Hey! I've been trying to satisfy my curiosity and find out a little more about the story of this razor. From what I've been able to gather, it is known as a Gillette 195. The 195 comes from the original $1.95 price tag of retail versions. Although, this razor stamped with a F-4 was never release for retail sales. It is my understanding that the F-4 would normally refer to the 4th quarter of 1960, but this razor was actually made as a prototype in the mid to late 50's. I was hoping that somebody might know something about it's background and how someone from down here in Louisiana came to possess one. Help?
Bronco informed me in the Newbie forum that he has some reference book titles that may help, but I was wondering if any of you has heard anything about its history yourselves.
I don't know much about it's history, but I can tell you that every one I see on ebay, brings an insane amount of money.
I think I remember reading that it was the initial design of the fatboy, and that it was changed to be more comfortable/user friendly, but that was a long time ago, and my memory may be fuzzy.
That makes the most sense of what I've heard so far. That is, the initial design or prototype for the fatboy, not your memory being fuzzy.
Thanks! I've used this same avatar in all my forums for over eight years now. It's a little old school but at least I'm easily recognizable.
The Extortionately expensive 195 From what I gather and what I have read: This particular design was patented by Gillette designers, Meyer J. Shnitzler and Michael Douglas Benedict on March 19, 1956. It was test marketed under limited supply and then abandon in favor of the 1958 Gillette Adjustable which moved the blade adjustment dial from the base of the handle up below the razor compartment- AKA The Fatboy. Probably because the new design was more user friendly So manufactured as a prototype and available to consumers for one year,price would have been a $1.95. Pretty obviously the most scarce and collectible of the original Gillettes.
Sounds logical to me, but then why do they all display late 1960 date codes?? I think there are mysteries of Gillette that we may never know.
No the 195 and D-1 Fat Boy prototype I have don't have that extra 1/4 turn to lock down, they just screw tight.
I don't know what the exact mechanism is in there that does the adjusting, but it seems like it would have a lot more stress on it being operated that far down on the handle. Then again, what do I know?
Why would you think this? The Merkur Progress has a bottom adjustment, and I have never heard of any issues with them.
The progress is a much simpler design than the 195. I've seen the blue prints for the 195 somewhere and there are tiny parts everywhere inside. The Merkur is basically a threaded rod and a spring.
