Thread: First Impression Gillette Toggle shave

Used a 1960 Gillette Toggle set at 9 with a Feather blade and Tabac soap. I did a 4 pass shave because that is what I usually do. The shave was very smooth, very close and very comfortable. Just as you would expect that setting and blade to perform in a Gillette Fat Boy. Really enjoyed the shave.

This Toggle shaves like my 1959 Fat Boy which is not surprising as the adjusting mechanism appears to work the same way in both. If you want to experience how a 1960 Gillette Toggle shaves just get a Gillette Fat Boy instead and save yourself a ton of money imo. OTH if you want to own a unique Gillette design go for it.

The only caveat is that, from what I have read, Gillette used several different adjusting mechanisms that operate slightly differently. The shave may be different with those other adjusting mechanisms.

Bob

Had a second look at how the 1960 Toggle and the 1959 Fat Boy make blade adjustments. Now I don't think they work the same. Looks like the 60 Toggle adjusts the blade gap only and the 59 Fat Boy adjusts both the blade gap and blade angle. Hard to tell with only two hands, one holding a magnifying glass and the other holding the razor and turning the dial. Anyway the still feel like they shave the same.

Bob

What, no pictures? We need pictures.

Originally Posted by CZMark

What, no pictures? We need pictures.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/show-...y-auction.html

Bob

Nice congrats on getting such a sweet DE razor, I like my '59' Fatboy its a good razor wish I had a toggle nice find indeed.

Great looking DE.

Originally Posted by alpla444

Nice congrats on getting such a sweet DE razor, I like my '59' Fatboy its a good razor wish I had a toggle nice find indeed.

Thanks, you are not missing much as far as the shave goes between the two. OTH I can understand wanting a Toggle to boot.

Bob

Great find Bob. I love hearing stories like yours.

I was lucky enough to find a D1 Toggle last year for £5 in my local antique shop. Was nearly mint, just needed a little clean up. Being more of a straight razor user I actually didn't realise how rare/colletable they were until I looked them up. Needless to say I put it on Ebay after a while and got a NOS Heji #31 in ivory for my trouble!

Like yourself I dont think anyone is missing much in its shaving capabilities. I tried it out with a few different blades and settings and whilst I enjoyed using it I wasn't blown away by it.
One for the collectors I think.

Enjoy.

Originally Posted by markbignosekelly

Great find Bob. I love hearing stories like yours.

I was lucky enough to find a D1 Toggle last year for £5 in my local antique shop. Was nearly mint, just needed a little clean up. Being more of a straight razor user I actually didn't realise how rare/colletable they were until I looked them up. Needless to say I put it on Ebay after a while and got a NOS Heji #31 in ivory for my trouble!

Like yourself I dont think anyone is missing much in its shaving capabilities. I tried it out with a few different blades and settings and whilst I enjoyed using it I wasn't blown away by it.
One for the collectors I think.

Enjoy.

Thanks but when I said I don't think you are missing much in the way it shaves was comparing it to a Gillette Fat Boy set at 9 with a Feather blade. They shave so similarly and by that I mean they are both excellent shavers giving a SR a run for it's money set up that way but the Fat Boy costs far less. The Toggle is for collectors based on cost not poor shave quality.

Bob

Don't get me wrong I did really enjoy using it but I think I set myself up after reading some posts. I read somewhere that its the holy grail of the DE world and I was probably expecting too much.
Anyway, great find and I hope you have many great shaves.

Mark

Yea, one of the holy grails of Gillette collectors but users.

Bob