Blue blades in Fatboy

[lhuchison]

Hi all, Just purchased a `58 D4 Fatboy which was in a really dirty/ fungus growing state. It cleaned up a dream ,no blemishes etc. What i was wondering was it had two original looking blue gillette blades, one in the razor and one in the case, would i presume from this that the razor probally hasnt been used much since the 50,s?
It had a good boiling, WD40, and sterillising. and plenty of toothbrushing.

[Magnulus]

I find those in older blades sometimes, unopened, with razors I buy. I wonder if they'll ever be worth any money.

Theoretically, you could get an antique razor stropper and sharpen them up and use them. I'd rinse them off in Barbicide first, though. I may try this one of these days- I'm looking for a glass or ceramic stropper and they aren't that common.

[lhuchison]

I,m not sure when they stopped making those blue blades.
Also found a red/brown blade in the box called a super stag blade, and i says, sold only at Rexall drug stores. I,ve never heard of Rexalls here in UK. Its like a time machine ,opening up these old razor boxes!

[Magnulus]

From the little bit I've read about the history of razors, Gillette brought out their own stainless steel blade a couple years after Wilkinson Sword brought out stainless steel blades, in the 60's I think. I'm not sure when they stopped making Blues, however, wheather they switched all production to stainless steel or not.

You can still buy carbon steel blades, Treet makes some and Leisureguy and Fritz seem to like them. I'll have to try them one of these days but honestly there are alot of good stainless steel blades that are almost as inexpensive. Apparrently the carbon steel jobs have a very short lifespan unless you take meticulous care of them and/or strop the blade often. I'm getting some antique razor stroppers off eBay as part of one of those estate buys so maybe I'll try polishing up some of my antique Blue Gillettes I have and see how it goes.

Rexall is an old US drugstore chain (chemists as you would call them). I think they were bought out by Eckard, and was in turn bought out by CVS, but I could be wrong about this. There has been a huge amount of consolidation in the drugstore biz in the US. CVS has become a giant and Walgreens is about the only competitor (and it doesn't seem to be doing as well), then you've got little independents and I don't know how they stay open.

[FaPat5]

I realise I already mentioned this in another thread, but check out this cool thing: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VINTAGE-FEATHERS-SAFETY-RAZOR-BLADE-SHARPENER_W0QQitemZ250151482956QQihZ015QQcategoryZ 887QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[lhuchison]

Thanks for the replies guys, Going to attempt my second shave with the fatboy tonight, first one not too good maybe the feathers arent as good in the fatboy, they seem perfect in the slim or maybe the slim is better for me. or might try a different make of blade in the fatboy, Too many variables!!