I know there are many variables, but all things being considered, is there any kind of value "hierarchy" for the nicer Gillette TTO's? E.g., British Rocket, Aristocrat, Executive, President, Diplomat, Others??
Relative values of nicer TTO's
- Thread starter skvinson
- Start date
Since I was "Born in the U.S.A., I'm a long gone daddy in the U.S.A."
Value as to my quality of shave and not monetary,to be sure.
President, Diplomat, Aristocrat...I'll let the rest harp on the Brits.
I have a preference for the ones from the 1950's and made in USA ( not unlike myself - or is that CSA, hehe).
The President is my choice with its golden twin Diplomat just as nice.
I have a lot of Aristocrats, too. I even have the first production year model which are very nice,as well, but not TTO.
At the very top of my rotation is a 1953 President with a feather blade in it more often than not. A Pomco slant takes second spot in my rotation ( arguably a TTO ) but for a different kind of shave. To me, The President has a very elegant quasi classical column handle look and gives me a very soothing fine shave and would be like this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLaY2VcIEqo and the Pomco would be more like , well, this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pe7ioFYAOE&feature=related
Value as to my quality of shave and not monetary,to be sure.
President, Diplomat, Aristocrat...I'll let the rest harp on the Brits.
I have a preference for the ones from the 1950's and made in USA ( not unlike myself - or is that CSA, hehe).
The President is my choice with its golden twin Diplomat just as nice.
I have a lot of Aristocrats, too. I even have the first production year model which are very nice,as well, but not TTO.
At the very top of my rotation is a 1953 President with a feather blade in it more often than not. A Pomco slant takes second spot in my rotation ( arguably a TTO ) but for a different kind of shave. To me, The President has a very elegant quasi classical column handle look and gives me a very soothing fine shave and would be like this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLaY2VcIEqo and the Pomco would be more like , well, this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pe7ioFYAOE&feature=related
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I would say that the silver ones with the swirly handles, American or England, are at the top, followed by the President/Diplomat, then the rest. That is just my uninformed opinion, though.
Gold toggle is going to be the highest most likely and a regular production Superspeed at the bottom.
Interesting question.
Relative values encompasses both the quality of shave and desirability and the rarity value. So my guess would be:
Rarer pieces
More commonly available
Now I KNOW that somebody will object to this ordering and I'm aware that the British categories are rather broad but I don't think I've missed anything obvious have I?
Edit: List updated but I've still failed to include the Tan Tipped Super Speed - would that be at the very top
Relative values encompasses both the quality of shave and desirability and the rarity value. So my guess would be:
Rarer pieces
- 'Prototype' Toggle
- Bottom Dial 195 Adjustable ( I think this comes in 1-5 and 1-9 variants with the former rarer)
- Prototype SuperSpeed (which may or may not exist according to discussion here)
- Anglo-American Aristocrat
- Regent Tech
- Chrome Toggle
- Gold Toggle (D series)
- Rhodium Executive
- Gold Toggle (F series)
- Red Dot Fatboy
More commonly available
- British Aristocrats (rhodium, gold and silver plated)
- President
- Diplomat
- 1934 Aristocrat (US)
- British 'Popular' models
- Gold 'Fatboy' Executive
- Lady Gillette - pink
- Aristocrat Junior
- British Rockets (rarer variants such as the gold plated ones and the numbered sets, #58 and #59)
- 'Fatboy' Adjustables
- Senator and Sheraton
- Ranger Tech
- Lady Gillette - champagne
- 1940s Aristocrats
- British Rockets (more common variants)
- 1960s Aristocrats (gold 'slim' adjustables)
- Super Adjustables
- Milord and Milady
- Slim Adjustables
- Lady Gillette - blue
- SuperSpeeds
Now I KNOW that somebody will object to this ordering and I'm aware that the British categories are rather broad but I don't think I've missed anything obvious have I?
Edit: List updated but I've still failed to include the Tan Tipped Super Speed - would that be at the very top
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- Thread starter
- #6
I love the "swirly" handles. I've seen them on Aristocrats and Executives. What other models were made with this pattern?
I'm not sure I disagree with your list based upon my own perception of value, but based upon recent selling prices, the Fatboy should be above the Rockets.
I generally agree with Mark's Rating. I would rate the rhodium executive in the rarer category and definitely above the british aristocrats. It was only made for 1 year, and you see FAR fewer of them than British Aristocrats. Also, it was $10 in 1952, making it more expensive than even the $10 Serial Numbered Toggle than came out in 1957. I would go so far as to rate it above the F4 toggle and the Red Dot. I would rate it below the D1 toggle
EDIT: Other than this one discrepancy, I'd say his ranking is pretty much right on the money
EDIT: Other than this one discrepancy, I'd say his ranking is pretty much right on the money
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The swirly handles are generally referred to as 'barber-pole' knurling I think and they are most commonly rhodium plated but some do some in silver plating I believe - Archim or others might correct this though.
I got lazy and included the Rockets (and British Aristocrats) as a broad category but I think you are right about recent selling patterns and have 'clarified' the original post.
Well your comment is high praise and on reflection I think you are correct. I've only seen one or maybe two of the rhodium Execs for sale since I've been collecting and the one I have picked up is missing end caps so I am still looking!
Based on this feedback I've made some changes to the earlier post - I'd love the comments and feedback of others.To the OP - is this helpful?
Do you mean the 1960s Aristocrat? Good point - I've added it in along with the Super Adjustables and Lady Gillettes
Surely this will just mean more objections now!
the old bulldog was plated in silver and gold (not tto though) and the #70 in nickel.
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I like the one that scrapes my beard off while leaving skin.
Highly technical matter.
An axe and a chainsaw can both take a tree down. A bulldozer would work too.
At the end of the day you just have to go with what you like and live it.
For the money is no option collector crowd I suspect double ring, Darwin, eclipse, and British barberpoles are where it's at.
A NOS toggle is a no brainer.
A new COONCAT BOB is outstanding and hard to compare to old production models.
I do love a nice injector shave my President is amazing with a med personna.
My RAD killer will be a slant hoffritz with travel case.
Highly technical matter.
An axe and a chainsaw can both take a tree down. A bulldozer would work too.
At the end of the day you just have to go with what you like and live it.
For the money is no option collector crowd I suspect double ring, Darwin, eclipse, and British barberpoles are where it's at.
A NOS toggle is a no brainer.
A new COONCAT BOB is outstanding and hard to compare to old production models.
I do love a nice injector shave my President is amazing with a med personna.
My RAD killer will be a slant hoffritz with travel case.
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They are harder to find, but I don't think they are more expensive than the razors mentioned. Rarity doesn't always coincide with value. The president and diplomat shave the same as a 40's aristocrat, which, in my personal opinion, is quite possibly the worst razor gillette ever made.
- Thread starter
- #17
This has all been very helpful. I've learned a great deal through this thread. Thanks!
Well, I agree but for British Rocket section there will be 1958 TV set which was rhodium plated, imho.
Arguably, after a Diplomat to me.
Do the #66 and #88 fall into the British "popular" models?
