Here is a NOS #45 British Aristocratic Popular TTO open comb razor. A remarkable razor set made by the great British Gillette craftsmen. As stated on the shipper box bottom -- these razors could not be exported from England without written permission from UK Gillette! So I am holding it illegally and that must be why they so rarely appeared in the US. It is really in never been used condition -- someone got it -- maybe a gift -- put it away & now it's out in the open again -- waiting to meet up with its sisters and brothers. But that's for another day... There was a pale blue case as well as the white/cream colored one, but this brilliant blue is a real beauty! Is it nickel or rhodium plated? And the interior screw is soap free -- the ultimate test of NOS for these razors.
A sweet looking razor in great shape.... How big is the handle on that one? In some of you pics it looks similar to a Senator with different knurling. On others it looks to be between the Sheraton/Senator and the Aristocrats. Either way, that's a nice looking razor in great shape.
Very nice! I am not a Gillette historian or expert, but it would not surprise me if it is rhodium plate instead of nickel.
. Oh, I'm sorry. I was temporarily mesmerized by the... :drool ...by...drool Sorry again. Anybody got a napkin?
There's a conundrum in owning such a wonderful razor. Do I use it? Or not. Me. I just make sure that I'm willing to use whatever I acquire. BTW. Excellent and gorgeous razor!
By the way Just to clarify for a few members who thought that there may be plate loss on this #45 Popular Model, I shot a few other images to compare my other rhodium-plated Popular to this #45 (and probably) nickel-plated one -- the subject of this thread. And indeed there is a different patent number on this "newer" one. Check the new photo -- with the moisture wiped off the underside of the head: Obviously there is no plate loss & the patent number is what you see. Now to compare this to the other (similar) razor: The more commonly seen patent number on the head -- which otherwise looks identical. And this razor probably was lightly used. As for the patent number & etc. on the handle... 1st up is the newer model. And then the older (for me) model. As expected. And as more commonly seen. Looks to me like the one without the patent numbers on the handle -- is nickel plated. And the other one looks to be rhodium. Just for the shared razor history and model info.
Love these Populars. They were the British version of the USA Sheraton and USA Senator (both same razor, Sheraton was gold plated, Senator nickel-plated). Upon their introduction in 1938 (same year as the USA Senator), they had the same knurling as the USA Sheratons/Senators but the knurling was later changed in 1939. 1938: 1939: 1940:
Now that's just darn beautiful and neat. Luv that case color.Was not aware the Brits were holding out on us Yanks. Thanks for sharing...
It must shave like a rake ...... I have to tell myself that, so I won't want it so much and chase one down. Beautiful razor Gary!
