Flare Tip Super Speeds....differences?

[Pumpkin]

Hi gents,

I see that on the Wiki there's now a mention of "differences" between Flare Tips.

Would the following help clarify a bit?






In both photos the razor on the left is a B3 (1956) on the right is a K4 (1965).
To my eye the B3 has a higher head (approx. 1mm).

The weights are slightly different as well: B3 is 58g, K4 is 56g

[Pumpkin]

Having seen the photos I noticed more differences:

Here's the heads with the doors open. Again B3 is on left.

[cardboard]

I do miss my 57 SS, the rattling in my 63 gets to me sometimes. But it went to a good home.

[njpaddy]

Notice any differences in shaving between them? So far all my SS have been 40's style.

[Pumpkin]

Notice any differences in shaving between them? So far all my SS have been 40's style.

Haven't shaved with the K4 yet....saving it for today's shave Will post if there's a noticeable difference.

[Oldguy]

Gillette changed the Super Speed head design to a lower profile at some point in the very early '60's. I believe after 1962 all head designs were of the lower profile. I notice a difference in the shave and the cutting sound between the two styles.

Len

[mmack66]

IMO, the later flare tip razors were not as well constructed as the earlier flare tips. I had an L2 razor that suffered a catatrophic failure when one of the clips that hold the end cap on broke, rendering the razor totally useless. On the later ones, the end cap secures the doors to the razor, as opposed to the earlier ones where the end cap is basically a trim piece.

[Pumpkin]

Notice any differences in shaving between them? So far all my SS have been 40's style.

Just shaved with the K4 ('65) Flare Tip, loaded with a 2nd shave Feather.

It's noticeably lighter than my B3 and doesn't feel quite as solid. Although it's still worlds apart from Gillette's modern plastic offerings. I'd happily go along with the opinions that 50's Supers are built like tanks, this is built like an APC!

The lower profile head is REALLY noticeable...especially under my nose...got a much closer first pass here than with the B3.

Overall conclusion; another excellent razor to have in my rotation!

[BroJohn]

The Superspeeds were made from the '40s into the mid-'80s. Over this several-decade long run that produced millions of razors, the entire design, head geometry, and all of the materials changed several times. The design, materials, embellishments, finish, etc., of a late '50s SS is completely different from a late-'40s; and the SS's from the 60's, '70's, and into the '80s show this same progression.

The common thread is that in the Superspeed, Gillette produced a good quality, reliable, middle of the road, fixed head, TTO, good shaving razor at modest cost --by the millions-- for the shaving public. There are many models and variants spanning the 40 or so years of production.

Frankly, they all seem to shave pretty well and all were of excellent quality, both mechanically and cosmetically. The low profile head was introduced in '60, and the profile was further 'flattened' in the mid-70's. I consider the mid-50's to be the golden age of the Superspeed.

-- John Gehman