Thread: Gilette DE info, please?

Guys, I've just got Gilette DE razor, but I need help identifying it. Now, before you get my sign out cart out, I got it for my dad

I found e-bay listing (6615810965) with my razor in the pics, so here they are:


It's the one in the middle...

also:




The decription says:
"Underneath of the head of the second razor it has:
Twice the name, Gillette in a diamond shape with an arrow going through it.
This razor feels light weight."

Now, anybody knows the name of this DE Gilette, the year and the materials? It does feel very lightweight... and it cleaned up really nice. I look forward trying it tomorow...

thanx,
Nenad

Nenad,

See if you can't get your answers here:

If not, check with Pauldog at SMF. He is quite knowledgeable about DE razors.

RT

Nenad, I think the two bottom razors are considered to be travel razors. I hope that website that RT linked will come back soon. It has a lot of great information. I have a Gold DE just like the the bottom one, and have always enjoyed shaving with it, even with the short handle.

Glen

Nenad,

Check out this thread from "DoubleE" at Badger & Blade.

http://www.badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=1303

The middle one in your pic looks like #1 of his showcase.

Guys, thanx a lot for the info, the USNA92 post was just what I needed... It turned out it was among the first razors Gilette made, around 1936.

thanx,
Nenad

Nenad,

Is there a specific type of DE you are looking for?

RT

Well, after iritating the hell out of my neck with that Gillette and a BIC blade, I am sticking to my straights... My dad can have the Gillette. He said it shaves OK, and he didnt have to leave the handle unscrewed a bit like on his chinese DE. Homemade adjustable, huh?. Now, after seing USNA's link I must say I like the top loading ones, and something with heavier handle (head). The one I have feels a bit light weight. I will get a DE (or two) if I something pops out at the flea market, or maybe a nice Merkur. But the Gillette's look coooll...

Nenad

When I shave now with a DE after shaving normally with a straight the DE tends to dry my skin out. Not sure why since it is not as close of shave as the straight. None the less like anything else around here, keep shaving with the DE and your face will get used too it.

Also here is a very good introduction to DE shaving by Joe Lerch

An Introduction to Shaving with a Double Edge Razor (DE)
To succeed with a DE, you will have to learn some skills, and that won't happen over night. But let me see if
I can speed you along a little.
Now let's look at your shaving technique. The Gillette systems allow us to get too lazy.
NO PRESSURE. First of all, no pressure should be used with a DE until you really know what you're doing.
Just support the razor's weight on your face and let it glide over the skin.
FLAT ANGLE. You need to be aware of the angle that the blade makes to your face. You should try to make
it as flat as possible. You do that by raising the razor handle high enough for it to stop cutting and backing
off. That's the angle you want to keep. You did just the opposite. That places the blade almost perpendicular
to your face, making it operate like scraper. That means irritation.
STRETCH. Finally, stretch your skin flat from behind the razor. Those blades are so sharp that they'll cut
any protrusion in their path, including a skin fold.
Learn how the grain of your whiskers runs, all over your face. When you first start it's best not to shave
directly against the grain. Go against it on an angle instead. Most DE shavers do a three pass shave: with,
across and against the grain (for you, on an angle).
Fill your sink with hot water. Unless you shower first, you need to prepare well by soaking your face (use a
wash towel), and between passes you rinse with the hot water and re-apply lather.
Don’t be too much in a hurry to get the shave close. Take a few passes to get down to a light stubble, then
you can take it down to clean skin.
FIRST PASS. Just go smoothly and continuously, concentrating on removing hair, not closeness, and don't
go back over any spots. This is the pass where you're the most likely to get big time irritation if you try to
remove too much.
SECOND PASS. On the second pass, remove enough hair to get down to a light stubble. Again, don't worry
about closeness.
THIRD PASS. The third pass is where you try to clean up your face. You'll find that most of your face is
clean after this pass, but there will always be a few trouble spots or ones you miss. If you can't get them on
the third pass, go back and do a very light touch up, trying to attack them with short local passes from every
direction. Just be aware of not doing too many passes while trying for perfection. You'll learn that quickly
after you irritate your face once or twice. Eventually, you will know what direction to use for each area.
You'll get better as your skills improve. It won't happen over night, so don't give up just yet. I think you’ll find
it's well worth the effort.
Joe Lerch July 2005

Nenad,

I definitely recommend trying the flea markets. We went to one a couple weekends ago and I saw 2 superspeeds (#3 from DoubleE's showcase), and 1 ladies razors (#7) all for $3 each. I regret now not buying them. I think someone else at the market had an injector, but I didn't take a close look. Next time I will buy one (or more); you never know when somebody might want to try it....

Rick

The one in the middle sort of looks like a Gilette Tech. Not 100% sure though.