Thread: 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.

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.

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.

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

Originally Posted by Firefighter2

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

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.

Originally Posted by aespo

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

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.

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.