Thread: British vs American Aristocrat shave

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Rick I do still have the Brit red tip but I'm hanging on to it. They are scarce and my less than pristine copy came from a fellow in Australia. The '34 -'40 USA Aristocrat also had the B-dog handle IIRC ? I could go in the closet and dig mine out but I'm too lazy. BTW, when I referred, in a previous post, to the HD SS I meant the HD Rocket. Been a long time since I read anything about DEs and I've got oldtimer's disease.

Okay, this is embarrassing! I have one of those sitting front and center in my display cabinet that is about 3 feet behind where I am now sitting and typing, and it is indeed a bulldog handle! D'oh!

I knew what you meant by HD SS. Interestingly, I have a framed ad hanging on my wall for the HD Rocket, and in that ad, the term "superspeed" is used as a one-word verb rather than the two-word noun "Super Speed" that we normally see.

Anyway, I just finished shaving with my 1946/47 Aristocrat and, with absolutely no question, this is the most aggressive Aristocrat of all. And just to add some credence to my comment, I have used the #15, #16, #21, #22, and #66 British Aristocrats, as well as the 1934 open comb, 1948-50, and the seldom seen 1951 American Aristocrats -- along with the similar non-Aristocrat models like the #58, HD Rocket, President, Diplomat, and Executive. Why this is not in my regular rotation is beyond me, but I will definitely rectify that situation. The head of the 1946/47 Aristocrat is definitely different than the one on the Executive, but I really believe that the one on the Executive is different from its peers, and I stand by my earlier claim that the Executive set is the finest that the Gillette Razor Company ever produced.

Originally Posted by GoingPostal

I just finished shaving with my 1946/47 Aristocrat and, with absolutely no question, this is the most aggressive Aristocrat of all.

I really like mine and that is why I compared it to the red tip. My favorite DE is the Merkur Slant so obviously I prefer aggressive razors. Perhaps that is why I finally moved over to straight razor shaving exclusively.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I really like mine and that is why I compared it to the red tip. My favorite DE is the Merkur Slant so obviously I prefer aggressive razors. Perhaps that is why I finally moved over to straight razor shaving exclusively.

Have you ever shaved with a Barbasol? I think this is the most aggressive fixed head DE ever made. It's the same size and weight as a Gillette Big Fellow, but in comparison, it makes the BF seem like a Bic Sensitive.

Originally Posted by GoingPostal

Have you ever shaved with a Barbasol? I think this is the most aggressive fixed head DE ever made. It's the same size and weight as a Gillette Big Fellow, but in comparison, it makes the BF seem like a Bic Sensitive.

Indeed I have. That very model is also one of my keepers. I agree that it is a delightfully aggressive razor. I still have a fair number of Gillettes and a heck of a collection of slants. Merkurs from different periods and with different brands such as Pomco, Hoffritz, Lunawerk and Coles, Also Apollos, Ben Hur, and others that I can't think of off the top of my head. Also quite a few of the 'no name' slants or 'twisted head' as the older collectors used to call them. Who knows, I may return to shaving with a DE on occasion so I'm hanging onto them.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Indeed I have. That very model is also one of my keepers. I agree that it is a delightfully aggressive razor. I still have a fair number of Gillettes and a heck of a collection of slants. Merkurs from different periods and with different brands such as Pomco, Hoffritz, Lunawerk and Coles, Also Apollos, Ben Hur, and others that I can't think of off the top of my head. Also quite a few of the 'no name' slants or 'twisted head' as the older collectors used to call them. Who knows, I may return to shaving with a DE on occasion so I'm hanging onto them.

Wow, you were quite the DE collector! No wonder we're hitting it off so well so early in my "career" here.

That's an impressive list of slant razors -- any chance you own an open comb version? If it's not too much trouble, could you post some pictures? I only have an HD slant, 39C (barber pole) slant, and a vintage NOS Merkur from, I believe, the 1950's.

Originally Posted by GoingPostal

Wow, you were quite the DE collector! No wonder we're hitting it off so well so early in my "career" here.

That's an impressive list of slant razors -- any chance you own an open comb version? If it's not too much trouble, could you post some pictures? I only have an HD slant, 39C (barber pole) slant, and a vintage NOS Merkur from, I believe, the 1950's.

Here are a few slants with the one on the left being branded with the Pomco label but not made by Merkur. The one on the right is a Merkur branded as a Pomco. The gold one is a Merkur marked 'Brumml-Sausalito-Calif over West Germany'. The ones in the spoon rack are all 'no name' slants made in Germany. Probably pre war. The photo at the bottom is an open comb slant marked AF,CO on the case and Made In Germany on the razor. Maker unknown. If you were to go to B&B and do an advanced search for slant under Slant-Fan I've posted more photos of various DE stuff on that forum back some time ago.

Fantastic Jimmy! Thanks for the pics! I have never seen a razor quite like the Pomco on the left in the first picture. If my eyes aren't deceiving me, is the head actually in a curve rather than the typical slant twist?