Another DE convert

I've been hanging out here for awhile now so it's 'bout time I 'fessed up. I'm using DE razors (again) and enjoying it for the first time in my life. I used a Gillette DE adjustable from the early 70s when I joined the Navy to the mid 80s. Hated it because I needed to use a styptic pencil each time I shaved! (No one ever taught me how to shave, so left to my own devices, I employed the same philosophy I used when shooting pool -- "if you can't shoot good, shoot hard!")

I switched over to a Track II and stayed with that model through its various "improvements": Atra, Atra Plus, Sensor, Sensor Plus, what have you. Then Gillette came out with the Mach 3, so I gave that a try. While the comfort of the shave was improved, I hated that floppy head so I went back to the Sensor. I wasn't interested in trying any of their newer floppy-headed razors. What can I say? They flop and I just couldn't stand that feature in the M-3.

Then Gillette introduced a three blade cartridge for their Sensor handle, the "Sensor 3." It had the improved comfort that the M-3 offered without the floppiness. I thought I was in shave heaven.

Then I came to SRP and fell in love with straight razor shaving.

I kept my Gillette Sensor 3 to use on days that I didn't have time for my hour-long ritual. But a few months ago I ran into a problem. The drugstores in my area stopped stocking the Sensor 3 blades and substituted a generic brand I'd never heard of. I tried a pack and was sorely disappointed. That's when I started to read this forum.

It occurred to me that in the 2+ years I've been shaving with a straight, I've developed some pretty decent skills removing hair from my face without the corresponding nicks and gouges of daze gone by. OF COURSE those skills will transfer to a DE!

I hit eBay for a couple of DE razors and picked up some blades and never looked back. I'm a happy camper now. If only I had known this back in the 70s. Oh well.


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This is what started it. According to mr-razor.com it's a 1940s Gold Tech. Fairly mild shave. Gave me a good first experience (this time around).


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My second purchase was a birth year razor, just for the coolness factor. It's a Gillette 1953 TTO Tech, date code Y 2. Again, a nice mild shave.


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I just could not resist this 1961 Fat Boy Adustable, date code G 2. Whatever it is about that handle. . . .


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Of course, I had to give the razor I used during my six year enlistment and a few years beyond another chance. So I picked up this 1972 Black Handle Super Adjustable, date code S 2. (Sure wish I'd kept the razors I'd bought back then.)

Just when I thought I had RAD beat, too. ;-)

Namaste,
Morty -_-

Yes, Morty, there is something alluring about the double edge safety razor. They do give superb shaves. These days I switch back and forth between the straight and the DE.

Yea, found the same thing too. The basics of getting a good shave applies to either DE/SE or straight but I still find the DE easier.

Bob

All of the old Gillettes give me a good shave--I've got a '53 super speed tto similar to the one pictured and it's my "travel" razor. Comfortable and not too aggressive so that if I need to get somewhere early in the morning, (usually lacking coordination and consciousness and care early), I can get a pretty good shave in a hurry. I mix them up just for the differences from time to time. I also have a EJ barley which I like very much, though I really like my 46-7 Aristocrat the best of my DE's.

+1 on much in common between the DE and straights in wet shaving. I also use both. I learned to shave on a DE in the 60's and then was led down the "new, improved" path till I found straights. Then I went back to DE's.

I love the DE's as well! I got my first straight last January (I think?) and have accumulated a few more since. I've gotten to the point where I can get a fairly decent shave with them, except for my chin for some reason... But after trying out a DE I think I have found my shaving nirvana. I still like the straights, but am enjoying shaving with the DE's more and getting fantastic shaves out of them. It's nice to have choices :D

Hmmm... I believe your birth year razor is not a TTO Tech but rather a Super Speed. The TTO Tech looks very similar to that picture but is smooth (rather than knurled) in that ~1/4in between the knob and the indented ring. I have a SS that looks just like yours but is either a '48 or '49.

That '53 Tech looks a lot like my British Rocket, only mine has 2 rings on the bottom instead of 3.
-I really like that Fatboy.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by nomoore

Hmmm... I believe your birth year razor is not a TTO Tech but rather a Super Speed.

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Much thanks! I appreciate you pointing out my error. I checked my receipt and you are absolutely correct. Both <http://renaldo.us/grbd.html> and <http://gillettedatecodes.com/> show: "1953 Y TTO/Tech." That was likely the source of my confusion.

I SORT of get the reason guys swapped from a straight to a DE, though I use a straight six out of seven days a week now; with a DE on Saturday, but I don't at ALL understand what drove people to go to plastic thingies. I actually can't even see the appeal of a TTO (it's not like it's a hassle to change a blade on a three piece). I DO understand the appeal of an adjustable though.

As far as I can see, plastic thingies have the same number of benefits over DEs that stripy toothpaste has over non-stripy toothpaste, i.e. none.

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Originally Posted by carlmaloschneider

I don't at ALL understand what drove people to go to plastic thingies.

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Hi Carl,
No one ever accused me of having common sense when I was a young man.

Note that I wrote in my original post:

***
(No one ever taught me how to shave, so left to my own devices, I employed the same philosophy I used when shooting pool -- "if you can't shoot good, shoot hard!")
***

And I could not shave good.

The way I dragged my Gillette adjustable razor across my face was pretty much the same way you'd use a pocket knife to whittle a wooden stick. I didn't just experience awful razor burn -- I had to finish nearly every shave with a styptic pencil because the bleeding would not stop on its own. (Off the point -- at the time, I would use a Gillette Platinum Plus blade for 12 shaves before replacing it.)

The multi-blade plastic thingies allowed me to continue whittling my face with less razor burn and a whole lot less bleeding. The construction of the cartridges protected my face (sort of) from my horrible technique. The pain and discomfort my pathetic technique caused me was the reason why it took me years and years to screw up the courage to try shaving with a straight in spite of a life-long fascination with straight razors. The bad memories were also the reason why it's taken me two-and-a-half years of shaving with a straight before I was willing to try a DE again.

What can I say? Some of us just take longer to "get it." ;-)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Morty

Hi Carl,
No one ever accused me of having common sense when I was a young man.


What can I say? Some of us just take longer to "get it." ;-)

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I'm not talking about individuals, I'm really just commenting on marketing, and how people give up some pretty good things for a perceived, but not real, benefit.

That is a good question, makes you wonder how DE's evolved into these multibladed cartridge type thingies... I used to use an old Gillette Atra, which was also cartridges but I think it only had two blades. It got so that I couldn't find cartridges anymore so I went to a combo of electric and disposables, thought I was getting decent shaves when in reality I wasn't ;). What finally tipped me over to the straights (then ironically to DE's) was a Fusion that I bought... It was literally painful for me to use! Drug and pulled like a bugger, I think I used it twice then filed it in the circular bin! Went to the straights to try them out, and after some practice was getting decent shaves! Tried a DE on a whim and absolutely love it! I like the straights but don't always have the time/concentration to use them. DE is giving me an awesome shave and I'm really enjoying it :beer1:

Exactly. A straight is very, very nice, but a DE is a nice compromise. I can't get the switch from DE to plastic thingy; the marketing spin must have been immense...
Anything 'lightweight' and plastic is better than 'heavy' metal....