Gillette razors to collect

Some information I was told by a collector concerning that Rocket styled Milord. The razor supposedly was never sold retail and was a special made razor for Gillette company executives. Something like 20 or so of them were produced. It would explain why no retail information on this style razor has ever been found thus far.

 

I am partial to collecting any Gillette Fatboys and Slim Adjustables I can get a hold of.
They have been steadily increasing in price, over the past few years.

 

Here is one I own that I've never seen another of so far.

It is flat bottom tech but with shoulders and made sometime in the 60s or later.


The person I bought it from was based in India and my guess is this was only sold in India and no other markets is why it is so hard to find. Is it rare yes, is it collectable probably not unless the price is right.

 

This looks more like a local counterfeit than a British Gillette, even the cap is asymmetric.

Adam

 

Can you take a magnet to the different parts, to see if it is made of brass?
Something just looks off about this razor. Especially if it is supposed to be a Flat Bottom Tech.


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Just my opinion, but I feel any of the vintage Gillettes are worth collecting. They are all wonderful pieces of history and most are great shavers. As time goes by they are all getting harder to find.

 

All the parts are non magnetic. Everything about it is legit for a Gillette razor, the logo is legit for 60s and later razors made for non Anglo markets, the cap is the later style sans shoulders for Techs made 60s and upwards the handle is a mid to late 60s era British Tech style handle, also that handle coincides with when they changed the caps and guards on Techs in the early 60s.

 

If it was a counterfit the shoulders would look like someone soldered them and be sloppy. The cap is also correct to later 60s style Tech razors by the sides as can be seen here. Pre guard change had the the old style, post guard redesign new style cap.



The crease in the cap is also something seen on other flat bottom techs like this Canadian made version. You can also see it is older style of caps that had flat sides.

 

For what it's worth, I think @BBS has an India model Gillette. The knurling on the handle is proper, the base and top plate font looks appropriate. Finally the shape of the cap looks right ...... I'd say it's from the 60's-70's

If the handle is brass I'd lean more towards British, but those are marked "Made in England" hence I think it is made in India.

Very nice razor, I like picking them up from Argentina and Brazil as well.

 

Yes all the little details jive and don't contradict each other like a counterfit usually does. You can also see the original Gillette logo that was on the cap though it has faded. Handle is non magnetic whether it is brass or aluminum I don't know but it is the British version of that style of handle. My guess and it would at least explain the cap being a 60s era piece even though the flat bottom tech didn't make it that long is that this is actually made from Rotbart razor parts. I'd have to research it some more but I am pretty sure Gillette kept making this style of razor head on Rotbart razors until the 60s when they went to the Slim Twist / Knack design. Why they put shoulders on it I don't know but Gillette was known for taking surplus inventory and piecing it together with whatever they had then selling it in a foreign market until they used up the surplus parts.

 

Speaking of rare and collectible. This particular Brazilian Goodwill razor I think is the only one ever produced anywhere that wasn't an open comb design. What is more interesting is this is based on the new short comb design not the new long comb which came afterwards.

 

Handle, not Gillette.
Two types of letter e in Gillette.
Ever saw a Gillette England without made in?
Asymmetric cap.
Asymmetric drain holes.
Asymmetric slots.
Two piece cap and screw.
Why soldering? It’s stamped.
Hard to belive that they set up a line to produce “shitty” razors for India. And afaik there was no Gillette plant in India.

It’s not a Gillette, nor Rotbart (the stamped base plate was used in the 50ies or late 40ies by Roth&Büchner, before switching to the cast Tech type base plate).

 

Yes, on the first 2 on later 60s open comb Techs made for non Anglo markets. The asymmetry is due to the picture angle, the only things off center are the shoulder slots but they are symmetric and a DE blade fits fine over them. They have to be that way because of the blades.

Too much work for too little return to be a counterfeit. Best case scenario for your argument is it was done by the original owner for themselves. You are entitled to your opinion but all the details point to it being legit. Putting shoulders on it is the curious detail and what makes it stand out in the first place.

 

To add I checked the handle against an aluminum tech handle and the one on this razor is brass not aluminum.

 

just for your reference,the canadian flat bottom razor cap is unique and has a flat section in the center from having 2 creases,the brit one has one crease in the center.

 

Completely disagree with this. My collection is certainly an investment.
One day I'll sell off piece by piece until I've got the $$ for a used porsche...that's my plan anyway lol.
There are many pieces I won't consider selling however...1934 aristocrat, toggle, hybrid tech to name a few!

 

Sadly or maybe not as long as there is a buyer at the back end these collector investments will outperform the stock market this year the way things are going.

 

Blades will be where it's at, if things keep going downhill. Which they will.