Thumper what do i have

[Trav]

Stopped at a garage sale on the way home yesterday and picked this up for $5. It says Gillette and has 3 blades in the original paper wrappers. Also looks to be brass that's tarnished, should I polish it? How did I make out? Any value here. 2642 2643

[Cards01]

a razor

[BarryBobPosthole]

That's razor porn to Thumper.

BKB

[Buckrub]

Trav, I have no idea.

But Thump will offer you a dollar for it. And then he'll fondle it.

Often.

[Bwana]

Looks like something Liberace commissioned.

[LJ3]

He'll respond after he's done with his tugfest.

[Trav]

You know I have been thinking about switching to a Safety Razor for a while so when I saw this I figured it would be a cheap way to see if I liked them. If I don't maybe it's worth something.

[Thumper]

Stopped at a garage sale on the way home yesterday and picked this up for $5. It says Gillette and has 3 blades in the original paper wrappers. Also looks to be brass that's tarnished, should I polish it? How did I make out? Any value here. 2642 2643

Nice find there Trav! That's what's called an Open Comb Gold New (actually the open comb is a "Gillette New" but many will call them Techs) or sometimes an Open Comb Fat Handle Gold New. I assume you've already played with it (?). It's a 3-piece razor. Unscrew the handle from the base-plate and the head lifts off. Drop your blade into the head, screw it all back together and it's ready to go. I can't see a whole lot of detail, but it looks like the liner in the case is torn and with the corrosion on the razor, it's not exactly pristine. A nice one would sell for prolly $60-$70. On the plus side, you have everything there. Razor, case, blade holder and even some King Gillette Blue Blades. I can't really tell, are those individual, wrapped blades, or are they boxes of blades? Do you see any numbers on the razor (base plate) at all?

[BarryBobPosthole]

If you find something like this should you try to clean it up?

BKB

[Buckrub]

No. You should just go ahead and shave with it after some goobernut shaved who knows what with it.

[Thumper]

Most "antiques" ... no. Original and beat up is usually worth more than restored on many things. Not so with razors. Definitely clean it ... razors were MEANT to be cleaned. This one is gold plated brass ... the gold is VERY thin and when it wears, you get that corrosion. Once it's cleaned, the finish will probably be pretty spotty and worn looking. Not a real good example, but it's "ok".

Here's one I just dug up that sold last month. You can see the difference in condition. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Gillette-fat-handle-gold-finished-TECH-open-comb-safety-razor-1940s-/121261766323?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c3bc3b6b3&nma=true&si=MXhJnGG41pXxq8m0002m6%252BT08Fk%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557


BUT ... on The Bay, you never know how things will go. This one went for $145.00.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1930s-Gold-Bostonian-New-Gillette-razor-Vintage-set-kit-/350886641072?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item51b2793db0&nma=true&si=MXhJnGG41pXxq8m0002m6%252BT08Fk%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

[Thumper]

I don't deal with Techs (or New's that much). Most of what I sell as far as Techs go are the '38-'45 Fat Handles Techs ... even those don't bring a whole lot.

Here's a Gold Eagle Gold Tech I sold earlier this month ... it's similar to Trav's ... but is a "ball end" Tech. It could have gone higher at auction, but I don't have the patience for auctions ... I simply set a BIN price and let 'er rip.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-1940s-WWII-Era-Gillette-Gold-Eagle-Tech-Set-15-New-Sealed-Blue-Blades-/131107343068?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e869b4adc

[BarryBobPosthole]

No putz. I was talking about whether he should try to polish that green shit off of it.

And a guy'd be crazy to shave his nuts with that thing. It has BLADES.

BKB

[Thumper]

Ummm, I'd say "cleaning" it would include getting the green shit off of it ... yeah. I'm just afraid there is quite a bit of plating loss, but it's still worth something.

[BarryBobPosthole]

I guess for you everydayers, it's 'The Bay'..

BKB

[Thumper]

It's like "Bite Me" for us regulars here ... so, BITE ME! ;)

BTW ... it's FleaBay to some. :D

[Trav]

Ok, I got it pretty clean with virtually no paint loss I can see. Jim there are som numbers on it but I can't read them. I am going to have my brother try to read them. Oh and those are individually packaged blades.

2645



2646

[Thumper]

Duh! I just looked at your post again and it mentioned three blades. I was too busy looking at the razor.

Wow! Great job! Is the lining in that case torn? It kind of looks it in the pics, but I can't really tell.

[Trav]

It's not really torn but there appears to be a extra flap of material, any idea when this was produced?

[Thumper]

It looks like a "New" to me ... so I'd say the 30's. There was a "New Improved" before that that came out in the early 20's. I'll try to find some info for you. I don't deal with these very often, although I have quite a few Techs in my "get around to selling someday" box.

[Trav]

There were some numbers on it 1815745 and 1858315, here is a better pic of the case.

2647

[Thumper]

Nice find. That "flap" belongs there! The case looks good.

Here ya' go. Mr. Razor has an excellent site. Go here and click on "New" ...

You can also try the "New Improved" and see a bit of difference.

http://www.mr-razor.com/Rasierer/Gillette%20Rasierer.htm

I think this is your razor ... The New (Bostonian).

http://www.mr-razor.com/Rasierer/The%20NEW/1930s%20NEW%20Bostonian.jpg

[Thumper]

Here's how fickle eBay can be.

This Bostonian sold for almost $210.00!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Gillette-New-Bostonian-Safety-Razor-Case-Blade-Safe-Blade-1930s-/131120257605?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e87605a45&nma=true&si=MXhJnGG41pXxq8m0002m6%252BT08Fk%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

And this one sold a month earlier for $33.00!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Gillette-NEW-Bostonian-Open-Comb-in-Case-w-Blade-Holder-/191021498788?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c79c4c1a4&nma=true&si=MXhJnGG41pXxq8m0002m6%252BT08Fk%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557


Check out these sold units ... you can see the prices are all over the map!

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_sacat=0&_from=R40&_nkw=gillette+new+bostonian&LH_Complete=1&LH_Sold=1&rt=nc

[Captain]

Sounds like someone was spending government money on that first one.... ;)

Sent from my iPhone using Forum Runner

[BarryBobPosthole]

Heck, no. They pay that much for a hammer. A razor like that would be $5000 ifthe government bought it.

BKB

[Trav]

Thanks for the info, looks like I definitely can get my $5 back if I want to. I am going to shave with it tmrw so if you don't hear from me for a few days I bled out while shaving.

[Thumper]

Ha ha ha! Just remember you're shaving with 1930's technology! ;)

Some people love 'em ... some hate 'em. Also the blade you use makes a world of difference. DO NOT use those Blue Blades. Those will really enhance the package if you decide to sell it. I have a case of those (boxes of 5 blades) and get an easy $10/box. They will make a complete package with the case, razor, blade holder and Blue Blades. Buy some new style DE blades if you use it.

[Trav]

Yeah, i was thinking about the blades. My plan was to pick some up at Walgreens tonight.

[Thumper]

You piqued my curiosity and I dug out my supply. Looks like I only have a few boxes left. Those things are worth their weight in gold for guys who want the correct year blades for a razor in their collection. You have a very nice set there.

The end of my stash:

2649

[Buckrub]

To look sharp, and to feel sharp too........buy the razor...........

http://www.tvadsongs.com/Gillette_Shaving_Blades_-_Look_Sharp_March.html

[Thumper]

That sucks Bucky ... because I REMEMBER that jingle. :(

Trav, I don't know what those numbers are. They may be patent numbers. With the better pics, I think it's pretty well established you have a "New" and (other than on the blades) Gillette quit using date codes in 1930 (started again in 1951).

You can only narrow it down with a little guess work. IF those blades came with the razor (probably did not) it would date the razor between 1932 & 1940. King Camp Gillette (yes, that's his real name ... the guy pictured on your blades) died in 1932 and that's the year they came out with the Blue Blade (some say '31) and they were packaged like that until 1948 when the white plastic dispenser was introduced. The "New" razor was made between 1929 and 1940 (some aren't sure if '40 is the correct cut-off date, but it's pretty well accepted as fact). So basically, your razor dates between '29 and '40 ... with no date codes that's about as close as you can figure.