Gillette new old new improved

How can you tell these razors apart?

I know they are mostly open combs.

If there is one to look out for what razor would it be?

Thanks......

Here's a good place to start learning:

http://www.mr-razor.com/Rasierer/Gillette Rasierer.htm

Basically there's only one Old Type head, it uses studs as alignment system, and the base plate is curved:



The New Improved still uses studs to align the blade,but the base plate is flat and thicker:



The NEWs can be a bit harder to ID as there's quite a few different versions. The NEWs DO NOT have studs, the rails align the blade.

Important to know that there's many other versions of the NEW, but Achim's site is a good place to see the others, this is just to cover the basics.

There's other versions of the LC and SC with different handles and/plating but the heads are the same. Then there's the English NEWs ...but most of those English heads are similar to the Long Comb NEW.

Long Comb:



The Short Comb, notice that on the SC the logo is stamped on the center of the base plate:



And the Deluxe models with completely flat bottoms:

Great synopsis, Edgar. Achim's pictures are tremendous quality and very comprehensive.

BSAGuy said:

Great synopsis, Edgar. Achim's pictures are tremendous quality and very comprehensive.

Click to expand...

They're huge too ... But yes, Achim's pics are a HUGE help.

What Edgar said.

Here's an algorithm for you (minus the formatting):

Question 1) Does the razor have studs going through the baseplate?

Yes? 1a) Is the basplate curved?

Yes? It's an Old Type
No? It's a New Improved

No? 2) Is the baseplate completely flat through the middle?

Yes? It's a NEW Deluxe
No? Go to Question 3.

3) Is the logo stamp in the middle of the baseplate?

Yes? It's a short-comb NEW
No? It's a long-comb NEW

kingfisher said:

What Edgar said.

Here's an algorithm for you (minus the formatting):

Question 1) Does the razor have studs going through the baseplate?

Yes? 1a) Is the basplate curved?

Yes? It's an Old Type
No? It's a New Improved

No? 2) Is the baseplate completely flat through the middle?

Yes? It's a NEW Deluxe
No? Go to Question 3.

3) Is the logo stamp in the middle of the baseplate?

Yes? It's a short-comb NEW
No? It's a long-comb NEW

Click to expand...

Excellent, this sums it up pretty nicely!

Nice, thanks
I have been hesitant to pick up any of those razors due to my lack of knowledge on he subject.
I can ID almost all the Gillette's from the 50's+ this will help ALLOT.

Cool....