I went looking for Straight Razors and ended up with a DE...

Aloha All,

I went on a day trip today from Kosovo down to Skopje, Macedonia to the Old Town Bazaar. I was with a few friends that have been there before and told me of antique stores that had straight razors. There I was looking for straights and all I found was junk most straights that I saw were destroyed. We went to four different antique stores and each one had 5 to 10 straights, some were for using disposable blades, the other true straights all had major issues or were sub 4/8th blades.

In the second to last antique store that we had went to I asked the gentleman working for straight razors and he brought me out all of his shaving items. He had a few junk straights, a few brushes, a shaving bowl, and some DE blades, other miscellaneous items and lastly a Golden Gillette adjustable DE of some sort. I looked at it an thought to myself this looks nice but I don't know anything about DE's yet and I am still new to wet shaving with a straight, I don't think I am interested. My buddies were in there and it was a small shop one of them was looking at old WWII and Yugoslavian medals and trinkets, I stepped outside for a few minutes. Then when I went back in I could not help thinking about that Golden Gillette razor, I mulled it over and decided that without knowing anything about DE's the price was okay so I bought it. I really don't think I could help myself because it was shiny, I felt like a bass hitting a lure.
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Now it is time for you all to tell me what I have, I did a little searching and I believe it to be a Gillette Fat Boy am I correct? It has only a few markings on the underside it says MADE IN U.S.A. then it has a diamond shaped Gillette logo that says Gillette with an arrow through it. There is a K on one side of the handle and a 2 on the other and then it says REG. U.S. PAT. OFF. I know that valuations are not done here on SRP is letting me know if I got a good deal allowed? If it is I paid 600 Macedonian Denar for it that converts to 12.71 USD or 9.64 Euro. The razor opens and closes fine and the (tensioner?) works. The only thing I noticed that may affect operation and usage is that one of the guide bars is bent down slightly, like the razor was dropped.

I bought two packs of blades and plan on getting some from the Base Exchange also, I hope to use this razor soon. Okay here is my next question and I plan to read around the forum but how do I use this thing? I also purchased some Palmolive shaving cream I found at a supermarket and two sticks of Arko from street vendor for gifts.

I can believe my RAD has branched out to DE's now. Thanks for reading my rambling.

Do let us know the results of your
first shave with your new found treasure.

Using it?? Same as a straight, stretch the skin
and use a light touch without pressure - allow
the razor to glide down your face.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words .
Well a video is worth a million - checkout YouTube
" Shaving with a DE ". Wouldn't surprise me if someone
is using a Fat Boy.

Terry

I think you did well, just check eBay completed items to get an idea. I'd be careful when using the side with the bent guide bar. Yea, just watch your angle and let the weight of the razor do the work.

Bob

Nice find, and at a great price too!

That is not a Fat Boy, the handle is too long and slender. If I had to guess I'd say it's an Aristocrat, circa 1960's. Congrats and happy shaving.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ryan82

Nice find, and at a great price too!

That is not a Fat Boy, the handle is too long and slender. If I had to guess I'd say it's an Aristocrat, circa 1960's. Congrats and happy shaving.

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I can take some measurements for you all if you like? Are the Aristocrats adjustable razors like the Fat Boy?

I just measured the handle it is approximately 3 1/8 inches long with a diameter of 7/16 inch. I have just done some searching and answered my own question, yes Aristocrats are adjustable. Thanks Ryan after looking at some pictures I am with you in thinking I have a Aristocrat. I saw a NOS one in the original packaging with a mid three figure price, the neat thing is the price embossed on the box was $5.00.

Yes, it's a late model Aristocrat from the '60s. They were essentially a gold plated Gillette Slim adjustable, not a fatboy. As to price, given the condition and the model you did exceptionally well. The bent guide bar is a common condition and can be easily corrected. Gently bend it straight with the tip of a screwdriver. I just do it by sight or if you want to be absolutely correct use a thickness gauge to match the other side. They are nice smooth shavers slightly less aggressive than the fatboy.

Hello, good to hear about your find! Those type of old Gillette razors often appear on ebay and sell fast.

I shave with both, straight razor and DE's I love them both. In my opinion the most important thing when shaving with DE's it's the angle, lift the handle up as you slide the blade down you face so that the edge of the blade touches as little as possible of your skin while cutting the bear.

Feather blades work for me best and diffidently last longer, I get them in balk from ebay.


Enjoy your great razor!

Yes, it's an Aristocrat adjustable. You did very well in regards to what you paid for it. They made 2 different Aristocrats. Gillette did a Gold Aristocrat, non-adjsutable TTO in the late 40's & the gold (slim) adjustable in the 50's-60's. I think yours is about a '65 date code. I have a few Aristocrats, adjustable and Non, and they are great shavers. Enjoy your new find.....

Scored a good one it looks like. Gillette's are great razors I wish they were still making DE razors I can't stand the cartridge ones. If you find any more you can always send them back to the US through EBAY. They will probably make you double what you pay for them over there.

Eric