The Gillette President discussion thread

Discussion in 'Safety Razors' started by PLANofMAN, Sep 9, 2015.

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  1. PLANofMAN

    PLANofMAN Eccentric Razor Collector Staff Member

    Moderator Article Team
    [​IMG]
    The Gillette President

    Gillette's flagship razor 1953-1955

    It is the only U.S. made razor to feature Rhodium plating (except one other razor, the 1949-1950 Gillette Executive). Unlike the 1949-1950 Executive, it is not fully Rhodium plated. The head of the razor has a very heavy nickel plate, and also features a nicer polish job than most other Gillette razors. The handle is fully knurled, except in a few cases where the band above the TTO knob is smooth. Those rare razors are thought to have been made with left over Aristocrat handles.

    The President and the Diplomat are identical razors, aside from the fact that the Diplomat is gold plated.

    The 1953 version of the President is considered the most aggressive of the Presidents, and has been compared to a red tip in terms of aggressiveness. Gillette was constantly tweaking the blade angles on razors during the early fifties, so you don't know exactly what you are going to get until the razor meets the face.

    Some people believe the the "President" was named in homage to President Eisenhower, who took office in 1953. I personally believe that it is just a case of Gillette following the razor naming conventions of that era in Gillette history, as it's contemporaries were the Super Speed, Aristocrat, and Diplomat.

    (Edited to add information from page two of this thread): "These names were arbitrarily picked to conjure up images of high quality/value. The packaging Gillette used from 1904-1933 was all very elaborate and looked like US currency - again to drive the idea of value. They were very expensive in their day for sure.
    The Gillette President made its debut in the NEW series - 1933." The President model is in the upper left corner of the page:
    [​IMG]

    *I don't own a Gillette President. I was asked by one of our members to research and post a thread about this seldom talked about razor. If anyone has more information about the Gillette President, they are more than welcome to post it.
     
    Last edited: Apr 19, 2016
    PLANofMAN, Sep 9, 2015
    #1
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  2. Jayaruh

    Jayaruh The Cackalacky House Pet

    Supporting Vendor
    I found this beauty for only $36. It is from the first quarter of 1953. Dwight David Eisenhower was elected president of the United States in November of 1952 and entered office in January of 1953. He was a very popular president, and I wouldn't be surprised if "The President" was named in his honor. I use mine for my Sunday shaves. It is a very nice shaver.

    DSCF8433.JPG DSCF8434.JPG DSCF8435.JPG DSCF8436.JPG DSCF8437.JPG DSCF8439.JPG DSCF8440.JPG DSCF8441.JPG DSCF8443.JPG DSCF8444.JPG
     
    Last edited: Sep 9, 2015
    Jayaruh, Sep 9, 2015
    #2
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  3. Dzia Dzia

    Dzia Dzia Entitled to whine

    Beautiful razor, Jim. No wonder it's your Sunday razor.:happy088:
     
    Dzia Dzia, Sep 9, 2015
    #3
    gorgo2, PLANofMAN and GDCarrington like this.
  4. GDCarrington

    GDCarrington Burma Shave

    Here is mine!

    [​IMG] ​
     
    GDCarrington, Sep 9, 2015
    #4
    Billyfergie, clint64, gorgo2 and 6 others like this.
  5. Jayaruh

    Jayaruh The Cackalacky House Pet

    Supporting Vendor
    Beautiful. The case is pristine, too. Very nice. Do you shave with yours?
     
    Jayaruh, Sep 9, 2015
    #5
    clint64, gorgo2, Douglas Carey and 2 others like this.
  6. GDCarrington

    GDCarrington Burma Shave

    On occasions! :D
     
    GDCarrington, Sep 9, 2015
    #6
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  7. Dzia Dzia

    Dzia Dzia Entitled to whine

    Nice, Gary. Looks pristine.
     
    Dzia Dzia, Sep 9, 2015
    #7
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  8. 45auto

    45auto Well-Known Member

    Sweet find!
     
    45auto, Sep 9, 2015
    #8
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  9. Henrik

    Henrik New Member

    In my humble opinion- the nicest of the non adjustable razor that the U.S branch ever came to manufacture. A truly stunning shaver.
     
    Henrik, Sep 12, 2015
    #9
    clint64, PLANofMAN, Dzia Dzia and 3 others like this.
  10. Douglas Carey

    Douglas Carey Wildman

    Thank you for an outstanding gathering of President information @PLANofMAN. Great job!!!
     
    Douglas Carey, Sep 12, 2015
    #10
    brit, clint64, PLANofMAN and 3 others like this.
  11. gorgo2

    gorgo2 geezerhood

    I've shaved with the same model (Aristocrat? Diplomat?) before, and liked it immensely. If I could afford a President, or could find another gold plated model to have replated in nickel, it might - MIGHT - be my only DE and I'd probably shed the rest (except a nickel plated NEW).
     
    Last edited: Sep 12, 2015
    gorgo2, Sep 12, 2015
    #11
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  12. PLANofMAN

    PLANofMAN Eccentric Razor Collector Staff Member

    Moderator Article Team
    I'm starting to reconsider my stance on the Gillette President not being named after Ike. The Gillette New was named the "New" to tie into Roosevelt's "New Deal" plan.

    It seems obvious that Gillette liked to play buzzword bingo as much as the next guy.
     
    PLANofMAN, Sep 13, 2015
    #12
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  13. Douglas Carey

    Douglas Carey Wildman

    Thank you for continually adding to the history of Gillette. I find this type of thread excellent.
     
    Douglas Carey, Sep 13, 2015
    #13
    brit, Bill_F, Jayaruh and 2 others like this.
  14. gorgo2

    gorgo2 geezerhood

    They're next offering will be the Gillette Downturn with desensitizing noise generators and inadequate lube strips.
     
    gorgo2, Sep 13, 2015
    #14
    brit, DaveL, 45auto and 6 others like this.
  15. Billyfergie

    Billyfergie The Scottish Ninja

    Great review Sir....:cool:
    All the Presidents men are Dead...That remind me of a song or a Film.....:sick013:

    Billy....:chores016:
     
    Billyfergie, Sep 13, 2015
    #15
    PLANofMAN, Jayaruh and Douglas Carey like this.
  16. PLANofMAN

    PLANofMAN Eccentric Razor Collector Staff Member

    Moderator Article Team
    I'm still waiting for the Gillette Obamacare™ razor, now with government subsidized cartridge refills!

    *Mods please don't delete this. I'm trying to be humorous, not political.*
     
    PLANofMAN, Sep 13, 2015
    #16
    brit, sicemdawgs77, gorgo2 and 10 others like this.
  17. Billyfergie

    Billyfergie The Scottish Ninja

    The Gillette Obamacare™ razor with false papers.....:happy102:
    Billy....:chores016:
     
    Billyfergie, Sep 13, 2015
    #17
    gorgo2, Bill_F, Dzia Dzia and 2 others like this.
  18. PLANofMAN

    PLANofMAN Eccentric Razor Collector Staff Member

    Moderator Article Team
    ^^^
    They'll delete that comment, Billy.
    It'll be pretty hard to Trump that one.
    How about now?
     
    PLANofMAN, Sep 13, 2015
    #18
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  19. Douglas Carey

    Douglas Carey Wildman

    Don't meddle in politics myself. I like the Gillette history on specific razors though. :)
     
    Douglas Carey, Sep 13, 2015
    #19
    brit, gorgo2, Bill_F and 4 others like this.
  20. Jayaruh

    Jayaruh The Cackalacky House Pet

    Supporting Vendor
    It must be Sunday for my Sunday Shaver has returned.
    sod150913.JPG
     
    Jayaruh, Sep 13, 2015
    #20
    brit, RaZorBurn123, Redfisher and 6 others like this.
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