I've never seen a President that WASN'T from '53. The one I kept is, the one I traded to Michael was, I believe Bill's is... anyone have a President from another year?
I used to have a 1954 (Z2).
I've never seen a President that WASN'T from '53. The one I kept is, the one I traded to Michael was, I believe Bill's is... anyone have a President from another year?
Check for a date code like on the President. If there is none, it is pre-1951. If the slots by the safety bars are slightly triangle shaped, it is 1945 or earlier (1938 being the very first, but I don't think the ball handle was out yet). If the slots have parallel sides instead, it is 1946 or later.
My Tech knowledge is clearly lacking
Judging by these answers. I think my question was just answered. Is a Gillette president in the original box in very good to excellent condition worth 150.00 USD?
Is a Gillette president in the original box in very good to excellent condition worth 150.00 USD?
Check for a date code like on the President. If there is none, it is pre-1951. If the slots by the safety bars are slightly triangle shaped, it is 1945 or earlier (1938 being the very first, but I don't think the ball handle was out yet). If the slots have parallel sides instead, it is 1946 or later.
Picked up the $6 (suspected) tech. It's not in great condition--there's some green on it; might have to use some CLR to clean it up. Is it a Tech, as we suspected? The date code is Z4.
It's all there . . . solid . . . a little clean-up (don't polish with anything stronger than toothpaste) and it will look better.
Shave with it, and you will be convinced it is worth more than the $6 you paid for it!! Techs are great shavers - gentle and predictable!
Enjoy - not only the Tech, but the President as well . . . darn you anyway!!!
It's a Z4. So, 1954. I've cleaned them both up and took some pictures. Incoming:
Picked up the $6 (suspected) tech. It's not in great condition--there's some green on it; might have to use some CLR to clean it up. Is it a Tech, as we suspected? The date code is Z4.
It's all there . . . solid . . . a little clean-up (don't polish with anything stronger than toothpaste) and it will look better.
Shave with it, and you will be convinced it is worth more than the $6 you paid for it!! Techs are great shavers - gentle and predictable!
Enjoy - not only the Tech, but the President as well . . . darn you anyway!!!
It's polished, barbicided, and loaded up with a blade. I will be shaving with it tomorrow.
Looks great. If you ever decide it's not for you, send me a PM. I will double... no... triple! your money if you want to sell it.
...quadruple? quintuple?
Hahah! I haven't quite decided if I want to shave with El Presidente quite yet. The tech will definitely become a standard for me (the Parker 91R I bought is a little too aggressive for me).
The same antique shop also has what LOOKS like a 1912 Gem single edge razor for $15. Thoughts?
Yes, you will find the Tech to be a standard . . . but from what I've read, the President should shave very much like the Aristocrat from the same era . . . and that, sir, is my go-to razor!!
Now, the 1912 . . . that's a whole 'nother issue . . . go down that road and you may be ready to sell the President for one of those 3X offers you had!!
It's a Z4. So, 1954. I've cleaned them both up and took some pictures.
That's a Gillette President, and if you only paid $15 for it, you my friend have the score of the month! Those regularly go for many times that price. I've got a 100 Gillettes and not one President.
Congrats and welcome to B&B.
Thoughts, first up, the 1912's are GREAT shavers! Get some decent blades (I use and get great results from the GEM blades in the shaving area of Walgreens, but many here prefer the Ted Pella's available only in quantity through the mail). On the price, you didn't do nearly as well as the others (that President deal will be hard to beat EVER). The 1912 seems very readily available on eBay for under ten bucks (assuming no case), but then there's shipping. And most are not as clean as that. It's an ultra cool vintage razor that some feel may be the best shaving safety razor of all time. I've got a whole fleet of 'em. BTW, I think that is the shorter handled travel version. I'd have bought it. If I didn't already have one (one?).
ETA: Try that President out (unless you have evidence it's NEVER been shaved with). It is a wonderfully popular model, for not only it's looks, but the way it shaves. And you could use it for years without changing it's appearance or value one iota. Remove the blade and rinse and dry the razor after each use, load again when ready to shave. And keep it away fgrom the case until it's thoroughly air dried and ready to await it's next turn in the rotation. And BTW, the clerk would be right. You've got RAD.