Vintage versus Modern DE razors

I thought most Gillette were brass with a few steel and aluminum exceptions. what model was zamak?

 

"From B&B: Description: Three piece design, top blade holder has one threaded prong (for handle). Inside: "PAT. NOS. ON PACKAGE", underside: "REG. U.S. PT. OFF. | [Gillette diamond] MADE IN U.S.A." Available in silver or gold color. 1950-1953? Models use ferrous metals instead of brass due to Korean War shortages. Models before 1962 are brass handle/stamped brass baseplate & stamped brass guard. Models after 1962 have Zamak caps and can be identified by the embossed "Gillette" name.


It may be that because just the cap is Zamak, I don't have to fear cracking as much as if the base plate were also the same material.

 

so who makes a modern, 3 pc Brass razor?

Edit: just noticed Fatip is Brass

 

Well it would appear that of the three Zamak razors I have I've been anomalously unfortunate in that two are corroding through normal use, I'm a retired engineer fully aware of the stresses of over-tightening and repeated thread matings so that's not the issue. What is more likely is poor batch control over the Zamak alloy, there may even be formulation variances based on cost, and there is clearly poor quality control over the plating. Once a couple of pits appeared in the plating of my EJ the corrosion began rapidly and is clearly visible to the naked eye. In the case of the Futur, the spring is quite strong and exerts a lot of pressure on the threads when ever the razor is adjusted, disassembled or re-assembled, the operator has little to no control over that. Of course there is always the Merkur approach, "must be bad water" in my area.

 

All of us want the best quality at discount prices. It seems that with razors, quality cost. For some, a favorite razor, lets say the Merkur Progress were to be rendered unusable they will just replace it with a new one. For other shavers a quality stainless steel Feather or Ikon is a generational razor gives pride and joy to own. You pays your money and makes your choice.
I have a Feather and a Progress that give me enjoyment for different reasons. I place a drop of 3-in-one oil on my finger and transfer it to the threads when changing blades. I have no idea if it is warranted but I enjoy doing it. For me, maintenance is part of the joy of the shaving process.

 

I have a small collection of vintage Gillette and Schick razors that have been in use since as long ago as the late '28's and require no more care than a rinse and occasional thorough cleaning. They are designed and manufactured for the environment in which they operate; hot, soapy water. Now we turn to my few modern razors; Merkur, EJ and Maggard are all Zamak and although they are sold as shaving devices purportedly designed to operate in hot, soapy water they will not survive in that environment for very long. These razors require extraordinary care and even then may or may not survive more than a few years. I do have a Standard Razor made of aircraft grade Aluminum which seems to tolerate the shaving environment as well as the vintage devices, time will tell.

The suggestions is that we get what we pay for, I disagree, we get what we deserve for putting up with this stuff. Given that a stainless imitation of a vintage razor costs 40 times the price of the vintage when new, 20 times the used price why would/should I buy it? I'm fortunate in that I get a fine shave from a cart for pennies a day so my DE and SE razors languish in a soft pouch in a dresser drawer, perhaps someday a grandchild will want them but I've outgrown them.

 

I never knew that. Thanks.

 

Wow, so do I read this correctly? You are a staunch cart advocate? I didn't realize we had those in our midst here.

 

You know, the more I look at my razor, I am NOT convinced that the cap is Zamak, nor that the "Gillette" is embossed. What do you think?


Just looked up "embossing" and it means stamped, so this probably is Zamak.

 

what a great thread. when i was looking at new double edge razors i noticed some looked a little rough.
some just were plain not straight. ended up going with a vintage 1929-30ish Gillette new long open comb.
machined brass head, with a copper cap platted in gold.

not a fan of cast razors at all. prefer machined brass, or maybe stainless. heard Above The Tie might come
out with a brass head. would consider giving a brass ATT open comb a try.

if i were to buy a cast razor, i would want to hold it in my hands before i buy.

 

I'm an advocate of efficient, economical shaving ( removing whiskers from my face), I'm not a collector, not interested in what works for anyone else, could care less about rituals or "shave dens" and I don't support price gouging.

 

well, with that I'll just say,
GET OFF MY LAWN!

 

then can i ask what your doing in a shaving forum?

 

I don't think zamak can be embossed. If it is zamak, the imprint was part of the cast used when the cap was made.

 

I have two that style a silver tone and a gold tone. both off mine are like acid etched. neither are like the one shown.
both of mine feel like brass(heavy), not like lighter zamak. I'll check the dates on the ones I have.

 

Can we tell by the weight of a known brass cap and then compare it to the weight of Primotonore's cap? I would imagine that there's a difference in weight.

 

Also, was it common to use nickel or chrome over zamak? All modern razors with zamak are chrome plated.

 

the plating was not really what surprised me, your correct nickle and other richer metals were used. but I would have thought the zamak would have to have been thicker, the cap onthe razor above( pic) looks too thin to be such a brittle composite metal. I'd have wwagered it was brass.
oh well, learn something new every day.

 

That's a good point. Stamped brass can be made much thinner than an equivalent cast zamak piece.