Some unique shaving history...

[Mark1966]

I picked this up recently on eBay, it arrived earlier this week.

When the package arrived I was pleasantly surprised that the original shipper was included -



It was sent out from a New York market research company to a man in Albuquerque New Mexico. Opening the box gives you a clear message! -



The document is directions from the market research firm. They have since been taken over but a quick Google search indicates a strong link to tobacco research!. Anyway, here are the directions (click on the link to see a larger original) -



Under the paperwork we have, the razor (note the instructions sheet too) -



The 'mark' on the silo doors is a reflection in the picture, the red band painted on the handle is original -



So there you go, a little bit of shaving history.

[alex2363]

here is the document, thanks for sharing this

[Legion]

Nice! I have an English version of the same model razor, although not a test one, of course. Cool score.

[MDH4671]

What model razor is this thanx

[global_dev]

the knack by gillette

[mos6502]

Very interesting. I wonder if the red mark has a reason? Perhaps to keep it from possibly getting confused with other razors?

[DrBerko]

Nice. I have a knack, not as nice as yours. It is a nice shaver.

[haiti222]

The red mark may also have been added so someone at Gillette or the Market Research firm did not try to sell a whole bunch of them to a drugstore or discounter.

[ERVARGASNY]

Wow mark, you and Jake Always find some nice pretty Interesting stuff :o)

OK now whats next :o)

[celestino]

Great find!! Enjoy!

[Mark1966]

The red mark may also have been added so someone at Gillette or the Market Research firm did not try to sell a whole bunch of them to a drugstore or discounter.

It is definitely painted on post production. The production quality I'll compare with my other Knack on the weekend.

I said in the OP that it was sent out from a New York market research company - their return address is on the mailing label. Note that the postmark though is Boston, Mass - where I believe Gillette had their production facilities and headquarters in the 1970s

[Prince]

Wow - that is fantastic. Looks brand new. Can't believe it costs more to ship a letter now than it did originally for that package.

[Mark1966]

Wow - that is fantastic. Looks brand new. Can't believe it costs more to ship a letter now than it did originally for that package.

LOL - didn't notice that!

[stuart12dz]

Thanks for sharing, Mark. I have a Knack (Made in England) with a W-4 date code. It came in a zippered travel case and I use it as my travel razor. It is basically a Super Speed with a longer handle and an excellent shaver.

[Mark1966]

I love the way the accompanying letter indicates that you should 'be sure to read the instructions ... before you begin shaving'.

As you can see the 'instructions' are a one page sheet with guidance on opening, loading and closing. I'm left to wonder:

1. How hard could any of those procedures be?
2. How could you actually begin shaving if you had not loaded a blade?

In another bizarre co-incidence when our family went to NYC for the first time in December 2010 and when I went back in June 2011 we stayed in apartments at 307 East 44^th Street - less than two minutes walk away from the 801 Second Avenue address of the marketing company, if fact we regularly walked past that building! OK, maybe not so interesting to others but I find it funny

[Mark1966]

I should mention too that the address shown on the shipper (but blocked out in the pic) is still there in Albuquerque - I've had a look on street view!

The parcel was addressed to Wilbur F Cronk (born 13 May 1907). I'd blocked out his name as well but a little more research indicates that he died in 1998 at the age of 91 and is buried locally in Albuquerque. His obituary can be read here.

So I wonder what happened to this between 1998 and it being sold to me via a seller in Clovis CA on eBay?

[Mark1966]

Wow mark, you and Jake Always find some nice pretty Interesting stuff :o)

OK now whats next :o)

Still waiting to find my quadruple gold-plated double ring - now THAT would be a find!

[ltjaw]

I guess Mr. Cronk decided not to help them test the new razor.

[Mark1966]

I guess Mr. Cronk decided not to help them test the new razor.

It doesn't look much like it! He was 64 at the time so we can cut him some slack I think.

[Dalejr]

I guess Mr. Cronk decided not to help them test the new razor.

I want to think that they called him, he answered and said yup it's a great shaver even though he never used it