Thread: 1958 gold plated Gillette Toggle D1

If you know what this picture is of, and why I'm doing it - then we need to talk! I am getting closer. It's turning, and adjusting the plate. It even clicks if I manually hold the plate up, but no clicks in its normal position. Advice appreciated.

I know there is a youtube vid that gets into calibrating the adjustments on fatboys. It is the same basic mechanism so do a search on YT for fatboy adjustment or something of that sort.

Originally Posted by JoelLewicki

If you know what this picture is of, and why I'm doing it - then we need to talk! I am getting closer. It's turning, and adjusting the plate. It even clicks if I manually hold the plate up, but no clicks in its normal position. Advice appreciated.

It's not supposed to "Click", because it's a Gillette Silent Fatboy model. Designed by Gillette to be used on submarines. If a sailor starts dialing up his shave & the razor starts clicking away, then the enemy can lock into the submarine's location using sonar. We almost lost 2 subs during the cold war, for this exact reason. The Department of the Navy then had Gillette make the silent adjustable model that you have.

Nice - if you get that working, what's that, $1,200 worth of fun!!! Saw a gold toned one go for that a week or so ago...nice catch!

Originally Posted by Phrank

Nice - if you get that working, what's that, $1,200 worth of fun!!! Saw a gold toned one go for that a week or so ago...nice catch!

Guess my near mint copy is destined for the bay .......

A touch of dishwashing soap in the water works well. I have freed up a few fatboys and slims. Soak it for a day, see how much it turns back and forth and then rinse it with LOTS of water to try and flush whatever you can out. Soak it another day and repeat. If the water gets crappy change it out. DO NOT add simple green. Given enough time it will find the smallest scratch to base metal and can release loose plating.

If you have one of the ultrasonic jewelry cleaners and solution that really speeds up the process. Good luck and we (I) need pictures! I have one in my sites as we speak and I need some motivation

Another tip, for gold plated, or just plated DEs in general, Windex was recommended. Does a good job of maintaining without harming the finish. I mean following what MattCB said above. Also guys used to soak TTOs in mineral oil after cleaning. Lets it get into the nooks and crannies. Messy but it seems to help some of them.