Cartridge razor appreciation thread

Yesterday morning got the itch to try DE again, just to compare after the 9th shave on the Proglide cartridge in the Fusion Flexball razor. I used a new Feather blade in a Progress set on a low number, no nicks, irritations, no problems at all. Same 1 pass ATG with touch up. This morning however I had a lot longer, denser stubble than the past 9 days with the cartridge. So I went back for shave number 10 with the same cart. I went two pass because of the stubble and used Gillette Ultra Sensitive Gel. No tugging, no irritation, no redness, no bumps, no sting from my Aqua Velva AS. I got a closer shave everywhere on my face than I any have gotten before. Not sure if I will ever go back to DE shaving, not ready to sell off my antique and new DE razors but for the first time can see that possibility. Went to DE shaving so I could shave every day. Was able to do that but not able to get consistent BBS shaves after 10 months. For the last 10 days I can shave every day and get a BBS shave every day with this Cart/razor/shave gel setup.

 

There is a reason carts became so popular and most men (and women) tossed their SE and DE razors 50 years ago. Like any other field, shaving has its group that will put ideology before practicality, spend a fortune in the process and keep forums loaded with "Help/Advice" threads.

 

It is easy to condemn the new, the modern, and for profit big corporations, but sometimes, at least for some of us, the best comes from a big, profitable, innovative, for profit corporations. I read and took as true all the ridicule heaped on the Gillette 6 blade carts and Flexball tech. But on a whim I tried it and it works better than anything else I have tried by a very long shot. At 10 shaves and going strong the cost per shave will continue to average down and I expect be end up quite reasonable. I do not regret my DE experience. I learned a lot about shaving which I believe contributes the great shaves with a cart I get now. I look forward to trying out with the Fusion the various creams, soaps, and canned foams I acquired seeking to improve my DE shave. But Subvet, I agree, there is a reason we are all not shaving SE or DE anymore, for most of us the new stuff works better. Sometimes you just have to ignore the raucous crowd and see for yourself.

 

I thought this was a fair deal - well, at least I hope so as I was the only person bidding..

$17 w/ free shipping:

- Atra razor in NIB introductory box,

- 30+ NIB Atra Auto Plus cartridges

 

That's a great deal. Aces!

 

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I may be inclined to say I'm not really a Mach3-kinda-guy. I do feel that the cartridge gives too much of a mild shave and that I have to rinse it a lot as it clogs up from the shaving soap (this morning it was 3P soap - fantastic better-than-Cella-almond-soap). I think out of the cartridges I've tried so far the Wilkinson Protector ones are my favorites followed by Atra.

Loved the T&H handle shown below though - it really felt great during the shave.

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Got this Reed&Barton sterling silver plated Atra handle. Great condition and feels really good.

Question: Does anyone know when these were made? I couldn't find a year on the box/instructions and the closest I've found online is "during the 1980 or so".

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The heads have date codes, so you should be able to pinpoint when yours was made (assuming the head was made around the same time R&B requisitioned it for use on their handle). I believe mine was made in 1990. (It's currently packed up, so I'm unable to confirm at the moment.)

Aside from the date code, check to see if there is some kind of logo on top of the head. The later ones say "Atra" on them. Earlier ones either are blank or say "Gillette." Mine says "Atra." I'm not sure if the R&B handles were made early enough to use either the blank or "Gillette" heads.

 

Thanks! I'll check it out tonight and see what I can find

 

Actually, I may have that wrong. I do know the my original 1977 Atra handle is blank on top, but has the Gillette logo on the underside of the neck. At some point, "Atra" appeared on top, while "Gillette" remained on the neck (that's what my R&B head has). But I have also seen pictures that show "Gillette" on top. What the order is, I don't know, but a few pictures I scrounged up online indicate Gillette on top might be later, due to the handle style.


Shows Atra logo on top, Gillette logo on bottom, and is on original style handle.


Shows Gillette logo on top, and is on later style handle.

 

What makes a cartridge razor - handle alone - worth $140.
I had no idea. So I had to find out.
Now, I 'cheated' and bid..and won...this NIB poshness for $23 on the bay.




I admit I've paid $140 - and more - for a DE or SE razor in the past but never anywhere close to that for a cartridge handle.



When we justify such extravagance for a DE/SE razor we do it in large parts because of the material, the skilled artisan and the performance.
With a cartridge...one big factor is that the head...the thing that we actually shave with is not part of the purchase but rather a separate entity all together - so we're paying 'just' for the handle in this case.

I'm really trying here but unless Kent hand lathes these handles in small batches...I will have to admit it simply feels like you pay $120 for the 'prestige' that comes with having a Kent logo on a $20 handle. Hmm...makes me think I overpaid by $3

Having said all that...it's a really nice handle.

 

Just throwing this out, hope to get some opinions, advice. After DE shaving for almost a year, I began to identify which creams, soaps, and canned gels/foams (yes Nivea and Barbasol) worked with a single blade. Now getting back into Carts with a Fusion Proglide with Flexball... I picked up the Fusion Ultra Sensitve Hydro Gel, since I guessed that was what Gillette made for the razor. It seems to be a bit drying on my face, so what other creams/soaps/canned gels-foams do you all find work well?

 

I use my preferred traditional soaps and creams - DRH, T&H, TOBS, etc. - with all my cartridges, without issue. Admittedly, the Fusion/Proglide is the one Gillette cart I don't use with any regularity, but the times I have used it, it seemed to work just fine with those brands. If I felt I had to abandon my favorite shaving goodies to accommodate the cartridge, that would be a huge strike against it, in my book.

 

Thanks, good to know I can use up my inventory without issues.

 

Picked this one up for $6.99 and thought maybe someone know a bit about the brand.
It was listed as a "Cutlery World, Solingen cartridge razor"

All I could find about this label was this quote about their straight razors:
"Cutlery World Razors were sold in the 70's I believe in various cutlery type shops. They are usually stamped Solingen and many have the "First Class" etching on the blade. They are basically equivalent to the Dovo razors unless you happen to run across one that functions like the world esteemed "Chronik". Kidding aside, they are usually very decent razors that are easy to hone and good to shave with. My first straight razor was one of these."

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That's the Merkur MII. Never mind about Cutlery World - I'd guess that's a store that rebranded it; they're not the manufacturer.

The MII is what I consider the king of Trac II handles. It's a single piece of chrome-plated brass, outstandingly crafted. It has no moving parts to break or wear out, or any grafting or inlays to come apart or separate. About the only thing that ever might wear out is the plating, in which case you can get it re-plated. I have one in polished chrome that I purchased new about eight years ago (back when it cost $30), and it still looks as good as the day I bought it. This is a razor that, if well cared for, you can pass on to your grandchildren. As far as I know, the MII is still in production. Current retail is in the $50 - $60 range, so if yours is in good condition, you got quite a good deal.

NB: there are adapters made to fit the head that allow it to be used with Atra and Sensor carts. Personally, I found they didn't work all that well. IMO, the MII works best with Trac II carts.

 

If that's a Merkur MII I'm over the moon - I've been looking at those handles for some time but they seem to go for north of $50 every time I see one.
Yeah you can actually buy just the plastic adapters online as well.

Now I see the similarities!
Merkur MII:



Very neat, now I'm rather excited - my $6.99 investmeny might have paid off here

Here are two more photos from the auction ad in case that helps confirm - or rule out - what it is:




Thanks again @JR Reyes

 

I have zero doubt that's what it is. That's even the standard MII case, which mine also came in. It's just rebranded. That one does look like it's in satin finish, but that doesn't change anything, since the MII is offered in polished chrome, satin chrome (yours) and polished gold-tone finishes. Here's the satin (matte) finish sold at MenEssentials.

 

Thanks again. I'll be sure to post some photos when it gets here

I found this review that speaks rather highly about it

And, should I want to get some adapters they seem to relatively inexpensive