I Just Picked Up This Gillette Two Tone Beauty

I just picked up this 1953 Code Y-3 Gillette President with the case. It’s on the way in the mail to me and should be here next week. I tend to not really like gold razors as much but I love the look of the vintage two tone razors that were offered back then. I plan to try and clean it up even a little more and will post the pic’s after the clean up later.

*Edited one time.

Happy Haves To Everyone,
Bill G

 

You've been on a roll, Bill. Another great score!

 

Lol.. Thank you,

I go through spells of this sometimes it’s a sickness.

Happy Shaves,
Bill G

 

I've never heard of Gillette doing a 2-tone razor like that before. Are you certain it isn't a Frankenrazor?? It is nice looking though.

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I did some research and found some information but not a lot on the subject. It looks like Gillette did make them but they seem to be a little more rare. The most common ones are the all gold ones and the nickel head with the rhodium on the handle where the gold is on the one I got. You never know with Gillette they did do some one off stuff.

Happy Shaves,
Bill G

 

@Bill G ,
The only one I could find reference to was the Aluminium handles and Nickel plated heads. Also, some Rhodium handles with Nickel heads. This was on Mr. Razors site.
Yours is the only one I could find on the internet, photo or reference to on Etsy, with gold handle and the rest rhodium.
Maybe your "Google-Fu" is better than mine.

 

I appreciate the information. I can tell you the tabs on the bottom of the head have not been smashed and are original. That tells me it’s not been taken apart to re-plate. I suppose someone could have plated that part of the handle only gold but it looks original. So be it another Gillette mystery. It’s still a pretty cool razor.

I posted what I found on Google above and that’s all I found. Is it true I don’t know your guess is as good as mine.

Added pic,
* Pic of tabs they are still original and have not been smashed or pinched.


Happy Shaves,
Bill G

 

ask Matt at razor emporium..he is pretty knowledgable on u.s gillette razors..the only 2 tone razors i.ve seen were early war time era milords etc.a gillette emplyee could have assembled it,by mixing president and diplomat/aristocrat parts..

 

Curious what you think of the shave. I had a few early 50’s Aristocrats for a long time before finally getting a President and then I didn’t like the shave. I still prefer the Aristocrat by a good margin. I remember the disappointment after wanting one for so long and then I never bothered to add a Diplomat to my collection since it’s essentially a gold version of the President.

 

Good point and Yes I will send him a Pic and ask him what he thinks or knows.

Thanks,
Bill G

 

There is NO two tone Gillette period.
This is brassed handle.

 

Interesting observation and makes some sense. It does look like it could possibly be brass and not plated. The question is how did it get that way? Do you have any more insight on this by chance?

It's in the mail to me and I should get it sometime next week hopefully. When I get it I will verify if it’s brass or plated. It’s definitely one of a kind no matter how it got this way.

Thanks,
Bill G

 

This is Matt’s reply from Razor Emporium back to me about this razor. His answer makes complete sense (mystery solved). The question is should I get it revamped to look original or leave it as is?

Happy Shaves,
Bill G

 

that, my friend is up to you.the president set is nice in stock form,though personally i've not owned one,i have a gold u.s aristocrat that needs replating,but i'm not bothered by that as i prefer my rhodium plate executive and british aristocrats.i would also say that president sets are more scarce than aristocrat sets..

 

I bet she'll shave OK and last a few lifetimes as is. I don't think you could go wrong either way...revamped or original...whatever suits your eye. Nice score!

If it were me, I'd keep it as is, refer to it as a rare one-of-a-kind two-tone, probably a model made by Gillette for VIPs that never made it to the mass market, and watch the shaving forums melt down.

 

The person sure must be an artist with the polishing compound, to precisely remove only the Rhodium from the handle. I wouldn't be surprised if it were gold plated, and not brass. in either case, it looks nice, as is.

Looking at your photos, it still looks gold, with the lacquer dis-coloring like original gold Gillette razors always do.

 

Boy could I get something started…LOL. I do like the way it looks as is with its 72 years of natural wear and the razors two tone look. I think like you said I will keep it the way it is and enjoy it.

Happy Shaves,
Bill G

 

You sure are right about being good with a polishing compound if what Matt suggest happened with this razor. (Probably is the case and the only thing that really makes sense). It could be gold just as you suggest but if you notice it has a Rhodium finished knob on it not gold. Also it does look like brass in the pic’s like Matt suggested and also a forum member suggested. It looks good to me as well like you said and I will probably keep it that way and enjoy it.

When I get the razor this week USPS I will have it in hand and know for sure if it’s brass or the aged Gillette gold we have all seen on razors.

I can’t help but wonder if this razor was some kind of one off thing… We will never really know probably just a meticulous guy that removed the plating on the handle to make the razor two tone.

Happy Shaves,
Bill G

 

@Bill G

I’ve actually got three Gillette two-tones in my collection. Here’s my post with photos from 2015 when I acquired them.

http://theshaveden.com/forums/threads/the-haul-december-2015.48335/page-29#post-959812

 

WOW, those razors are beautiful and very unique they look great. Thank you for sharing I really appreciate it.

Happy Shaves,
Bill G