Not sure myself. I like adjustable razors but the Fatboy is no where near my favorite. Never tried a Slim. I may be mistaken, but I think the Fatboy was Gillettes first adjustable razor, providing it a uniqueness later razors lack. That would also make it older, if you're chasing vintage. Just a thought.
Interesting idea! @jmudrick - I see you do lots of shimming of non-Gillette DEs. Would a shim sufficiently alter a Krona's geometry to increase aggression? I've never shimmed so I have no idea how to begin this experiment. I have two Krona, time to bust em out and try a Feather Hi-Stainless. The flat cap on these Schick/Eversharp DE seem to have an automatic angle of attack. They give such a mild shave it takes me 4+ passes to accomplish what I can get from others in 3. Finding out the Toggle Experiment ended in a redesign and production of #195's made me desire a Toggle less.
The Fatboy was cheaper to produce, and less complicated, design-wise. I'm not sure I would call the Fatboy a step forward though. The blade angle remains constant through adjustment on the toggle. It changes on the Fatboy. I suppose I ought to mention the (actually rare) red dot Fatboy as well. It used the same adjustment mechanism as the toggle too, but was more expensive to produce and was quickly scrapped in favor of the Fatboy. The nickel finish toggle sold for $1.95 too, so using 195 to refer to the Fatboy in this context can be confusing. Would have been nice if Gillette had given them all names beyond "Adjustable."
Methinks that you cannot shim a TTO razor. I would pop a Feather in it if I were you. IIRC I need to use them or Perma-Sharps in a Tech to get a good shave with that razor.
I have noticed trends in what is popular. When I started a few years ago the Fatboy was all the rage. Everyone seemed to be searching for one — particularly their birth year / quarter. I never did understand that myself. I picked up a fatboy in an antique store for $3 and I can say it is a nice razor but I much prefer a Slim any day. Now the Toggle is all the rage commanding ridiculous prices. I think it is the “gotta have it syndrome”. I don’t imagine they shave better than a Fatboy....and likely not better than a Slim. This fad will pass and a new razor will step into the spotlight as the new razor to be desired. There are more start up DE razors on the market and it is nice to see entrepreneurs stepping up to fill a niche market. Personally I prefer vintage razors and I generally like to pay in the $20 range. Has all the craze leveled out? I think it is leveling out. It will be interesting to see what comes next.
Seriously, stop with the rarity issue. It's a common razor. A Bakelite Progress is rare. A version 1 Apollo is rare. A Shake Sharp 1.5. A Fatboys are not rare, full stop. It's people saying they are rare that drives prices.
I think it started with the idea of their Fatboy as some kind of Uberrazor and then a rarity myth followed. In terms of actual rarity, you probably want to look at variants like the Serial Toggle, Bottom Dial Fatboy (or Red Dot), or late Black Beauties. Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk
...Yet only produced for four years...over 50 years ago. Gillette may have flooded the market with them in that brief period but they havent made them in over five decades. Finding one in very good condition isnt impossible as they do turn up occasionally. I do find the design/aesthetic very nice. The 195's 'Fatboy' nickname adds to the charm (allure?).
Right, they turn up occasionally. eBay right now: 200+ listings for Fatboys/Fat Boys at $50+ (take out the mislabeled and you still have 150 or more). I think if you look real hard you can find a very good one. Buy the way, this compares to 19 Red Tip listings. I don't care how many years they were made for, anybody who wants a Fatboy in VG condition can get one now. That's the definition of a common razor.
That is ONE definition of common, I suppose, but comparatively speaking, a mass-produced razor such as the Gillette Mach 3 (over 2000 ebay listings) or more recent models certainly dwarf the availability numbers of the 195.
Rarity ... try looking for a Mono Bloc or a Mono Tech. Funny thing is Goodwills were made for the same period of time and its far easier to find a Fat Boy.
I have to agree. While the Fatboy isn't my favorite razor, it is beautiful. A very well engineered and executed blend of form a function. Of all my adjustables, I think it's the best looking.
Price is driven by supply and demand. If you have 100 people chasing 50 fatboys, the price will be driven up. Likewise, if you have 100 fatboys and only 50 people chasing them, the price will go low. Here's something to consider... if prices for vintage razors have declined across all makes, then some group is no longer buying or we dont have as many new buyers entering the market. Hobby in decline?
Back in the early days of this hobby, right around when various shaving forums were starting, there was an article written by Leisureguy that was widely read. He greatly hyped the Fatboy as the end-all, be-all razor. Or that's how I remember it anyway. I think that article and the momentum that built around it are a big part of where the Fatboy fandom comes from. EDIT: ...and my memory's wrong. I think I found the original article, and also found many posts from Leisureguy (on TSD, no less) where he's pretty critical of the shave from a Fatboy. Those threads do provide some insight to why people like the Fatboy so much. Seems like a lot of the responses focus on appearance. I suspect it also has to do with the birth year for many collectors.