For the last 20 years or so I've been shaving with an electric razor, and I use a Gillette Sensor to trim around my beard. The price of the sensor blades has skyrocketed, and the price of the Braun cleaning solution isn't exactly cheap either. A couple weeks ago I decided that I was going to dig out my old Gillette double edge razor and start using it again. Double edge blades are quite inexpensive.
I dug around in my catch all drawer yesterday and found the old razor in the back. The date code on it is B3, which puts the manufacture date in the third quarter of 1956. My dad bought it for me sometime around 1957 or 1958 when I first started shaving.
It was faded and had plenty of tarnish and a little corrosion on it. The first thing I decided to do was run it through the ultrasonic cleaner that my wife has for her jewelry. She had some jewelry that needed cleaning, so they all went into the cleaner together.
It came out of the ultrasonic cleaner better-the dried soap scum and tarnish was gone, but it still had plenty of water spots.
Clean, but still plenty of water spots.
Next I decided to toss it in the tumbler for a few hours.
Not too bad for a razor that's nearly 60 years old.
Just for fun (since I had some extra time today) I looked on the Internet to look up the date code on the razor. After about 20 minutes I realized there is quite a following and market for the old Gillette double edge razors. I had no clue that there was a cult like following of these old razors. I've tossed away several of them when I've bought a box of "stuff" at an estate auction. You can bet that I won't be throwing any more out-some of the Gillette adjustable razors from the 1950's go for more than $50.
There's an old single edge GEM razor in my catch all drawer that's from the early 1900's. I think (but I'm not sure) that it was my grandfather's razor. I may clean it up and see if I can get the same results. I'll pick up some double edge blades this week and start using the old razor again.
I dug around in my catch all drawer yesterday and found the old razor in the back. The date code on it is B3, which puts the manufacture date in the third quarter of 1956. My dad bought it for me sometime around 1957 or 1958 when I first started shaving.
It was faded and had plenty of tarnish and a little corrosion on it. The first thing I decided to do was run it through the ultrasonic cleaner that my wife has for her jewelry. She had some jewelry that needed cleaning, so they all went into the cleaner together.
It came out of the ultrasonic cleaner better-the dried soap scum and tarnish was gone, but it still had plenty of water spots.
Clean, but still plenty of water spots.
Next I decided to toss it in the tumbler for a few hours.
Not too bad for a razor that's nearly 60 years old.
Just for fun (since I had some extra time today) I looked on the Internet to look up the date code on the razor. After about 20 minutes I realized there is quite a following and market for the old Gillette double edge razors. I had no clue that there was a cult like following of these old razors. I've tossed away several of them when I've bought a box of "stuff" at an estate auction. You can bet that I won't be throwing any more out-some of the Gillette adjustable razors from the 1950's go for more than $50.
There's an old single edge GEM razor in my catch all drawer that's from the early 1900's. I think (but I'm not sure) that it was my grandfather's razor. I may clean it up and see if I can get the same results. I'll pick up some double edge blades this week and start using the old razor again.
