What Superspeed Have I Got?

[RedKen]

A few months ago I purchased a Flare Tip Superspeed - date code B2 (1956) - which had been replated. I know the purists out there will think replating is sacreligious, but I wanted a nice specimen to shave with.
A thought has recently occured to me......

If the razor has been replated how do I know it's not a Red Tip or a Blue Tip, or any other colour tip for that matter! Does the date code provide a clue, are there any obvious distinguishing patterns, or other properties etc which would indicate which variant I have?

Pictures attached if that helps...

[Blue-EyedSon]

The knurling pattern wouldn't be right for a red tip. I'm not sure about the blue tip, but I'm sure somebody else can chime in.

[Blue-EyedSon]

And I just double checked the wiki ... the knurling pattern you have would not be right for a blue tip either. So ... a flare tip it is.

[Sailorman]

If it's any help, I've got a B4 Flare tip here. The knurling pattern looks exactly like that one, and it weighs 58.5 grams. I might be wrong, but I think the color tipped SSs, at least the blue ones, were lighter. I don't know what the production dates were for them but someone should be around soon who does know. There's a chart somewhere around here I think that has that info.

[njpaddy]

:thumbup1: Looks nice. I wouldn't hesitate to replate one that I use regularly. Fortunately my 2 SS still look pretty good so they don't need it yet.

[michiganlover]

If it's any help, I've got a B4 Flare tip here. The knurling pattern looks exactly like that one, and it weighs 58.5 grams. I might be wrong, but I think the color tipped SSs, at least the blue ones, were lighter.

Correct, the Blue Tip Superspeed was in fact lighter, than the regular Flair Tipped Superspeed. The Red Tip Superspeed in addition to the knurling of the handle being different also weighed considerably more than a Flair Tip Superspeed.

There is also a Black Tipped 40's style Superspeed, but the Black Tip didn't designate anything special. It also wasn't manufactured at the same time that the Flair Tip Superspeeds were.

[RedKen]

Just checked the weight, and in neither the blue or red corner my SS comes in at exactly 58g.

I guess I have the standard flare tip. Unless of course the head or handle got swapped during the replating process..................

[Mr.Max]

very pretty razor.

[mmack66]

You just have the regular Flare Tip Superspeed. The handles for the Red, Blue, and Black Tip SuperSpeeds are completely different and could not be confused with the one you have.

[Pike]

Red tips have a much fatter handle in addition to the different knurling....Bluetips are made of aluminum! Very light!!

[Pike]

For future reference:

[kingfisher]

It's a beautiful flare-tip superspeed. Nothing sacreligious about making an old flare-tip look nicer. Sheesh.