Question for those owning vintage Gillette razors...

**Jakpro** · 07-19-2012, 08:28 PM

Originally Posted by InfernoOrangeSS

Any suggestions on clean up if and when I buy a vintage Gillette? What do you guys do to clean them before actually using them?

Here you go:
http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/Razor...nd_restoration

**T-Box215** · 07-19-2012, 08:33 PM

I have a '58 Gillette Exec. Fatboy that was owned by my grandfather. I love that razor, if I had to keep just one of my DE's it would be the Fatboy. They are such smooth shavers, I get less irritation from my Fatboy than any other razor. I can throw in a Feather, and be just fine with a three pass shave. My modern DE's are: Merkur 23c, Merkur Progress, Muhle r41. For learning purposes I'm currently only using my Hart Steel Series 1 straight razor, doing my best not to revert back to DE's until I've mastered the straight.

**InfernoOrangeSS** · 07-19-2012, 08:50 PM

Originally Posted by Jakpro

Here you go:
http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/Razor...nd_restoration

Thank you so much for that!
How good is that Metalwax cleaner from those who have used it?

**bakerbk73** · 07-19-2012, 09:53 PM

I'd absolutely recommend vintage. Great bang for the buck as far as quality goes and they're still cheap enough that you can build a fine collection in no time. I have one that I prefer to all others, but I do rotate them through and each one will spend a day or two on the sink before I either go back to my favorite or another takes it's place. I like the TTO's, so I primarily have those but I also have others that I'll try out (3 pieces and SE's). I love shaving with a razor that my grandfather probably wished that he could afford back in his day.

**chongo gordo** · 07-19-2012, 11:47 PM

My new Fatip is the exception to my collection. I have several old Gillettes, they work great. Kinda cool shaving with a hunnert-year old razor.

Get one!

**Topgumby** · 07-19-2012, 11:53 PM

I shave every day with vintage razors.

Kind of odd, but then again, I trust my life to a pistol designed in 1911.

**ItsAllGravy** · 07-20-2012, 01:45 AM

i've got a 1960 fatboy, 1961 slim, 1960/1970's English Tech which i use. My only new razor is a Merkur 34c which was the first DE razor i bought.

when i get them, i put the vintage ones in a cup of boiling water, then in a tub full of dettol for about 20 minutes and rinse them off.

**dcobranchi** · 07-20-2012, 02:27 AM

Add another to the list of vintage only. My oldest razor is from somewhere around 1902. My "newest" is, I think, an injector from the '70s. The modern ones are pretty but I haven't (yet) caught a modern razor AD.

**rwdflynavy** · 07-20-2012, 02:46 AM

I own one new Merkur that I never use. Otherwise it is all vintage. I have a birth quarter Slim that is my daily driver, love it!!

**RailroadMan** · 07-20-2012, 03:07 AM

Originally Posted by Topgumby

I shave every day with vintage razors.Kind of odd, but then again, I trust my life to a pistol designed in 1911.

Why would you trust your life with anything less? Also my pistol of choice. Anyway, on the razors, after some flea market/junk store trips, and my dad's foray into RAD, I have around 80 razors. Most are user grade. Wxcept for the R41, DE89, 37C, and Goodfella, I have tried:Hoffritz slant, Old type, LC New, SC New, New Improved, Star, Some German 3 piece, 3 piece tech (ball end, fat handle, travel), 40s style SS (reg and black tip), Superspeed (flare, red, and blue tip and black handle), Slim adj., Fatboy, Black beauty, Knack, Senator, Late 40s Aristocrat, and a Schick Krona all with different results. They all are great.

**soulska** · 07-20-2012, 04:59 AM

only new razor I have was my first merkur. haven't used that in months. the vintage gillettes have taken over.

**RaiserLiebe** · 07-20-2012, 05:30 AM

Originally Posted by InfernoOrangeSS

Any suggestions on clean up if and when I buy a vintage Gillette? What do you guys do to clean them before actually using them?

There are a couple of threads to get you started:
http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/Safety_razor_maintenance and
http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/Razor...nd_restoration

You can search through the Brotherhood of the Open Comb thread. It's a monster-long thread- 300 pages- but many there are actively buying older razors to use or collect, so how to clean and sterilize comes up frequently there- often with before and after pictures. For example, I describe the method and show pictures for cleaning up a cruddy Gillette Bar handle New here http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthr...t=#post4166413

Cheers!

**oakeshott** · 07-20-2012, 05:48 AM

Originally Posted by InfernoOrangeSS

I was just wondering how many actually use these old razors. Are they still as reliable as a new safety razor? I really like the look of older vintage Gillettes. I'm sure some just have them as a collection. Just curious as to what you guys do with them.
Thank you!

I use old razors and am married to an old broad. Both work FANTASTIC and are preferable to their modern counterparts. Sure, they may require a little more work or maintenance for optimum performance, but it's worth it. (Insert mischievous emoticon HERE)

**rxonmymind** · 07-20-2012, 06:52 AM

On cleaning. Whatever you do don't use Never Dull. ;) Take the finish right off.

**turtle** · 07-20-2012, 06:55 AM

Originally Posted by InfernoOrangeSS

I was just wondering how many actually use these old razors. Are they still as reliable as a new safety razor? I really like the look of older vintage Gillettes. I'm sure some just have them as a collection. Just curious as to what you guys do with them.
Thank you!

What's with all of this "old" or "vintage" talk.....

I shaved with a Gillette super adjustable for over 40 years. It was NEW when I bought it and today it is still just as nice a razor as it was the day I popped it out of the packaging. I still use it on a regular basis right along with the scores of other DE razors I now own

**Rschan** · 07-20-2012, 06:57 AM

Originally Posted by greenhornet7897

I only use vintage razors also you can't beat perfection.

+1

**ironfisted** · 07-20-2012, 07:01 AM

Put my vote in the vintage column as well. I love my slim adjustable and use it every day. I also have a Merkur but I keep it at the office in case I need an emergency shave.

**colnagoglyn** · 07-20-2012, 07:07 AM

I have a 59 Fatboy, a 63 Slim and a current SS feather and rotate them equally, the Gillettes I have to say feel as good as new and in no way inferior to the Feather. In fact they probably perform better than the feather(even though I always get great results from the feather).
I also have a Pils and Merkur Vision 2000 which I use least of all of my Razors.

**ackvil** · 07-20-2012, 07:09 AM

I own a FB and Slim that I bought when they came out and have been using them continuously. I also have two New OC Gillettes. All are great razors and are in my rotation.

**ladykate** · 07-20-2012, 07:26 AM

Well... the consensus is that vintage is as good and maybe better than new. I have old, I have new, I use the old ones - mostly Red Tips for touch up or head shaving. Straights, if you decide to go there, are the same. Old is good, new (in some cases) is good, old gives you great satisfaction - new (like a Hart) gives you great satisfaction...

I think the new DE razors, as a whole, are reliable and very good no matter which model you choose. Not so with straights. There are good new ones (custom, Dovo, Ti, Hart, etc) but there are hundreds of terrible choices. Old is the, relatively, safe way to go with straights.

If you start collecting razors, the easy way to disinfect them is to use scrubbing bubbles or dip them in Barbicide (available online or in Sally Beauty if you are stateside). Use an old tooth brush to get out any gunk. Unless you are just wanting a specific razor, you can usually pick them up already cleaned up so disinfecting is all that is needed.