Where are the Vintage Gillette shavers?

Howdy guys and gals,

I'm about to enter the club of the guys owning a vintage Gillette three-hole razor, an 1919 old standard in gold to be exact.
How many here shave with these thingies and do you have any suggestions on which modern blades work best/how to tweak the performance/etc.

Each and every suggestion is welcome ::

Oh, and for all those wondering what I'm babbling about, here's a link to the razor I bought today.

 

:drool very nice

I have one a few years newer and I use feathers in it with no problems...

my newest razor was I think made in 1968

 

thanks

Which model do you have, if you say it's a few years younger? Still an old standard or a new or a new improved? I ask because there are some hefty differences between these different razors.

 

Klaus, ISTR that these were made between 1906 and 1921, but could be off by a few. Looks to me like we have identical razors. Haven't used mine in a while, but I was using Feathers last time I shaved with it. Worked well for me.

 

Michael, 1906-1921 is absolutely right. Thanks for the info and the pic, Feathers were also the first blades to enter my mind. I was only a bit scared when I read somewhere (B&B perhaps) that these razors don't work well with modern blades, but now you've put my mind at rest

 

nice score I hope it shaves well for you, as you know I just joined the Gillette club myself going to give it a try tonight.

Damon

 

You know I always wanted to get one of the Military Issued Razors.

 

Klaus, I think they work okay with modern blades. I have a 1907 model that I did try once, but I was a relative newbie and was using US Personnas. Ouch!

They don't have much of a blade gap is the only problem I know of, though I remember someone using some small lock washers as shims. You could see if that will make a difference, but I think since you are used to straight shaving already, you'll do fine with the old Gillette. Enjoy!

 

thanks and all the best for you and your shave tonight!

and thanks, Blair, if it doesn't work out in the first place, I'll try the idea with the washers! ::

 

Klaus,
What was your impression of this razor as I'm sure you've shaved with it by now. I find these particular Gillettes to be almost automatic shavers. Their heft represents just the right pressure and their head design accepts and works well with almost any blade. In fact they seem to do a better job with modern blades than modern razors!
I've seen that razor before on Ebay. How bad was the hairline crack in the handle? Occasionally those cracks are only superficial and actually do not make it down to the level of the brass substrate.

 

Well, Mark, I really, really like my Old Standard. It performs really well with IPs, Derbys and Lords - talkin' bout easy shaves . One brand of blades I can't use with it are the Feathers. I tried it - three times and each shave left many tiny nicks all over my face.
The hairline-crack was okay. It's about 3 centimeters long and (even though it wasn't necessary) I secured it from deepening with some special metal-glue.

 

Okay, I've had some luck bringing threads back from the dead, so here's my vintage Gillette, a NEW SC ca. 1932-1940. Currently undergoing a Focus to determine what blade is going in it. Current favorite 7 o'clock Green. Feather has already fallen by the wayside. Voskhod's on deck.

 

Perhaps a CT is in order? "The Razor-rector"?

Nice razor, by the way.

 

Thanks. I'll leave that up to the Nominating Committee.

 

Here are my gillettes

 

Oh wow! Very nice collection.

 

A Toggle and a matching Executive Fatboy....awesomeness. That was a lot of fun putting that collection together! Thanks for sharing.

 

Is that a wide angle lens your using?

 

Lol no. Just me holding my iPhone side ways and up

 

It has been fun putting it together. I've been fortunate with some luck