Gillette aristocrat

Good day all. I just recently acquired a Gillette aristocrat from my mother of all people..I have never shaved with a safety razor before and she knows I am in to straights and that I should have this to add to my small collection of equipment.
I don't know anything about it and I am trying to figure out how old it is. I have read they put numbers and or markings to identify the date and such.
If anyone has or had an aristocrat could you let me know where to look for them.
I have to clean it a little bit but it seems in really good condition. I will post pictures of it when I get home with it but it has a gold tone to it. I would like to clean it but I would don't want to remove the finish it has.
Any help and or opinions of them are greatly appreciated.
Thanks and have a great day.
Anthony

If I'm correct they are usually stamped on the underside of the head. Try cleaning it first with a bit of toothpaste and a soft brush :)

Is it a original Aristocrat (non adjustable) or a newer Aristocrat adjustable (gold plated slim)? This should help, http://gillettedatecodes.com/ try and find the letter and number on the underside.

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Originally Posted by dustoff003

Is it a original Aristocrat (non adjustable) or a newer Aristocrat adjustable (gold plated slim)? This should help, Gillette Date Codes for Double Edge Safety Razors and Blades try and find the letter and number on the underside.

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I am not home to look that close at it at the moment. I see that it is gold plated and it has only the one knob on the bottom that open the razor to install the blade. So I am guessing it is not adjustable. Thanks for the link I will look at it with more detail shortly and get a picture or three up here for you all to see it.

Thanks again

OK here are some pictures of it. I dont see the stamping but I will look a bit closer shortly. Forgive me if the pictures are larger than normal.
Six in total.
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I'm guessing it's a 1947 or 1948 Aristocrat.

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Originally Posted by Firefighter2

I'm guessing it's a 1947 or 1948 Aristocrat.

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Sorry to ask but how can you tell. The info under the head is difficult to see.

IIRC, not all Gillette Aristocrats (or other Gillettes) razors have codes under the head. That's also a clue that the Aristocrat is from the 40's. I can't tell from the photos if yours had end caps--that would date it to the 46-47 model if it is unnotched (where the blade is put in).

Maybe someone else here knows more, but I have a 46-47 Aristocrat and it's one of my very favorite shavers.

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Originally Posted by aespo

Sorry to ask but how can you tell. The info under the head is difficult to see.

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Now I think it's a 46'-47' because it does not appear to have notched end caps. There is no date codes on these so it's a guess, but you can tell by the box & end caps. I have a 48' with notched end caps. Gillette only made these gold plated Aristocrats for a few years.
Attachment 123846
This is mine.

Thanks for the input. I am going to clean it up and give it a whirl. I don't think that it will be something I will use allot because I only shave with a straight but it is worth a go.
I will see how I like it and go from there. I was really more curious to the age of it. I know value is subjective and if I don't like it I have rally no attachment to it so parting with it won't be an issue.
All depends on how I like it when it comes time for the shave. Thanks again for the info on it.
Nice picture of your razor by the way. Yours is in better condition of course but it looks like the one I received.

The best thing I've found to clean a gold plated Gillette Aristocrat is Windex. Any abrasive will begin to remove the plating. It is relatively fragile. I have a couple of those and as DEs go they are DF shavers.

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Originally Posted by aespo

Thanks for the input. I am going to clean it up and give it a whirl. I don't think that it will be something I will use allot because I only shave with a straight but it is worth a go.

I will see how I like it and go from there. I was really more curious to the age of it. I know value is subjective and if I don't like it I have rally no attachment to it so parting with it won't be an issue.
All depends on how I like it when it comes time for the shave. Thanks again for the info on it.
Nice picture of your razor by the way. Yours is in better condition of course but it looks like the one I received.

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Glad to have been some help. You'll be surprised at how much you'll like this razor once you shave with it, mine's definitely one of my favourites. :chapeau

So I finally got around to cleaning this razor up...the windex suggestion was a big help..thanks for that.
So I pop in a Shark blade (as this is the only type that I have available..I had used them for my shavette as well and know how the blade performs for me) lather up some Proraso White after my shower and give it a go.
I have to say never having shaved with one that it was pretty effortless. Very smooth and a nice close shave. Three passes with two minor nicks and I have to say that I am pleasantly surprised.
I was glad to get this as seeing there are really days (mind this might sound like heresy to some) I really am not in the mood to shave although the growth dictates otherwise and getting out the straight and strop seems to be a bit much when you are not in the mood.
It was a great shave..I don't know about how aggressive it is as I don't have another for a frame of reference and there is no adjustment on it.
I had posted that I had no attachment to it and that if it were not for me that it would probably go up on the bay for someone else to enjoy, but I think this guy will be sticking around for a while.
I don't even think that I will have the need (although just for sheer experience I might try others) for trying out different blades to it, since this brand just simply works for me (shark brand that is).
Who knows maybe if I manage to come across some other brands they will get popped int, but as of now...great first shave with it.

Thanks once again on the info about it and thanks for the tips on cleaning it up.
I don't know if I will get into trying to obtain any other DE style razors but from this first one they are nice to work with.
Cheers all and thanks for taking the time to read.

Anthony

I had a feeling it would not disappoint! Glad to hear you like it & are going to hang onto it. How about an after cleaning pic?

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Originally Posted by Firefighter2

I had a feeling it would not disappoint! Glad to hear you like it & are going to hang onto it. How about an after cleaning pic?

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Believe it or not...after cleaning it pretty much looks the same as the pictures I originally posted...just ...well cleaner.. the plating and stuff still has all the wearing. I wish I can say that it looks better but to be honest it literally is just cleaner.

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Originally Posted by aespo

It was a great shave..I don't know about how aggressive it is as I don't have another for a frame of reference and there is no adjustment on it.

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IMO it is a nicely aggressive razor. If you are interested in another Gillette DE with similar characteristics look for a Red Tip Super Speed. A few years before Gillette introduced the adjustable they came up with three different Super Speed non adjustable models. The color of the TTO knob on the bottom of the handle represented the level of aggressiveness.

IIRC the blue tip was the least aggressive, the black tip was in the middle, and the red tip was the most aggressive. I have an American red tip and a British red tip, the latter being very scarce IMO. Both are also great shavers if you like a comfortably aggressive razor.

Thank you sir. I did not think that I would like the DE but with this one I am glad I tried it. I am sure that I will trip upon another one sometime in the future when the funds become available. Thanks for the tip on what to look out for for a possible next one.

Anthony