Bought a lot of five razors recently (where the only one I wanted was the Wilkinson Sticky - in the lower right hand corner of the lot-photo): Directly to the left of it, your sharp eyes might spot a Gillette Slim - and if so you're right it is. Now, as much as I like the Gillette Slim I already have one so this one will most likely be sold (to offset some of the cost for the lot) or given to a friend who is interested in wet shaving (if he's still interested next week I'd say I'd have to give it to him). Ugh. The date code H3 indicates that it was made in the third quarter of 1962. Anyway, the razor seemed to be mechanically very sound - doors open and closes fine, tightens down well, it clicks on all numbers. Check, check, check. It was however rather gunky and 'tired' looking. Pre-clean up photos: Your typical gunky-estate-find-looking-potentially-usable razor Clean-up: - Soak in soapy water for a couple of hours, - Spray some scrubbing bubbles on it and clean it with a soft, toothbrush, - Clean it up with some Haggerty's on some old, but clean, t-shirt rag pieces. Post-clean up photos: Apart from the top of the head that still shows some use the rest of the razor cleaned up really nicely - the inside got a very nice shine to it. So no where near "mint" or what a re-plated razor looks like...but for a few pennies of product and maybe 10-15 minutes of polishing it came out looking like I razor I wouldn't feel bad about giving to someone
Did I hear 'giving it to someone"? Just kidding! LOL How do you check and make sure the adjustment part is working? Even though it can click, I seen that it doesnt mean that the settings are actually changing! Is there any test one can do! I would like to try one someday but alittle afraid of getting one that doesnt adjust when the dial is moved and therefore maybe stuck on one certain setting that you dont know!
Great question and quite honestly I don't think I'd fully know until I actually shaved with it - all I can tell from playing around with it is that the clicks seem good and that it tightens down safely
I know right? If I were selling razors online I'd spend a ridiculous amount of time getting them as clean as possible before posting them - clean razors in clear photos always sell for more than gunky looking razors in fuzzy photos
Yeah, that is what I was thinking! You would have to shave with it and try a couple of settings to see! For me that could and would be dangerous! Just something to think about!
Seeing that I am doing alot of thinking about these adjustables. I also seen somewhere that you should adjust it BEFORE you close the top. Did you ever hear that one?
It's a practice that, as far as I can tell, started to become common these days when the razor is vintage. The idea, as far as I can tell, is by opening the doors prior to adjusting the settings you potentially put less strain on the internal mechanism. Looking at old commercials they simply adjust the razor when the doors are closed. It's a small price to pay just in case it does have some benefits in doing so. For me who pretty much just leaves my adjustables on 8 or 9 and never changes the setting it of course matters less
I do. Many say you can adjust with it fully tightened down, but I'd rather not risk damaging my razor. Besides, loosening before adjusting works just the same. My recommendations for someone new to adjustables: Shave 1 set to 3, complete shave (ALL passes), evaluate Shave two set to 4, complete shave, evaluate Shave three set to 5, complete shave... Shave four set to 6... Continue until you reach that setting that is just a tad too much. Back it down one click, there's your sweet spot. I keep mine locked at 6 for all 3 passes. Some start mild for the first pass, the crank it up for each following pass, finishing up wide open at 8 or 9. Some start wild and finish mild at 2 or 3. It's your shave. Enjoy it your way.
Dang, am I good! LOL Look another annoying question! So is there any post someone that would compare a setting number on these old Gillette's with say a Merkur 34C. Which number is about equal, if there is one? It could be a good starting point but if not, then I would just echo what swarden43 stated above!
