From the pictures I have seen, it would appear that the Black adjustable and slim look very similar. I have been shaving a few months now with a '61 Ball end Tech and I really like it. I have been thinking about getting another razor now and have been checking out ebay and a couple of second hand stores in the area. How do the Slim and Black handled adjustable differ. Do they shave much differently?. I like the looks of the Slim better and would like to get one in very good condition, but I see the black handle adjustables on ebay in what appears to be better condition for less money.
IMHO the only significant difference between the Slim and Super Adjustables (Black Handle = Super) is the weight. The Super is a much lighter razor. More people prefer the heavier Slim, so that's the reason for the higher prices. Personally, I haven't kept one of either prefering the Fat Handle Adjustable ("Fatboy"). All are decent razors, it's just a matter of personal preference.
it's a preference thing, really. I really, really, really like the longer handle on the super adjustable, but to me they really shave pretty much the same
The black handled Super Adjustable can be set a little bit milder than the Slim, handy if you need such a setting. Each new generation of the Gillette Adjustable was seen by Gillette as having shaving improvements over the last generation...ie. Slim had narrower head, Super had wider range of adjustment, etc. My favorite is the Fat Boy because of it's looks and reputation, but I also have the Slim and Super and both are great shavers. Unless you need that ultra-mild setting you would be hard pressed to notice a difference. The Slim has a little bit of movie history as well. It was the razor with the tracking device hidden in the TTO knob that James Bond used in Goldfinger...that's pretty cool! Not only that, but it was the razor Dustin Hoffman's character used for the shaving scene in The Graduate...apparently it symbolized his inexperience by having to shave with it set on 1. He also cut his finger on it when his mom barged into the steamy bathroom dressed in her negligee (looking disturbingly similar to Mrs Robinson) demanding to know what he was doing while he was out all night.
There is a mechanical difference between the two. A slim uses the same mechanicals as a fatboy with a lower profile head. The super underwent some refinment to the adjustment (closer to a toggle than a fatboy) and a reduction in mass. Personally, I kinda prefer the super of the two but overall can't fault the fatboy for adjustable perfection.
I'm not at all against going with a Fat Boy, I do like the looks. The slimmer head profile of the slim and super seem like it may work better for me, but having never used any of them I cannot say for sure. I will probably pick up which ever one I come across first that is in good condition for the right money. The money part really depends on what I have in my pocket at the time.
actually, when you take the black cover off the end of the super, it is almost exactly the same as the slim
Trying to be practical while doing the research, I bought the Slim and Super first for the slimmer head profile as well. When I finally did get a Fat Boy I found no real difference in shaving the tighter spaces. However, many people do find the Slim and Super more maneuverable, esp underneath the nose...and the extra-mild adjustment of the Super really does seem to help many new DE shavers in getting the hang of things before dialing up (my father included...he had trouble with every other mild razor he tried...he also swears it shaves smoother than the other two). Personally, the one thing I found was that no matter how well the Slim and Super may shave with their respective improvements, I was always wondering what I was missing with the Fat Boy's legendary rep. If I had bought the Fat Boy first I don't know if I would have been wondering so much about the Slim or Super as they don't seem to have the same reputation. If you are like a lot of us, whichever Gillette Adjustable you choose first, it's very likely you'll end up with one or both of the others in the end.
In order of preference I like the Fatboy, Super, then Slim. I don't know what it is about the slim but I can't get a great shave from it. But many swear by it. Some prefer the slim to the Fatboy. You really just need to try them out and see what works for you. If the Super is cheaper for you now, get that one and see if you like it. Then if you want to try for a Slim later, do that too.
I used the Black Handle for over 20 years as my go-to one pass shaver. When I started serious wet shaving a yr ago I tried a Slim and then a Fatboy, and never went back to the Black Handle. I gave that to my son, who used it daily. When I recently gave my son a Fatboy he quickly switched and now uses that daily over the Black Handle, and most I know seem to follow the same pattern. The lighter Black Handle is a fine shaver, but when you get more serious about wet shaving, the heftier Slim and Fatboy seems to offer more control and performance for most. YMMV of course.
I used a Super in the early 70's, and never liked it as much as my Schick Injector...Then I tried a Slim, and subsequently bought one and it became my favorite DE razor...Since I've come back to TWS, I have to say, I believe the Slim and the Fatboy are my two favorite adjustables...Just so well balanced and the weight perfect...I also believe the Slim is the epitome of modern razor design...
I picked up this today at John's shop at the old antique mall in OKC. It appears to be functional, just needs a really good cleaning. There is some brass showing on the head and some scratches. I will be giving it some TLC and see how it cleans up.
Nice find! Don't be surprised if, while you are cleaning it up, you twist the TTO knob and it slips off revealing the hidden tracking device!
Like they say...Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get you! Yeah, those are pictures from Goldfinger. This site explains the scene: http://www.007james.com/gadgets/goldfingers_plane.php
I just bought another slim I bought another slim today. Really great price also. The nickel is worn off the handle in a few places and the head is showing a bit of brass. The head is straight and everything moves like it is supposed to. I bought this one for my little brother who recently showed some interest in the hobby.
Gillette Adjustables ROCK !! SLIMS ROCK !!! My favorite being the Slim followed closely by the Fatboy...Stop check please....Those two are for me as good as it gets...Especially the Slim...the epitome of modern razor design...no wonder it had a featured role in Goldfinger... The film that first featured the Aston Martin DB5 as well as the Gillette Slim Adjustable...First class all the way...Great photos from the film BTW, a real find Bordeaaj, Thanx.. PS I've heard many times that the Super is a great razor, but the 3 that I've had were substandard compared to any Slim that I've tried. I had one in the 70's which I REALLY didn't like, and two others over the years the same...I'm through trying them, for me 3 strikes...I think after a point Gillettes quality control dropped...duh...but I think that happened maybe around the end of the 60's...I had bad luck...even with SS's after the Adjustables made the scene...I think there was a shift in priorities and the QC was directed more towards their adjustables and the SS's started rattleing like maracas... Then after the Supers; which were a great design as well; the razors I've had, just didn't consistantly have that "bullet-proof" thing, the earlier models did...(Just my experiance)
I'm sure you realize that everything we say is based on our "Preferences" and what works for us may not work for you "YMMV". That being said (obviously) I prefer Merkur razors. I do "occassionally" shave with different razors and if I had to choose between the black handle and the Slim, I'd go with the Slim. I would even go with the Slim over the Fat boy. If you can get someone to send you a loner I'd give them both a try before I purchase one. But then, you can never have too many razors...:happy108
