Since many straight razor users do not consider a shavette to be a straight razor, I'm posting this here in the Safety Razor section. After all, these use regular double-edge blades... My latest acquisition, arriving to me today from Germany... Gillette's whole reason for founding and existence since 1903 was to get people away from straight razors - or the work that goes into maintaining them - and into buying disposable blades, where the money was to be made. Anytime a company can get you hooked on something disposable, something you have to constantly buy more of, the company considers this a success. This is why back in the old days the razor holder itself was had on the cheap, and why Gillette, Schick and others even today in 2012 often give away the handle but you have to buy the cartridges. So it's very interesting to see that at one time, Gillette did make these particular razors. Or had them made for them. They are quite rare. It seems to be that the sales were limited because you do not see them very often. When is the last time you saw one of these for sale or saw one of these period? I haven't a clue when they were made. The assumption is 1960s, 1970s or 1980s. Based on the logo style, I'm going with the late 1970s to early 1980s. They use modern double edge blades, which you snap or cut in half. They were available in four colors: blue, green, yellow and red. I now have the green, yellow and red - which means I've got my eye out for a blue one now. The images below are from the seller: Here, you can see the mechanics:
Counterfeit, I don't know. I got them from another collector, not eBay or similar site. Considering the quality and exact correct Gillette font from the time and most counterfeits aren't of similar good quality, I can't say for sure but do doubt it.
Due to their scarcity, I do believe so. Probably given out by Gillette as promos to push their blades.
This is what the seller says today to me about these: I bought these shavettes from an English retired Gillette employee and he told me that this shavettes were produced in Europe. You can see the shavettes have the same writing/letters like in the late 70s early 80s and have the Trade Mark (TM) included. You can find that style on other labels too. The Gillette company offered these shavettes to sell more razor blades. They produced this shavettes very limited as the employee told me. I saw one shavette on eBay in France and Italy too. I don't think a fake production would use the more expensive stainless steel either. Good enough for me.
Resurrecting this 9 year old thread of mine because it's something very rarely seen, and I still have them. I've since learned Gillette also had these made with their 7 O'clock brand on them (a picture below). Good quality DE blade shavettes. Stainless Steel. I still believe these were promos from Gillette, given away to barbers and barber shops throughout Europe, South America and India in an attempt to sell more razor blades.
I suspect that this is something Gillette would like to keep quiet about.... an indescretion of sorts.
Probably, but I think that also depends on the location. The Gillette Company USA (these shavettes were before The Gillette Company merged with Procter & Gamble in 2005) probably did not even know they exist, whereas Gillette UK may have been an unwilling participant so to speak. In countries where straight razor shaving is still quite common and preferred, such as India, Germany, Italy and South American countries, Gillette India and etc. may have been proud of them if they drove blade sales even higher, especially in countries that already have high double edge blade sales such as India where it has been a long struggle for cartridge razors to be accepted and they still have a very high use of double edge safety razor use as well as straight razor use. Then again, we don't know the worldwide oversight and instruction from the USA parent company to its locations/offices/factories around the world.
