be for selling me one of my dream razors at a fair price.[/ATTACH]
Had more photos but they wont upload,files to big or something. I could not be happier being I thought my impetuous nature was going to bite me as usual.
That looks great. Glad you got it. I found mine almost by accident about 2 1/2 years ago. I saw it in a thrift store and didn't know what it was. I went home and looked it up. I ended up going back and getting it. The guy was asking $40 for it. He even gave me a 10% veteran discount. http://jrshaving.blogspot.com/2015/05/1953-gillette-president.html
I find the usual user grade SS and Slims, the occasional Fatboy or open combs in the wild but never a President or Aristocrat. Yet anyway. It is a lot more satisfying that way than hunting on the bay.
I pretty much have my bucketlist razors now other than a New open comb Deluxe. Never been fascinated with the Toggles for whatever reason, and good thing with the outlay of legal tender required.
You mentioned the aristocrat. The 46-47 is my birth era razor. It was actually the first vintage razor I ever bought. I found it at an antique store. I had actually made the decision to return to DE shaving and went out with the purpose of finding a razor. Well, this is what I found. I did not know what it was. It wasn't until a couple of years later that I realized that it was a 46-47 Aristocrat. I eventually had it replated in gold.
GOAL !!!! Congratulations R-H.....This is a Beautiful thing....I'm so glad you shared it with us! One of those "Life Defining" or at least "Shave Defining" moments....which is both, actually! I feel like this enriches all of our days...when these things happen to/for anyone of US... I hope you have many wonderful Zen Like Shaves with this gorgeous example of a Functional Art Masterpiece..
Interesting. I find that the 48-late model Aristocrats, the Diplomat and the President model Gillettes all shave about the same and do so very well. I have all 3 and my favorite is a pristine Diplomat. For some reason it just seems perfect for me. I find it very hard to use any other razor as they do not measure up to the Gillettes for me. And, that includes some very expensive Stainless steel razors. The Gillettes make them feel like clunkers, stainless steel clunkers, but still clunkers! Nice President you have there. A mechanical work of Art!
Very handsome piece of shaving equipment as well. Thank you for helping enable me in my struggle with RAD!
Beautiful Razor! This is still on my short list of razors I want to pick up just haven't been lucky enough to find one I can afford.
Congratulations on your find. I've always wanted a President but like you found the cash out lay a little to much. I do own a 46-47 Aristocrat it's one of the few TTO's I enjoy shaving with. If the President shaves anything like it your going to enjoy using it ALOT.