PDA

View Full Version : Gillette Brushes


shaved_*****
04-10-2009, 09:25 AM
I am a Gillette enthusiast so I hardly ever find myself posting outside of the Safety Razor thread but here is one for you brush guys...

Some of you have possibly seen the old travel kits Gillette used to make with the small travel brushes... this is from a 1914 catalog:
http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk202/cuahtemoc123/1914Catalog.jpg

These travel brushes are most common but when Gillette started in the brush industry they actually made full size brushes too. Here is a page from a catalog from 1909 (6 years after they started making razors):
http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk202/cuahtemoc123/1909Catalog.jpg

A snippet from the Saturday Evening Post 1911:
http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk202/cuahtemoc123/1911ad.jpg

And then later ca. 1916 they stopped using high quality badger hair:
http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk202/cuahtemoc123/1916_catalogbrushes.jpg

Here are a few of the travel brushes I own:
http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk202/cuahtemoc123/IMG_0839.jpg
http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk202/cuahtemoc123/IMG_0849.jpg
The earlier brushes are on the right.

Enjoy!
The Real McCoy
04-10-2009, 09:31 AM
wow- very nice examples of early Gillette brushes. The ones I have found are usually beat up and shedding.

Ever think of taking one of these old school brushes for a spin (no pun intended)?

:wink:
Rudy Vey
04-10-2009, 11:02 AM
Wow, beautiful old brushes! I like the containers, too.
heirkb
04-10-2009, 01:59 PM
I think you should restore one. Unless you're a true hardcore collector.
The Real McCoy
04-10-2009, 02:21 PM
I think you should restore one. Unless you're a true hardcore collector.

have you seen his collection thread? http://www.badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=80223

I think that qualifies him as hard core!
ambrose
04-10-2009, 04:05 PM
Wow very awesome :smile:
Henrique
04-11-2009, 10:31 AM
So nice! Thanks for posting this!
TSWebster
04-11-2009, 10:53 AM
Cool collection you have there. I keep hoping to find one of these in good condition, even if I just got a nice handle and put a new knot in it.

Does anyone actually have one of the larger brushes?
thirdeye
04-11-2009, 11:05 AM
Nice bunch of brushes and the ads are awesome. I have a few myself in various kits as well. I should put them all together and take a picture like you did, very cool....Thanks for sharing this with us.
shaved_*****
04-11-2009, 12:40 PM
Cool collection you have there. I keep hoping to find one of these in good condition, even if I just got a nice handle and put a new knot in it.

Does anyone actually have one of the larger brushes?

I haven't see the large brushes from this era. I believe the only reason the travel brushes are around is because the original owners would just leave the brushes in the silver or gold canisters and never throw the sets away. If someone does have a large one, I would like to see it.
shaved_*****
04-11-2009, 12:42 PM
Nice bunch of brushes and the ads are awesome. I have a few myself in various kits as well. I should put them all together and take a picture like you did, very cool....Thanks for sharing this with us.

Thanks and you should show your brushes I would really enjoy seeing them.
napoleon
06-09-2009, 11:35 AM
Anyone know the dimensions of these brushes? Loft, handle height, knot?
turbine712
06-09-2009, 06:23 PM
Nice looking brushes. I need to find some like that.
JEEP
06-10-2009, 12:38 AM
Here is a Gillette boar travel brush I found recently:


http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e259/Jakobeep/Vintage/Gillette_Brush_01_01.jpg

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e259/Jakobeep/Vintage/Gillette_Brush_01_02.jpg


The handle is made from nickeled brass. The bottom says: Whiting Adams. Trade VULCAN Mark. Rubber Cemented

I have considered getting it re-knotted, but due to it's tiny size and a crack in the handle I will leave it as it is and use it as a display piece instead.


Regards.

Jakob
TSWebster
06-10-2009, 01:07 AM
I just got one of these in the mail myself and it sure is tiny. I don't have a Wee Scot to compare but I'd estimate that they are about the same.
luvmysuper
06-10-2009, 03:11 PM
shaved *****, I have a travel gillette that looks very similar to the one identified in your 1916 ad as 103a

Any identifiers to try to date these? The tube looks like the ad, and the end cap has the pointed Gillette "G".
shaved_*****
06-10-2009, 08:45 PM
shaved *****, I have a travel gillette that looks very similar to the one identified in your 1916 ad as 103a

Any identifiers to try to date these? The tube looks like the ad, and the end cap has the pointed Gillette "G".

Yeah, I've noticed that brushed from the early teens had more of a silver tip type of knot while the brushes from the late teens had those salt'n'pepper looking knots like yours.