Matthew Wild
Gillette NEW - WWII era razor
This razor has to be 70 years old – and hasn’t been beaten since, as far as I’m concerned.
It’s a World War II era made-in-England Gillette NEW. It’s both an aggressive but smooth shaver. I’m very impressed with it – the first pass leaves your face as smooth as three passes with most other razors, but it’s smooth enough for the final touch-up pass. Believe me, you can really feel the blade on your face, which leads to a careful shave, let me tell you.
I’d like to establish the year of manufacture, but it’s difficult because there is no apparent date code or patent number anywhere on the razor – but it’s safe to call it World War II era. I’m guessing these were made between the late 1930s and late ‘40s.
The handle is 3 ins. (7.6 cm) long and completely hollow. It appears to be one-piece – as opposed to three items press fitted together, as were many of the early Gillette designs. The underside of the head includes the Gillette diamond and states Made in England. The top plate attaches with two small tabs, whereas most of the NEWs used a positioning bar.
This particular Gillette looks like examples referred to by collectors as the French service set, which was manufactured for the French military in the late 1930s (and presumably continued after the fall of France, with Free French forces fighting across North Africa and other campaigns.) However, the French Service Set was marked "Importe D'Angleterre," while mine states "Made in England."
In addition, from what I can tell, the UK arm of Gillette at the time manufactured the same product under a number of different guises: branded Gillette (like mine, seen here), Minora and 7 O’clock. Minora and 7 O’clock seem to have been budget brands owned by Gillette in this era – I guess to give them both ends of the market.
So, it looks like my razor is original, and possibly even came in the chrome plated box seen here – the Minora certainly came in one. The box still opens and shuts with crisp snap, and is stamped underneath: chromium plated made in England.
I don’t know what the rules on outside links are here, but I posted about this over on the wetshave forum Badger and Blade: badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=202678
It’s easiest to reach me at Wild West Communications if you want to use my photography or talk about my writing and editing work.
Gillette NEW - WWII era razor
This razor has to be 70 years old – and hasn’t been beaten since, as far as I’m concerned.
It’s a World War II era made-in-England Gillette NEW. It’s both an aggressive but smooth shaver. I’m very impressed with it – the first pass leaves your face as smooth as three passes with most other razors, but it’s smooth enough for the final touch-up pass. Believe me, you can really feel the blade on your face, which leads to a careful shave, let me tell you.
I’d like to establish the year of manufacture, but it’s difficult because there is no apparent date code or patent number anywhere on the razor – but it’s safe to call it World War II era. I’m guessing these were made between the late 1930s and late ‘40s.
The handle is 3 ins. (7.6 cm) long and completely hollow. It appears to be one-piece – as opposed to three items press fitted together, as were many of the early Gillette designs. The underside of the head includes the Gillette diamond and states Made in England. The top plate attaches with two small tabs, whereas most of the NEWs used a positioning bar.
This particular Gillette looks like examples referred to by collectors as the French service set, which was manufactured for the French military in the late 1930s (and presumably continued after the fall of France, with Free French forces fighting across North Africa and other campaigns.) However, the French Service Set was marked "Importe D'Angleterre," while mine states "Made in England."
In addition, from what I can tell, the UK arm of Gillette at the time manufactured the same product under a number of different guises: branded Gillette (like mine, seen here), Minora and 7 O’clock. Minora and 7 O’clock seem to have been budget brands owned by Gillette in this era – I guess to give them both ends of the market.
So, it looks like my razor is original, and possibly even came in the chrome plated box seen here – the Minora certainly came in one. The box still opens and shuts with crisp snap, and is stamped underneath: chromium plated made in England.
I don’t know what the rules on outside links are here, but I posted about this over on the wetshave forum Badger and Blade: badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=202678
It’s easiest to reach me at Wild West Communications if you want to use my photography or talk about my writing and editing work.