1912 King C Gillette C117599 Razor Kit

how does it shave sir ?

 

Like a million bucks!

 

excellent sir..as it should..

 

The level of detail is where the difference is. Think in terms of mass production vs. hand crafted to personal specifications.
A Custom suit or a separates suit off the rack from Sears.
I actually downloaded some of the art from the Gillette Collection because it is really that good.

 

This is what he looks like drawing it from the case:

 

So, I was thinking I would post a super high resolution photo of the detail with which Frederick Charles Blank could engrave. This was described by Gillette as a "masterpiece". Certainly better than a monogram.

 

great!

 

Just to put a little perspective in this, a recent auction had a Cavalier set sell for $550.
It was in fair to good condition at best. Your set is at an entirely different level.

 

Yes I was watching that auction for a while. That was a slick set.



I have 5 new blades in my blade holders I had never opened. For the hell of it I opened one blade this morning. The Blade date code is "214". So, this puts it at being manufactured 1912 in the 14th week of the year. I'm thinking that these were 5 of the 12 original blades. No brush or soap stick either, so it appears that someone was using this set but not too much. 7 blades worth?

 

Thank you Sir! High praise indeed...

 

Everything screams 1912! The rubbings are from 1912, The Christmas ad artwork, and even the blades.

 

For the hell of it I would love to get the same type of brush that went with this set. I believe it to be a Rubberset with the Diamond/Arrow logo. It doesn't appear to say Trade...Mark on either side of "Gillette" (But it could?) and I believe the writing below the logo says "Known The World Over". Also, there is no Rubberset trademark stamped into the bottom of the brush. I'm guessing from the look of the brush it is a combination of badger hair and bristle maybe a Model 103 from late 1911 or early 1912?

 

Yes the serial number also implies 1912. C117599 I guess from Phillip Krumolz (P125) that is what he says?

 

I think it could say "Bristles Set In Rubber".
Here is the Christmas ad from Dec of 1911


The 1909 Catalogue has the brush marked with Known the World Over:

 

Yes I believe you might be right? "Bristles Set In Rubber" and maybe a Model 102?

 

102 or 103(best brush offered) would be a sound hypothesis.

 

Wow. Just Wow.