Yesterday it arrived! My 1916 Gillette Single Ring. When it got here the box was in pieces, but just where the corners are glued, so it is an easy fix. I actually can't complain too much as I was going to be fixing up the box anyway when I got it (adding a new cloth hinge etc...), so this will just make the process that much easier!
The seller's original decsription mentioned that it was never the silver color like the other razors of its age, but rather a brown or black by nature. It was also mentioned that it was his wife's great-grandfather's razor, and that is all that he knew. Well after purchasing it I decided to dig a bit deeper, because teh razor would have a story and I care about that kind of thing...it adds character. As it turns out the great-grandfather had fought in both world wars, in the US Navy. He lied his way into WWI and during WWII was serving with the SeaBees, and this was his razor. That is all that is known about the history of the razor, and the great-grandfather. Now it has passed on to me and it will have a quite different life!
The razor was completely black with tarnish, so I decided to do the boiling water/baking soda method (you guys guessed right

). After doing this twice (a second time for good measure), I took a soft toothbrush and lightly scrubbed it with my wife's silver polish, just to clean it up a little bit and give it some lusture. Anyway that is enough gab from me...here it is!
Before:
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After:
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(As you can see it has a friend

)
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