Matthew Wild
Gillette NEW in chromium box
This made-in-England Gillette NEW from the 1930s or early ‘40s is unusual for a number of reasons.
The underside of the head includes the Gillette diamond and states Made in England, but the information ends here – there’s no date code or patent number anywhere on the razor. The top plate attaches with two small tabs, whereas most of the NEWs used a positioning bar.
The handle, which is 3 ins. (7.6 cm) long, is completely hollow. It appears to be one-piece – as opposed to three items press fitted together, as were many of the early Gillette designs.
It’s hard to establish an exact time of manufacture, but it’s safe to call it World War II era. I’m guessing these were made between the late 1930s and late ‘40s, so it’s got to be somewhere around 70 years old.
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.
The razor itself is a revelation as it manages to be 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.
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
Get hold of me at Wild West Communications to ask about using my photography or my communications services.
Gillette NEW in chromium box
This made-in-England Gillette NEW from the 1930s or early ‘40s is unusual for a number of reasons.
The underside of the head includes the Gillette diamond and states Made in England, but the information ends here – there’s no date code or patent number anywhere on the razor. The top plate attaches with two small tabs, whereas most of the NEWs used a positioning bar.
The handle, which is 3 ins. (7.6 cm) long, is completely hollow. It appears to be one-piece – as opposed to three items press fitted together, as were many of the early Gillette designs.
It’s hard to establish an exact time of manufacture, but it’s safe to call it World War II era. I’m guessing these were made between the late 1930s and late ‘40s, so it’s got to be somewhere around 70 years old.
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.
The razor itself is a revelation as it manages to be 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.
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
Get hold of me at Wild West Communications to ask about using my photography or my communications services.