Thread: Found a Gillette Adjustable TTO Razor

Second, on the Scrubbing Bubbles. If you want it to really shine after the scrub, use some Mothers Polish, old tooth brush and a clean cloth, this will make it shine like new. If you do decide to bend it back, make sure the doors are open. Use great care because they are both tougher and more brittle then it looks. They are great shavers, and it is a crime they no longer make them

Well guys, sorry I got busy last night. Well I let it soak overnight in hot water and I put some dish soap in there since I don't have any scrubbing bubbles in the house, I let it soak all night and this is what I saw at the bottom of the glass this morning. The metal spring at the adjuster (sorry I don't know the correct term) was sitting at the bottom of the glass. Am I screwed now?

Originally Posted by LilRobert

Well guys, sorry I got busy last night. Well I let it soak overnight in hot water and I put some dish soap in there since I don't have any scrubbing bubbles in the house, I let it soak all night and this is what I saw at the bottom of the glass this morning. The metal spring at the adjuster (sorry I don't know the correct term) was sitting at the bottom of the glass. Am I screwed now?

Not necessarily. First of all, if the ring turns it still should move the base plate up or down which is what adjusts the blade exposure. I've heard of guys repairing these. I have one that I took apart, and put back together, but the spring was broken and I never replaced it. The adjustment works but is not held in place by tension from the spring. So you have to manually adjust it and hold it while you shave. Anyway, here is one on how to disassemble an adjustable. I haven't watched it so I cannot vouch for it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67G61jYHSEU

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Not necessarily. First of all, if the ring turns it still should move the base plate up or down which is what adjusts the blade exposure. I've heard of guys repairing these. I have one that I took apart, and put back together, but the spring was broken and I never replaced it. The adjustment works but is not held in place by tension from the spring. So you have to manually adjust it and hold it while you shave. Anyway, here is one on how to disassemble an adjustable. I haven't watched it so I cannot vouch for it.

Thanks for the information JimmyHAD, that's good to know that it will still work with out the spring also thanks on the video as well. Well I did spent a few hours this afternoon trying to rebuild the spring. This is my progress on it so far. I just need to bend it to the shape of the original and clean it up some more. I just hope I get it bent correctly when I bend it to shape.

Shaved with one of these razors for the first time yesterday, awesome shave, I found it gave a smoother shave than my modern adjustable with less effort. Enjoy!

Originally Posted by LilRobert

Thanks for the information JimmyHAD, that's good to know that it will still work with out the spring also thanks on the video as well. Well I did spent a few hours this afternoon trying to rebuild the spring. This is my progress on it so far. I just need to bend it to the shape of the original and clean it up some more. I just hope I get it bent correctly when I bend it to shape.

Well good luck with it. Check around, you may be able to find someone who has a replacement spring, or check ebay for a cheap replacement, and scavenge the spring out of it.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Well good luck with it. Check around, you may be able to find someone who has a replacement spring, or check ebay for a cheap replacement, and scavenge the spring out of it.

Hey Jimmy

I just watched the video and While I Do believe it is 'Overly Simplistic' but it would make sense. I have the identical razor in the video and the OP's. The OP's has what I believe is a press fit piece at the bottom instead of a threaded piece so that would be something to deal with. Here's the picture that I'd sent him showing how the slots look very similar and that a donor razor might work for replacement parts. It would be really cool if he can restore his grandfather's razor all on his own by making the replacement spring work.

Thank you guys so much for all the feed back it really means a lot to me. Well I am going to give it a shot and see if the spring I made works. Money is a little tight for me right now and if I have the skills to make one I think I will go that route first. I always like a challenge and this is a good challenge for me. This spring is a natural bend, I didn't temper the cooper just because of how thin the cooper has to be. If this one fails me I will make another one where I temper the cooper. So the top one is the old spring and the bottom one is the one I made this afternoon. I know the one I made is a little longer then the original one, I just haven't cut it to size yet. Now it just pulling the razor apart and to see if the spring I made works. Thanks again everyone for your feedback.

Originally Posted by cudarunner

The OP's has what I believe is a press fit piece at the bottom instead of a threaded piece so that would be something to deal with.

Not sure if we're talking about the same thing but ....... when I was new I bought a '34 Aristocrat open comb where the TTO doors didn't function by turning the knob on the end of the handle. You had to push up on the knob and then turn to lock down. I investigated it some, and found that it was a press fit. I used pliers with some thin leather as a 'softener' and pressed the end of the tube just over the knob. Tightened up and the TTO was back in action.

Hey Guys I got a spring made that the works on the razor, it took 6 attempts to get it correct but I got one made. Now I am having problems getting aligned correct now. The spring is works I am just having issues getting everything aligned correctly now. Can anyone give me any pointers on getting it aligned correct?