Bostonian value

[highball]

This thread makes me proud to be a Bostonian owner. Mine is a hodgepodge, as the case came with a NEW in it (online auction), and I found the razor at a second hand shop.

My favorite part of this rig, besides the great shave, is the tag, now in two pieces...The front reads "Gillette - known the world over- $5.00", and on the back in cursive is penciled "June 23rd, 1923 Johnston, PA".

I wonder why that Saturday? How did the NEW get in there? What happened to the original case for the Razor I found? How did it come to the Seattle area?

I know one thing, after reading this thread I'll not be tempted to straighten that tooth!

I checked an inflation calculator - that $5 in 1923 woud run $62.57 in 2008. I paid $5 for the razor...for the NEW and the case I popped $15.95, shipped.

Nice score. You must be the guy that picked all the second hand shops clean in this area

 

[Topgumby]

Luc, that kit I have might be in "better shape" than the you and Darjeeling Express have in common, but yours is by far the better story.

I merely picked up trinkets at a junk-shop and an auction, but you have taken something that could have ended as just a bad Ebay experience and turned it in to an item to be treasured for a lifetime and an example of what is best in this community, and perhaps planted the foundations of a friendship.

My hat is off to both of you.

 

[Darjeeling Express]

Luc, that kit I have might be in "better shape" than the you and Darjeeling Express have in common, but yours is by far the better story.

I merely picked up trinkets at a junk-shop and an auction, but you have taken something that could have ended as just a bad Ebay experience and turned it in to an item to be treasured for a lifetime and an example of what is best in this community, and perhaps planted the foundations of a friendship.

My hat is off to both of you.

TopGumby, beautiful stuff and your thoughts are very gracious. Much appreciated.

 

[Luc]

Luc, that kit I have might be in "better shape" than the you and Darjeeling Express have in common, but yours is by far the better story.

I merely picked up trinkets at a junk-shop and an auction, but you have taken something that could have ended as just a bad Ebay experience and turned it in to an item to be treasured for a lifetime and an example of what is best in this community, and perhaps planted the foundations of a friendship.

My hat is off to both of you.

Well thanks!

Every razor has a story and part of this one is in here. I love what Joe did with it!

 

[Luc]

I received a package in the mail today... After a lost fight with Joe, he found my address on the back of the package as required by any internationnal package. Joe was kind enough to send me a lot of razor blades to sample! That is a very nice gesture and was not necessary. Tip of hat to your side!

 

[Henrique]

I received a package in the mail today... After a lost fight with Joe, he found my address on the back of the package as required by any internationnal package. Joe was kind enough to send me a lot of razor blades to sample! That is a very nice gesture and was not necessary. Tip of hat to your side!

I see he is a resourceful guy.

 

[Darjeeling Express]

O.K. Here we go. I had no inclination to restore the original case, but Jakespoppy and Bushranger encouraged me. I went to Manhattan and its Lower East Side today. During the late 19th and early 20th century, several waves of Jewish immigration landed in Manhattan's lower east side, seeking religious tolerance. Tradespeople, many settled into the garment industry. Now the Lower East Side is gentrified, with few vestiges of this Yiddish speaking community. A number of fabric houses do remain. Closed on Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath, Joe's Fabric Warehouse is an Aladin's Cave of fine fabric. It caters to high end designers and vintage razor hobbyists.
I went there today and found an exact match for the signature Gillette purple velvet. While the razor rests on velvet, the Bostonian/Gillette logo is printed on a different fabric, something more akin to satin with a high silk content. I found this at a different shop, I wish I could remember the name, but it was not nearly as fancy and closer to what a such a shop may have looked like in days of yore.

So with Jake and Bush's encouragement, I repaired the platform mechanism in the case and restored it to its almost original glory. Enjoy.

 

[Darjeeling Express]

The pics continue

 

[Darjeeling Express]

Finale.

 

[thirdeye]

That's pretty slick work there my friend. Great job!!!

 

[Luc]

Very nice work indeed! This is one nice restoration! Thanks for sharing!

 

[Darjeeling Express]

Thanks guys, I can not tell you the amount of satisfaction this project has given me. The pleasure has been mine.

 

[jakespoppy]

This is such an awesome story! One little razor, made over 90 years ago, coming so close to being ignonomously discarded as worthless trash, picked up by a gentlemen in Melbourne, who shared his discovery, including most excellent pictures, with many others all over the world via modern electronic technology. Generously sending the razor to a new friend in Brooklyn, who drew on Old World craftsmen's sources for supplies to restore both the razor and the special, unique case that housed the razor to its former glorious state of beauty and usefulness, and then shared the results with the rest of us!

I thought of how technology has made the world such a smaller place and enabled us to make contact with people we would otherwise never have met. But the real story is how, with all the sad things that are happening in the world, there are still fine displays of generosity, trust, friendhip, and comraderie.

I know its just a little, old razor, but many thanks to Luc in Melbourne and Joe in Brooklyn for making me feel a little better about the world in which we live.

 

[Darjeeling Express]

This is such an awesome story! One little razor, made over 90 years ago, coming so close to being ignonomously discarded as worthless trash, picked up by a gentlemen in Melbourne, who shared his discovery, including most excellent pictures, with many others all over the world via modern electronic technology. Generously sending the razor to a new friend in Brooklyn, who drew on Old World craftsmen's sources for supplies to restore both the razor and the special, unique case that housed the razor to its former glorious state of beauty and usefulness, and then shared the results with the rest of us!

I thought of how technology has made the world such a smaller place and enabled us to make contact with people we would otherwise never have met. But the real story is how, with all the sad things that are happening in the world, there are still fine displays of generosity, trust, friendhip, and comraderie.

I know its just a little, old razor, but many thanks to Luc in Melbourne and Joe in Brooklyn for making me feel a little better about the world in which we live.

Jake, how beautifully said. You touched my heart. I'm signing off for tonight, will check in tomorrow. Be well all.

 

[Luc]

This is such an awesome story! One little razor, made over 90 years ago, coming so close to being ignonomously discarded as worthless trash, picked up by a gentlemen in Melbourne, who shared his discovery, including most excellent pictures, with many others all over the world via modern electronic technology. Generously sending the razor to a new friend in Brooklyn, who drew on Old World craftsmen's sources for supplies to restore both the razor and the special, unique case that housed the razor to its former glorious state of beauty and usefulness, and then shared the results with the rest of us!

I thought of how technology has made the world such a smaller place and enabled us to make contact with people we would otherwise never have met. But the real story is how, with all the sad things that are happening in the world, there are still fine displays of generosity, trust, friendhip, and comraderie.

I know its just a little, old razor, but many thanks to Luc in Melbourne and Joe in Brooklyn for making me feel a little better about the world in which we live.

Thanks Jake for the kind words!

 

[ctakim]

Hats off to Joe and to Luc. This was clearly a labor of love. Yet another example of why I love this hobby!

 

[SRock]

That's pretty slick work there my friend. Great job!!!

Indeed, very cool! Great job.

 

[Bushranger]

Thanks guys, I can not tell you the amount of satisfaction this project has given me. The pleasure has been mine.

mine also Darjeeling. Tea anyone! Stirling effort

 

[Luc]

As promised when I last exchanged a PM with Joe. Here are my results with the blades he sent me. It's time for me to revive my own thread as I used up all the blades that Joe sent me. It took me a little while to get to them, then use them but I did it. Thanks again. Joe sent me 12 different blades. I knew some of them, some I didn't. The ones that I knew are also used and not below. Here's my comments on the one that I didn't know.

Zorrik, Sharp and Polsilver. Not very impressed by those three, feel like they are not cutting a lot. I might need to try some more. I have a pack of Zorrik so we shall know later.

Bic, Astra Keramik, Iridium Super. Those were all right. Not overwhelmed by but not dissappointed, a good shave!

The best of the lot, the one, the only, the most impressive that I never tried before. Super-max stainless. That blade was sharp, smooth and lasted a while, I did 6 shaves with it!

Again, thanks for the blades! I know a few more blades that I'm interested in. I bought a few packs to try a few of them and eventually review them! All those blades were used in my NEW (UK) with Bull Mastiff handle.

 

[Greyfox]

Great thread. Thanks to all involved.