True confession time: I crumbled like the proverbial cookie, but the shame is somewhat offset by the guilty pleasure of expectation. After poor-mouthing about my delay for buying an EJ89, I saw this on ebay: The seller said it is a Gillette New Bostonian I can see patent numbers 1633739, 1639335, and reissue 17567. Since I am not edumacated like the razor elite here at TSD, I fumbled around with some down-n-dirty net searching. I got a warm enough feeling to Buy-It-Now for $27.01 delivered. If it is a real Bostonian and the pictures didn't strategically hide a flaw, I think I got a pretty good deal. If it ends up being a "learning experience," I'll just tell myself it isn't the costliest I've ever had. I've got a pretty good feeling about this one, though! (Until I have to explain it presence, anyway!) Uh... if you guys see a fatal mistake, may as well tell me now. I can take it.
Well... on second look, I think I could have done a little better. It wasn't the bargain I first thought, but I didn't get soaked too badly. Who knows... it may clean up quite nicely! ... thinking good thoughts...
It's not a Bostonian. http://theshaveden.com/forums/threads/when-in-doubt-its-a-bostonian.21556/ It is part of that family, though.
PlanofMan, thanks for that! Very interesting... and a bit more "where's Waldo" than I normally take the time for. It left me a little confused, though. About a third of the way down shows a 1930s Bostonian compared to a 1934 Red and Black DeLuxe. The difference is band placement on the handles. Near as I can tell, the R&B DeLuxe has a wide smooth band just under the head and the Bostonian doesn't. Bostonian has a ridge across center on bottom plate and DeLuxe is flat. Yaaaaah! This is stressing me out! How 'bout I hazard a guess and say it's a New, either way. I'm not even sure of that, now. I know this, though... when it gets here I'll slap a blade in it and see what happens. I shoulda bought the EJ DE89, huh? <sigh> Oh, well...
Don't feel so bad. Most people just call those fat handled new razors. Those who have them usually love them. The one you picked up looks like a replate candidate. In my opinion, the fat handle variant is one of Gillette's better razors (not that they made many "bad" razors). I'm a self confessed vintage fan, though. I feel the quality of the old razors is superior to anything currently produced, with a few exceptions, namely, the current production stainless steel razors.
I wouldn't even replate it, I think it looks nice as is. Clean it up, and use it, it is one of the very best shavers ever made.
I second this. Some scrubbing bubbles + a good soak might bring out its inner beauty. That's a pretty razor, no matter what the name.
My fat handle NEW got here on Friday. I invalidated my first shave experience due to some operator error (don't ask), but this morning's shave was FANSTASTIC! An incredible BBS with no burn at all and only a little bit of AS sizzle when I slapped on the Masters Bay Rum. As you can tell from the ebay pics, there's no plating left. It shined up pretty nice with nothing more than Bar Keeper's Friend. I notice that the non-plated cap has a little more drag across my skin than my fully plated razors. It also has a slight copper smell as I use it (think of holding a handful of pennies when you were a kid and the way your hand smelled afterwards), but the smell doesn't stick around and certainly doesn't survive the AS. I've e-mailed pics to a local plater and asked for a quote. I know they do nickel and asked what they would recommend. This is indeed an awesome shaver. It is delightfully mild and pretty dang efficient. AND... I started with a Dorco blade! I can't wait until tomorrow's shave and soon getting a better blade in this bad boy!
Between Gillettes habit of changing a case or some other minor part and then calling a razor by a new name to make it seem like he was introducing a new product,the interchangeability of 3 piece razors and people swapping heads and handles through all the years it all gets "VERY" confusing... That said one of the things I really "LIKE" about 3 piece razors is the ability to customize them.. Heres what I can tell you for a fact about your razor: I own a couple of those razors, they are nice razors and both shave well, the shave heads look like Gillette "NEW" heads to me, the plating on both of mine is gone, but both polished up really nice and shiney, the handle and top cap are copper, I think the neck and comb are either brass or bronze I'm very glad I have them, one day I may replate one of them back to original.... Another thing don't worry about getting an EJ89..You obviously have RAD and so one day you "WILL" get one.... I own one and they are really "GREAT" shavers!! It has been my daily shaver for the past two years and got replaced only because I was able to get a Weber DLC head(TY jeroldgordon) to use with my Weber BullDog handle..I honestly find the Weber only slighty smoother than the EJ, but of course it's stainless...My only problem with the EJ89 was the handle which I.M.O. was way to slick with wet, soapy, hands, so I had to change handles on it until I got the Weber BullDog and then I was in shaving Nirvana....
