NOS or MINT vintage razor maiden voyages.

axledobe · Feb 12, 2015

For those of you lucky enough to find a NOS or absolutely perfect vintage razor, how hard was it for you to take it on its maiden voyage? I'm the proud owner of a NOS 1955 (date code A1) Gillette ball end Tech as of today. Taking it out of the box tonight and giving it a good cleaning preparing it for its first shave in the morning hurt me a little. I mean, I'm not a collector but there's something about a perfect, unused 60 year old razor that makes me hesitant to use. I'm not 100% convinced I'll be able to reach for it in the morning come shave time.

Anyone else felt this way?

Stampede · Feb 12, 2015

I have a couple of mint never used but not NOS birth year razors, a 1948 Boxed SS with original blade dispenser, a 1948 cased Aristocrat never used, also with the original sealed blade dispenser. I have not been able to break down and use them however, I have backups of the same that I do use. I also have an cased English Thin Handle Flat Bottom Tech that the both the handle and the head are still sealed in the original cellophane. I don't have the heart to use that one as well.

craniac24 · Feb 12, 2015

Nope. It's meant to be used and enjoyed.

axledobe · Feb 12, 2015

Stampede said:
I have a couple of mint never used but not NOS birth year razors, a 1948 Boxed SS with original blade dispenser, a 1948 cased Aristocrat never used, also with the original sealed blade dispenser. I have not been able to break down and use them however, I have backups of the same that I do use. I also have an cased English Thin Handle Flat Bottom Tech that the both the handle and the head are still sealed in the original cellophane. I don't have the heart to use that one as well.

I have a 1949/1950 SS with the box that looks like the day it did new that I was able to use a few times. Now, it's in early retirement in my gun safe.

I have an English Tech that I love dearly and don't mind reaching for at all. I honestly thought it would be easy to use these and not think twice. I'm a little surprised about the heart tug.

dionesius3 · Feb 12, 2015

It's a Tech there were literally hundreds of millions of them made. Use that Tech and feel no pain. It's not all that valuable even sealed and in pefect condition packaging. $40-50 tops. And there are ten just like it if not better on ebay everyday.
I say it's worth more when used than just sitting on a shelf to be looked at.

TxHarleyGuy7 · Feb 12, 2015

axledobe said:
For those of you lucky enough to find a NOS or absolutely perfect vintage razor, how hard was it for you to take it on its maiden voyage? I'm the proud owner of a NOS 1955 (date code A1) Gillette ball end Tech as of today. Taking it out of the box tonight and giving it a good cleaning preparing it for its first shave in the morning hurt me a little. I mean, I'm not a collector but there's something about a perfect, unused 60 year old razor that makes me hesitant to use. I'm not 100% convinced I'll be able to reach for it in the morning come shave time.

Anyone else felt this way?

I hear ya'. Still haven't broken the seal on this yet:

axledobe · Feb 12, 2015

TxHarleyGuy7 said:
I hear ya'. Still haven't broken the seal on this yet:

Well hello beautiful.

MSstrahan · Feb 12, 2015

I have an NOS Adjustable Aristocrat. I also have a slim. I use the slim, and display the crat.

tukyou · Feb 12, 2015

Adjustable Aristocrat ?

zed117 · Feb 13, 2015

tukyou said:
Adjustable Aristocrat ?

Yep, its a gold plated slim with slightly different knurling.

armybuck041 · Feb 13, 2015

I've had both a NOS Executive and a Toggle. Couldn't bring myself to use either, so I sold both and bought a user grade Toggle instead. Both razors were bought by gentleman that have razor displays.

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Shiloh · Feb 13, 2015

craniac24 said:
Nope. It's meant to be used and enjoyed.

This. You should feel special to be the first user.

Corsair66 · Feb 13, 2015

I wouldn't use a truly NOS razor. To my mind, though, that's a vastly overused term. Regardless of condition, only a razor with impeccable provenance can be considered NOS, otherwise one just can't be sure.

Yours, however, has been handled and cleaned (at least), so it's not NOS. Shave and enjoy!

mswofford · Feb 13, 2015

Because of the price of NOS Gillette Techs I would not hesitate to use it; It's a wonderful razor. More costly NOS razors are a tougher call.

MicBaldy · Feb 13, 2015

If you don't plan to ever sell it, then use it. Otherwise keep it NOS.

modyblu · Feb 13, 2015

Last year, I bought myself a '56 Red Tip in that was NOS. I held on to it for a few months before I used it
I'm glad I did as I really like it, the Red Tip shaves great!
I way over paid for it, which made it hard at first to use it.

jcs266 · Feb 13, 2015

Enjoy it! I have an immaculate A-1 '55 Super Speed and it's my #2. I really enjoy this little piece of yesteryear.

BSAGuy · Feb 13, 2015

I agree. If a razor has survived for 50-60 years or more and is truly "NOS" with papers and accessories, I could not bring myself to use it. On the other hand, if it is extremely nice, but use is apparent in the past, I would not hesitate to tee it up.

mswofford said:
Because of the price of NOS Gillette Techs I would not hesitate to use it; It's a wonderful razor. More costly NOS razors are a tougher call.

BSAGuy · Feb 13, 2015

Wow!! Those are simply gorgeous razors! Thanks for the pics.

armybuck041 said:
I've had both a NOS Executive and a Toggle. Couldn't bring myself to use either, so I sold both and bought a user grade Toggle instead. Both razors were bought by gentleman that have razor displays.

View attachment 548510

View attachment 548511

nuclearblast · Feb 13, 2015

tukyou said:
Adjustable Aristocrat ?

zed117 said:
Yep, its a gold plated slim with slightly different knurling.

Yup, the Aristocrat Adjustable is a gold plated Slim. The knurling is the same as the nickel Slim though. The gold plated Fatboy (Executive Adjustable like the one Scotty posted above) is the one with different knurling.

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NOS or MINT vintage razor maiden voyages.

axledobe

Stampede

craniac24

axledobe

dionesius3

TxHarleyGuy7

axledobe

MSstrahan

tukyou

zed117

armybuck041

Shiloh

Corsair66

mswofford

Rest in Peace

MicBaldy

modyblu

jcs266

BSAGuy

BSAGuy

nuclearblast

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