1912 King C Gillette C117599 Razor Kit

This is the 1979 Bill of Sale. I understand your curiosity however I have to respect the privacy of the person that I bought this set from. So, I can include it here but I have redacted private details. The description is interesting... "1 King Gillette Companion Set. also Commen?????? to King C. Gillette" which I can't fully make out? I hope this sheds some light.

 

Looks like “commemoration” to me.

 

Saturday Evening Post 12-7-1912 Page 41.

This is my exact razor.

 

Unless it has provenance that it was commissioned for a specific individual I don't think that is a $15,000 razor set if that set was sold at retail level.

 

FC Blank wasn't hand engraving copies of the same set. This is a featured example of what you might commission. Call it bait and switch advertising by Gillette. They weren't actually going to sell King Camp Gillette's one-off razor for $50.00. Please!

 

i was waiting for this..

 

you just took his train set..

 

Haha. No way.

 

i thought i saw storm clouds rolling in.. it is a beautiful razor set .i would love to own a non engraved one .i don't even know where i would find one..very cool thread sir..thank you..

 

My friends, FC Blank was a prize winning master engraver. His work load was most likely backed up for months or years. He did work for Presidents, Kings you name it. Gillette had a team of engravers to do the mundane work of such and such doctor or businessman that wanted a $50.00 monogrammed engraved kit. Get with the program. Haha.

 

Here is what you get for $50.00...

 

Cool beans... Page 457 of A Safety Razor Compendium: The Book by Robert K. Waits: Describes my individual razor... "Design is unique, includes KCG monogram, ... portrait, Boston factory, ... etc".

 

I have $50, I'll be over shortly.

 

Regardless of who did what I think the set is worth a little bit more than $50 in today's market.

 

Whatever. Some people can tell the difference between a simple monogram and a stock design and master engraving artwork. Some can't. I don't fault you. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder - right. The Panama - Pacific Exhibition winner is said to have had a retail in 1915 of $500. That is ten times what the standard simple monogrammed set went for ($50). $50 in 1912 is $1300 today. $500 in 1912 is $13,000 today. But, master engravers are much more rare to find today. Here are the drawing for the Panama Razor... (which is a world class engraving job):



You cant see the difference. I get it.

 

You are right I can't. I am not an engraver or do monogramming. Don't get me wrong, it is a nice piece but this is more like buying a piece of art than a razor. I don't buy art for investment purposes or otherwise so I wouldn't know how to price it other than as a collectable razor.

 

Back in the day of Old type Gillette’s and New type razors only the most powerful or richest or most famous people could possess a razor engraved by Frederick Charles Blank. He was the real deal. As far as collectibility his razors are the pinnacle. Each is unique. And a work of art. So, now is when you ask me how does it shave?