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??
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.
Interesting question.
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)
- Gold Toggle (F series)
- Red Dot Fatboy
More commonly available
- British Aristocrats (rhodium, gold and silver plated)
- Rhodium Executive
- President
- Diplomat
- 1934 Aristocrat (US)
- British 'Popular' models
- Gold 'Fatboy' Executive
- Aristocrat Junior
- British Rockets
- Senator and Sheraton
- Ranger Tech
- Aristocrats
- 'Fatboy' Adjustables
- Milord and Milady
- Slim Adjustables
- 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 anythign obvious have I?
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.
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
Where would the adjustable aristocrat fit in this mix?
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.
Interesting question.
More commonly available
QUOTE]
- 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
my quibble would be with the position of the british popular models- they seem harder to find than the president, diplomat, and british aristocrats and command prices in line with the british aristocrats, esp with matching cases.
my quibble would be with the position of the british popular models- they seem harder to find than the president, diplomat, and british aristocrats and command prices in line with the british aristocrats, esp with matching cases.
To the OP - is this helpful?
Arguably, after a Diplomat to me.Where would the adjustable aristocrat fit in this mix?