Atra: the Best of the Carts

Discussion in 'Cartridge Razors' started by Jayaruh, Sep 24, 2019.

  1. Jayaruh

    Jayaruh The Cackalacky House Pet

    Supporting Vendor
    I used the Atra for a long time before the Gillette came out with their mach 3 cart. I used that until they came out with the Fusion. I tried the Fusion and took it back. Cart prices were out of hand IMHO, so I looked for alternatives. Therefore, in 2011 I turned to vintage razors. However, in 2016 I found this beautiful Atra at a flea market and snatched it up. I remembered how I liked it. I shaved with it for about a week and then went back to DE and SE razors.
    [​IMG]

    Today, I broke out the Atra for a wonderful shave. It gives an easy, close shave, and it is a pleasure to use. The biggest drawback is the two blades where hairs want to get stuck between. It takes a bit more rinsing to keep it unclogged. It's the same issue with the Gillette Twin injector blade.

    [​IMG]

    It has been almost three years since I shaved with this razor. I am glad to revisit it.

    sod190924.JPG
    zcws.jpg

    Cold Water Rinse
    Tabac Shave Soap
    Jayaruh #224
    Gillette Atra
    Dorco Comfort Thin II
    CWS
    Tabac AS

    My prep was just a cold water rinse. The Tabac Shave Soap face lathered well with the Jayaruh #224 Brush. I did two passes with the Gillette Atra razor with a Dorco Comfort Thin II Blade and ended up with a close, comfortable shave. After a cold water rinse, I finished off with Tabac AS. I am clean, smooth, and refreshed...
     
    Last edited: Sep 24, 2019
    gorgo2, GatorJoe, jwr3265 and 8 others like this.
  2. BlueShaver

    BlueShaver Premature Latheration Sufferer

    (Reserved)
     
  3. Primotenore

    Primotenore missed opera tunity

    Article Team
    Best "Cart" razor I ever owned. Loved the handle.
     
    Jayaruh likes this.
  4. Edison Carter

    Edison Carter Well-Known Member

    The original cartridges that lacked any of the 'strip' stuff were much better than the current one size fits all 2 bladers.

    A center pivoting mechanism with that very small footprint is now only available as NOS.
     
  5. Primotenore

    Primotenore missed opera tunity

    Article Team
    Have you seen what this brush gets on Ebay???? Crazy.
     
  6. PLANofMAN

    PLANofMAN Eccentric Razor Collector Staff Member

    Moderator Article Team
    I have some of the old carts and I agree. The non-lube strip is the best version. Well...the adjustable trac ii carts are better, but are a bit tougher to find.
     
    Edison Carter likes this.
  7. wristwatchb

    wristwatchb wristwatch "danger" b

    I use the simpler Trac II occasionally and love it. It is my "go to" travel razor. I'd definitely consider getting a vintage Atra handle sometime.
     
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  8. DE Cartman

    DE Cartman Well-Known Member

    It's all in what you prefer. For me, Mach 3 Turbo is the gold standard. I rate the SkinGuard just a hair above the M3 Turbo and the 5 blade Personna very close to the M3 Turbo.
     
  9. Edison Carter

    Edison Carter Well-Known Member

    In my traveling days, I became a carry on only guy.

    Airline sends your checked luggage a day late once and you cannot ever forget it.

    In the same situation today. I'd carry a Gillette Guard (one blade pivot) or a Gillette Skin Guard (2 blade fusion style).

    I'll never use the remaining Mach 3 cartridges I have in stock. I probably pull it out once a year to remind myself why I hated shaving. It always irritates, and almost always generates an ingrown or 2.

    Of course YMMV.

    :cool:
     
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  10. Badgerstate

    Badgerstate Well-Known Member

    Ive got my birth year Atra razor and its a good shave, blades for them can be kind of hard to find and expensive though. For me, the Mach 3 has always been the gold standard. Its always a smooth, close shave. The only problem with that is now that Mach 2 carts arent made in the USA anymore.
    So now Im looking at Schick, maybe a Hydro 3 when I use up all of the Mach 3 and Fusion 5 carts that I have on hand. If my only option in Gillette blades that are made in the USA is the $40 Fusion Proglide/Proshield, I'll be going to Schick.
     
  11. Edison Carter

    Edison Carter Well-Known Member

    Never complain about the cost of multi blade carts....... it could worm hole you to the galaxy of single bladed shaving devices....... that you need miltiples of.
    ;)
     
  12. brit

    brit in a box

    sooo true...:D
     
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  13. Badgerstate

    Badgerstate Well-Known Member

    Amen to that. I did the DE for 3 years under the guise of saving money before I realize that I wasnt saving a dime.
     
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  14. BlueShaver

    BlueShaver Premature Latheration Sufferer

    Repost from SOTD:

    [​IMG]

    I haven't used this in decades?? How many shaves can i get out of a cartridge (NOS Gillette Contour/Atra plus)
     
  15. DE Cartman

    DE Cartman Well-Known Member

    I usually get about 5 two pass shaves with Atra carts.
     
  16. BlueShaver

    BlueShaver Premature Latheration Sufferer


    Just 5 huh?

    At 2 quid a cartridge (here at least), that's expensive shaving!

    Thanks for the reply :)
     
  17. jwr3265

    jwr3265 Well-Known Member

    I still dig a simple Bic Metal.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  18. Weasel640

    Weasel640 Well-Known Member

    What modern blade options do we have for this? What about other brand, Personna and Schick makes blades that can be used with the ATRA, correct? What other brands do? What are the best performers of the modern day available ATRA compatible blades?

    Wife was not digging the SE or DE switch. So got her a Gillette Just Whistle, the women's ATRA.
    atra.jpg
     
    gorgo2 likes this.
  19. gorgo2

    gorgo2 geezerhood

    An old toothbrush scrubbed between the blades will extend the usable life of any cart, especially Atra and T-II.
     
  20. GatorJoe

    GatorJoe Well-Known Member

    Trac II was my go to in the late ‘80’s and early’90’s. I liked the fixed head better.
     

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