A Tale Of Two Auctions

It's pretty unusual for two razors like these to show up at the same time, and equally unusual is the incredible disparity in the selling prices.

By the way, I was the winner of the second one.

Auction #1

Auction #2

 

I'm sure glad I got mine for less than $30.00!! So far the NEW Big Boy with a Thin blade shaves me closer than any other razor. You're going to love it Rick!

 

Ah, so it's a Big Boy, and not a Big Fellow?

Make me even happier now and tell me that the Canadian sets are rarer!

 

I'm sure the Canadian sets are less common. I think the Big Fellows had new improved heads and the Big Boy had the NEW style. Pages 222 and 230 in the Krumholz book.

 

Ah, so thats who beat me out on the second one. Nice score.

I can't believe the price of the first one. I got my gold De Luxe Big Boy set for like $40

 

What?!! I beat you on an auction???

This is highly unprecedented!

 

Congrats to buyer of the second and seller of the first!

 

Hmm... I´ve a NEW Big Fellow DeLuxe. I thought, that the BigBoy is shorter than the Big Fellow (page 230)

 

Here it is:

 

You are correct, Achim. Krumholz show the comparison on page 230. Also look on the previous page (229). It shows the NEW DeLuxe style head with the longer Big Fellow handle. It looks to be fairly rare.

And, on page 232 it states that "Gillette utilized some left over Big Fellow metal cases" for the Big Boys creating the Big Boy/Big Fellow hybrid shown on page 233.

Yours has the DeLuxe head and Big Fellow handle like the DeLuxe set and the Big Fellow case. Could it be a mismatch or a variation?

 

Check edit above, Achim.

 

I don´t know it. I received him before 2 or 3 years in this combination.

 

Okay, so any ideas on what the two auction razors are? Neither one say Big Boy or Big Fellow inside the lid, but the seller of the first one did describe his as a Big Fellow. Is it one of each, or are these the hybrids/variations you speak of?

 

no, but we know his is bigger than yours. . .

 

Here is mine. Maybe it will help determine.

 

Apparently, that was a private conversation between Guido and Achim.

 

Here's mine, what I believe to be a Big Boy.

Without having both in possession to compare I can't be sure, but Krumholz does say the Big Boy is shorter and the picture also shows this. Nice to see you around Achim.

 

The Deluxe also has a tapered end on the tightening knob. The blade centering groove on the non-Deluxe models can be seen on the underside of the head. The Deluxe has a thicker base plate so the underside is flat. Here what Waits' says in the Compendium (Gillette section 2, page 3):

> Gillette Big Boy
> A three-piece comb guard razor contemporary with the newly
> introduced one-piece-twist-to-open razors, c. 1935-1939.
> Basically same as the 1921-1925 Big Fellow (New Improved)
> razor. In box labeled "New De Luxe Razor." Razor is chromium-
> or nickel-plated, guard attached to handle, overall length 3-7/8-inch.
> In wood or nickel-plated case.
>
> Gillette Big Fellow
> TM first used 5 Noc 1919, TM files 13 Nov 1919. New Improved
> razor with long large-diameter handle. Silver-plated razor and blade
> box in "Natural finish gumwood" case ($5) or gold-plated razor and
> blade box in gold-plated metal case ($6). Circa 1921 to at least 1925.
> US Design Patent No. 56392, 5 Oct 1920 files 13 Nov 1919, Ralph E.
> Thompson (wood case design).

I'll double check, But I think I have one of each. I'll measure the handle lengths and report back.