30 Day Rule/Focus; January 2025. All Are Welcome.

Thank you Gary.

 

SE Shave # 428

Rating: 5 / 5

Razor: Enders Speed
Blade: Schick Pro-line B-20
Brush: Sawdust Creation Studio “Inferno” Silver Fox Synthetic
Lather: Cella Crema da Barba
Aftershave: Cella Milano
Additional Care:
Omega Alum
Dickenson’s Original Witch Hazel
Stirling Unscented Glacial Balm

 

cool enders shave Joe..

 

January 16, 2025

Jillette January

Razor - 1972 (H2) Gillette Super Adjustable (Long Handle) (9) The Black Beauty
Blade - Gillette Platinum Plus (Brazil)
Soap - Stirling Gatlinburg
Brush - Omega 10066 Boar
Finish - Aqua Velva Blue

We jump to 1972 and the Black Beauty. The long handled Super Adjustable. The handle on this razor is 4 inches long, longer than the Slim. There is a short handled version too, which is 3.25 inches long. I should have the one I found in hand on Saturday, or at least that's what they're saying, so it will be featured shortly. It is also a 1972.

Black beauty gap is larger than the other Gillette adjustables at .045 at the wide open setting of 9, which I use. The weight of the razor falls in between the Fatboy and Slim at 68.9 grams, although there is a later version with a plastic plate instead of all metal head that weighs about 11 grams less. The unique thing about this razor and its weight is that because of the plastic handle, more of the weight is in the head. My grip throughout the shave was low on the handle with no opportunity to put pressure on it. Just set the angle and let gravity do the work as you guide each stroke. Smooth, non-irritating and quite enjoyable.

I used a Gillette Platinum Plus blade from Brazil. Great feel, sharpness and smoothness. I have some leftover sample Gatlinburg from Stirling that was quite nice when whipped up with my Omega boar brush. AQ Blue to finish and a great shave it was!

Tomorrow night it's 1976 and the final Super Speed shave. With any luck Saturday will be the Black Beauty short. That will then complete my run through my vintage Gillettes. I have some other plans with some of these razors for the remainder of the month I'm looking forward to. More on that when I get there.

It's nearly Friday and I hope it's a fast one to the weekend for all!

​

 

Cool Cella shave Joe.

 

thanks Gary, yes some of the other caps do fit, but I will keep this intact as is and just get used to it

Paper and pen, added to the Den

Thanks Joe

Lovely write up pic and shave.

that Mellon head looks really cool Barry

Well I think it looks nice, kind of retro anyway

cool shave and setup Joe

 

didn't know the Black Beauties came with different handles. Maybe one day... enough razors for now... but i will take note: the shorter handles suit my style anyway

 

16 and 17 Jan 2025

Back to basics: Rocket HD and Bowl Lathering

16th: Feather Day 4
17th: Gillette Platinum Day 1

Soap = Fine Latigo
Brush = Semogue OC Cherry
Bowl = white plastic
Passes = 2 +
ASL = Fine Latigo
Scent = English Leather AS splash
Superb damage free shaves, but I must say the Gillette Platinum was better. Even though I try and take blades to 4 days I must admit this doesn’t work for me

Today, Friday, pretty well perfect shave

Need to go easy on the lathering, the Fine Latigo hydrates beautifully and produces an abundance of lather: even after doing the back of the neck I had to dump half the left over lather

Hope your Fridays are turning out well

 

Thank you Chris...that Yaqi Mellon head is a mild yet efficient shaver.

 

Wonderful Cella Shave Joe. Love the “Inferno” Silver Fox Synthetic.

 

The short handles are a bit rare. On Ebay some of then go for what I consider ridiculous prices, which is why I hadn't gotten one before. The one I found is actually only a couple hundred miles away over toward KC. The owner listed it, described all the markings including that it has an "S", and "1" on it but didn't know if that was significant. Well, yeah, it's a date code. LOL He had it listed for a ridiculously low price. I messaged him and had him confirm the handle length, and bought it 30 seconds later.

As for handle length I enjoy a long handle, but can easily shave with either. As to having enough razors, yes I know the feeling. But I have always wanted to collect all of the Adjustables. Including the Toggle, which I had at one point. Just have to find another one. And the hunt continues.

 

A better shave today than the last few days. One difference in the setup:

Brush-Magard 24 mm. Marble Handle.

Thiz time, I used the Bill Neumann to its main purpose in the shave world-being skin friendly. A minute at the Loading Dock for the Maggard. It's getting a little tougher to work with the soaap, so I'll have to focus more on the sides of the puck. Bill Neumann has the kind of soap that works best for a speedy loader, which isn't me. Bu from what I was able to get onto my face and neck, I got a clean, clear shave all around. No damage. I should have rotated blade direction more down at Cactus Nation(neck). But I'm satisfied with how it turned out. Nice close from the Bill Neumann Heartwood A.S. I have no way of seeing how much is left, as it(along with other Neumann aftershaves)is very dark to the eye. Aaah, I'll take the challenge. Super Duper Outstanding.

 

thank you Chris..the black resin handles were a clear indicator gillette was starting to cheap out on razor quality.

 

Very nice shave Chris. I sometimes put the extra lather on my face to enjoy the scent and then rinse it off.

 

-Friday-
1965 brit flare tip
omega
navigator
voyage



good morning gents
fine zman lather,
smooth 2 passer .minor pick ups
this is the last year gillette england made an all brass tto razor.1965
gillette slim twist razors were the only british made tto razor after this,though they started production around 1963
much preferred over the black handled version,though it has the same slim head.
all black handle flare tips and adjustables were u.s made
***
thayers and voyage to finish
awesome
have a fine friday everyone


​

 

awesome friday HD shaves Chris.

 

Nice piece of Gillette history, Gary. Oh, yourshave was good too .

 

Sheild titanium razor with stainless steel dual comb plate.
Razolution razor blade.
Razorock 400 Plissoft synthetic brush.
Mitchell’s Wool Fat soap.
Timeless Razor shave bowl.
Scottish Antique by Andy Hilfiger cologne.

Excellent Friday shave. Three very nice passes. Tried out the Razolution blade for the first time this morning. They were throwed in as a freebie with the Shield stainless steel razor head I received a couple days ago. The blade the smooth and efficient. It seems like a fit between the Astras and Feathers.....I really like the shave it gives.

Happy Friday everyone!

 

Fab Fri. flare tip shave Gary.

 

Terrific shave Danny. I never heard of those blades.