Thread: Gillette Fat Boy question..

They are good shavers, but the limited run of only 4 years makes them a little more collectible. In all honesty I prefer an old Open Comb Gillette from the 30's. I have a few and the last one I got was a gift from a friend. His dad was a barber and used it to go to nursing homes and shave the residents. It is the only one I have that will absolutely not leave my possession. I did give one to my son and he uses it daily.

Myself, I wanted a fat boy cause I have large hands. Holding a 1920's ball type is like holding a toy for me.

Originally Posted by KrazieSj

Myself, I wanted a fat boy cause I have large hands. Holding a 1920's ball type is like holding a toy for me.

I'm amazed by all the comments on the size of the Fatboy.
I find it to be almost unusable due to how small it is

Nah, give me a merkur Vision, that is a proper sized shaving tool

Originally Posted by bharner

Because they're awesome...
I've been wanting one for a while but I don't want to pay more than $40. So I do a lot of watching. If it was worth another 10-20 to me I could find one. Have you looked at the Slim? Same thing but different handle. Can usually be found for a smidge less.
Someday I'll find one at a thrift store or antique store for $20 and it will be an awesome day. At least that's my plan.

The last slim I bought was from an antique store. I was too shocked to even barter them down. I just paid the $2 and ran away!

Because when I was 7 years old I watched my Dad shave twice a day with one so he could go to school (industrial arts instructor) in the morning, then work until 11PM at night at Sears....

To put food into my mouth.

I have his Fat Boy and it's rather worn... probably because he shaved with it twice a day.

I'd sell it... for 150 million dollars.

Interested?

I got one on Eboy before the big craze started. I think I paid $50 for it and it was in it's original box with blades and all only missing instructions. it wasn't NOS but was mint. To tell you the truth though it's a good shaver I have others that best it so I wouldn't be paying big bucks for one if I was in the market for one these days.

Originally Posted by bharner

But what other adjustable DE DOESN'T cost an arm and a leg? That, to me, is what makes a fatboy/slim so appealing.

Yo, B... sorry you can't make it to Sunday's gettogether at AF's AO... I'd have gone the extra mile to meet up with you and the others for sure.

Next time, when my starter is young somebody will have to hold me back! DIYGuy and AF will instruct many... of that I'm sure. I'm sad for both of us we can't attend.

Wish your better half - Happy Birthday - for me... any body that bled that much and lived had to have had help...

The reason the Gillette Fatboy is in such demand, and especially since everyone seems to pay a bit more attention to them than the slim, was that it was the 1st adjustable of Gillette, starting out in 1958 and only continuing in that style of handle until 1961, where the transitioni to the slim adjustable was made. I have 2 and they work extrodinarily well. Geofatboy on youtube.com has commented that he likes the Fatboy as one that is very hard to beat. It has adjustments from 1 to 9 positions, and a unique turn knob as well as a different knurling on the adjusment dial. There were a few made with a toggle, being a flip-like end piece that worked the silo doors as the TTO mechanism did, and there was just a few made with the adjustment made at the bottom of the handle rather than the top. Those last few are really sought out by collectors and can seemingly always demand a high price. I have watched, also, the Super Adjustables and Slim Adjustables being touted as "Fatboy" by unknowing or otherwise unscrupulous sellers "playing" off the popularity of the "Fatboys".

I really enjoy mine, but I also enjoy the Slim Adjustables, the Super Adjustables, the 1980 series black handles adjusables as well.

Originally Posted by Birnando

I'm amazed by all the comments on the size of the Fatboy.
I find it to be almost unusable due to how small it is

When I first got mine I was also surprised how small it is, especially compared to my Merkur 38C. All the pictures you see of the Fat Boy make it look larger somehow. That being said I find it a very servicable razor, and although it's fairly short I like its heft as I'm a fan of heavy DE's.

Back to the value topic....

I'm not convinced that the price they fetch is related to collectibilty. Like most Gillette products, there are a million of them out there, which will significantly drop their value in the collectibility department. Which, again, leads back to the hype factor and the fact that many men will pay top dollar for something they are told is top shelf.

Originally Posted by Gibbs

The reason the Gillette Fatboy is in such demand, and especially since everyone seems to pay a bit more attention to them than the slim, was that it was the 1st adjustable of Gillette, starting out in 1958 and only continuing in that style of handle until 1961, where the transitioni to the slim adjustable was made. I have 2 and they work extrodinarily well. Geofatboy on youtube.com has commented that he likes the Fatboy as one that is very hard to beat. It has adjustments from 1 to 9 positions, and a unique turn knob as well as a different knurling on the adjusment dial. There were a few made with a toggle, being a flip-like end piece that worked the silo doors as the TTO mechanism did, and there was just a few made with the adjustment made at the bottom of the handle rather than the top. Those last few are really sought out by collectors and can seemingly always demand a high price. I have watched, also, the Super Adjustables and Slim Adjustables being touted as "Fatboy" by unknowing or otherwise unscrupulous sellers "playing" off the popularity of the "Fatboys".

I really enjoy mine, but I also enjoy the Slim Adjustables, the Super Adjustables, the 1980 series black handles adjusables as well.

Thanks for the info on the super adjustables. I've been stalking eboy fatboys/slims for a while but haven't pulled the trigger due to price but the super adjustables are a bit more, to my wallet, reasonable in price.

I've been wanting to have an affair with a DE for a while but the only thing I've used is a tech which took about 4 passes to get smooth with. The adjustable razors seem like a great place to start. Find a setting I like then shop for a modern maker with similar quality of shave.