Ode to the Flare Tip

I may have invented the nuttiest rationalization to justify buying a 50's era Gillette Flare Tip Super Speed known to the shaving world.

Turns out I'm 2 weeks into buying a house. As you probably can guess, that's always a long and painful paperwork process. The house we looked at and want, was born in 1957. It still bears most of the original charm of that era in its current state.

So I set about getting a good luck charm, so to speak, and decided it would be in the form of a 1957 era vintage Gillette razor. I've owned a bunch in the past (still do), but nothing made exactly in 1957. Fortunately, I was able to find one on the bay for a price I could tolerate, along with what is presumably its original case.

After being absorbed into the world of new production razors and specifically the various Merkurs and RR Game Changer's, off went my money to grab a C2 dated Flare Tip. After receiving this well kept instrument, I loaded it up with an Astra Superior Stainless, which happens to be THE go-to blade for my RR Game Changer .76P. It did "okay" but not "great" in the Flare Tip. Several shaves later I shelved the Astra and proceeded to pull out my stock of Perma-Sharp Supers.



Well those blades were a perfect match. Maybe there are others as well, but I'm good where I'm at. My daily shaves are sharp, efficient, and give another level of satisfaction I just don't remember getting when I used Super Speeds years back.

If all goes well and the house becomes ours, this vintage gem will take an honored place in the top of the shave rotation, and maintain a prominent presence in the master bath. Otherwise (which is the alternative I don't care to think about, lol), I'll still have a great vintage shaver that has rekindled my appreciation for the way they were made decades ago!

 

Is it really in a rotation if it stays at the top?

Just messin'. Sweet score!
And good luck with the new home.

 

Might need to find a spot in the garage for your favorite 1957 automobile

 

LOL, that's a great idea!

 

Perma Sharp's are a fantastic blade!

 

Fantastic Brit...now if I could only get that one past the wife...house does come with a one car attached garage!! lol

 

Congratulations on the razor and the new home. A ‘57 Telecaster would be a sweet little add-on

 

Try shimming your blade, I use 2 shims in my 55-Redtip and the shaves have gotten smoother and more comfortable. It's a night and day difference that up's the Flare tips performance. Gillette Yellow's are a favorite of mine in my Redtip.

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