My $5 ABC

[HoosierTrooper]

I found this ABC razor at an antique store mixed in a case with some old jewelry for a whopping $5. While it won't win any beauty contests because it looks like the previous owner used this one a lot, it's a great shaver and I now have one of these beauties that I found in the wild. The last digit of the serial number isn't stamped very well but I believe it is D993433, which makes it a 1917 model.

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c150/farrarfan1/8-3007.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c150/farrarfan1/8-3008.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c150/farrarfan1/8-3010.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c150/farrarfan1/8-3001.jpg

[tnsplayer]

Wow that's a grat find. Goes to show there are still a few hidden gems sitting around in antique stores.

[bakerbarber]

NICE!!

I love it.

They are surprisingly heavy and solid. The first time I held one I was shocked. I expected it to be like a ball end Old Type handle, but it's not.
They have good weight and balance huh!!

[mharris127]

That razor actually looks like it is in very good condition from the pictures. It may be aggressive due to the tooth spacing but would make a good display razor if you are into that. Since the teeth are not bent and the parts are there, it should shave as well but since it was made for the thicker, older style of blades common in the teens and twenties, using some modern blades may be a problem (the slot cut into modern blades does not always have large enough holes for the old-style razors such as this one). Judicious use of small tin snips may help but don't cut too much or the blade may slide around on the razor.

[HoosierTrooper]

It shaves great without a shim of any kind. The Old Types are my favorite double edge razors by far, and this one shaves as good as any others I have. It is a very heavy, solid feeling razor, for sure.

[Sledgehammer39]

Sweet Haul, it looks great!! :thumbup1:

[RocketMan]

Perty!! It is no Wester HT, but a terrific find for being, like you say, discovered 'in the wild'!!

[HoosierTrooper]

Perty!! It is no Wester HT, but a terrific find for being, like you say, discovered 'in the wild'!!

RocketDood! Great to see you!

[MacDaddy]

I can't make it out very well in the pictures... How sure are you that the leading letter is a "D"? Is it a clear stamp, or could it be a "B" with the center missing?

[ackvil]

Another great find, Tom. I envy you! :wink2: Down here I can't find anything.:crying:

[HoosierTrooper]

I can't make it out very well in the pictures... How sure are you that the leading letter is a "D"? Is it a clear stamp, or could it be a "B" with the center missing?

It's a D with the center not stamped very well. There's a very good thread on identifying the various ABC models and someone else has a picture of a D serial number that looks identical to mine in that thread.

[BigFoot]

Great score Tom. I found the silver Shell once for $8.00 it was black. It polished up like brand new.

[MacDaddy]

It's a D with the center not stamped very well. There's a very good thread on identifying the various ABC models and someone else has a picture of a D serial number that looks identical to mine in that thread.

You're probably talking about BrianDiPalma's thread (http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/147111-Guide-to-American-Button-Company-Pocket-Edition-Sets-Part-One-Razors), and that's primarily why I asked. I'm not 100% convinced that the letter pictured there isn't a B. The glyph cuts out just as the top and bottom curve reach perpendicular, so you wouldn't necessarily see any inward turn the way the other commenters there were saying they'd expect. And the curve on the ends seem sharper than I'd expect for a "D" but look right for a "B."

I may have to dig through my own razors to find a B and D series that I can photograph to overlay the characters to compare. I've got an ABC set with the center almost completely gone, too, but enough of it's there to be definitely sure it's a B.

Mostly I'm interested in narrowing down an end date to the ABC-Gillette relationship.

[springerswimmer]

Have you used it yet? I have found the toothed DEs have quite a "bite"!

[HoosierTrooper]

You're probably talking about BrianDiPalma's thread (http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/147111-Guide-to-American-Button-Company-Pocket-Edition-Sets-Part-One-Razors), and that's primarily why I asked. I'm not 100% convinced that the letter pictured there isn't a B. The glyph cuts out just as the top and bottom curve reach perpendicular, so you wouldn't necessarily see any inward turn the way the other commenters there were saying they'd expect. And the curve on the ends seem sharper than I'd expect for a "D" but look right for a "B."

I may have to dig through my own razors to find a B and D series that I can photograph to overlay the characters to compare. I've got an ABC set with the center almost completely gone, too, but enough of it's there to be definitely sure it's a B.

Mostly I'm interested in narrowing down an end date to the ABC-Gillette relationship.

Mine looks identical to the one chukka posted the picture of in post 49 of that thread. It could very well be a B, the center is pretty much not visible. My daughter takes better photos than I do but she wasn't home when I took those. I'll get her to take saome better closeups when she's home. The last number in the serial number is also very hard to read but I'm 99% sure it's a 3.

[HoosierTrooper]

Have you used it yet? I have found the toothed DEs have quite a "bite"!

Yes I have and it's very similar to the other Old Types, I have a couple Single Rings and Ball End Old Types, which is about the only double edge razors I use anymore. It's definitely heavier than the hollow handle models.

[ssultan]

Very nice indeed! Good score Tom!

[KM-instructor]

Fantastic find Tom, well worth the money.

[HoosierTrooper]

You're probably talking about BrianDiPalma's thread (http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/147111-Guide-to-American-Button-Company-Pocket-Edition-Sets-Part-One-Razors), and that's primarily why I asked. I'm not 100% convinced that the letter pictured there isn't a B. The glyph cuts out just as the top and bottom curve reach perpendicular, so you wouldn't necessarily see any inward turn the way the other commenters there were saying they'd expect. And the curve on the ends seem sharper than I'd expect for a "D" but look right for a "B."

I may have to dig through my own razors to find a B and D series that I can photograph to overlay the characters to compare. I've got an ABC set with the center almost completely gone, too, but enough of it's there to be definitely sure it's a B.

Mostly I'm interested in narrowing down an end date to the ABC-Gillette relationship.

I borrowed pz93c's idea and used a black crayon to darken the serial number. What do you think it is?

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c150/farrarfan1/167.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c150/farrarfan1/166.jpg

[shipr]

Wow great find :thumbup1:

[MacDaddy]

I borrowed pz93c's idea and used a black crayon to darken the serial number. What do you think it is?

I'd say that's almost certainly a "B." You can see the top and bottom curves both start to hook back inward.

[Old Man Army]

Yes I have and it's very similar to the other Old Types, I have a couple Single Rings and Ball End Old Types, which is about the only double edge razors I use anymore. It's definitely heavier than the hollow handle models.

+1 I like the heavier handles of the Old Type ball end too.

[IronHammer]

Sweet find, Tom! Congrats! She's a real beauty :thumbup:

[ERVARGASNY]

Nice Find for 5 Buck's :thumbup1:

[GeorgeMason]

Definitely looks like a B to me, you can see how the curves curl in and not arc to meet like a D would

[Viseguy]

What a great find, HT! Five dollars!

[alex2363]

u lucky brat.....niceeee

[HoosierTrooper]

I'd say that's almost certainly a "B." You can see the top and bottom curves both start to hook back inward.


Based on the picture, I think it is a B. I have a shell pattern razor just like it as part of a set with the same B&D date code question. I finally did the same crayon trick and it did seem to look closer to the B. Also, the case is one of the very early ones consistent with a 1909 razor set. If I remember Brian's ABC thread correctly, there is some info in there or a reference suggesting that ABC stopped making these razors for Gillette before the war started. If true, then a D code is unlikely.


Definitely looks like a B to me, you can see how the curves curl in and not arc to meet like a D would

Then a B it is! I thought so as well after darkening it but wanted some other opinions. That makes it a 1911 then, which is really cool since it's now 100 years old.

[Mark1966]

I borrowed pz93c's idea and used a black crayon to darken the serial number. What do you think it is?



Great idea! On those pics I'd be guessing a B given the curves in the middle section before it 'fades' out

[Mike'sWorld]

If you're interested, empty cases (or with mismatched razors) for these come up frequently on the bay.

I'd be nice to have a complete set for a razor as nice as this.