First of all, thanks to all of you who through your feedback and commentary, helped me get into wet shaving. I've really enjoyed the experience thus far. I was recently discussing this with my mother (in her 80's), when she went to her room and brought this back and gave it to me. It was my grandfather's Gillette razor she kept from his estate. I've actually been shaving with it and enjoying the nostalgia of using something my grandfather used. But I've been unsuccessful in my efforts at identifying the year this razor was manufactured. I 'think' it was somewhere between 1910 and 1925, but that's simply a guess based on what I've found online.

Can any of you help identify the year of manufacture based on these pics? I'd really love to know.

That's nice. How about sending a picture and one with that serial number showing to Gillette. Bet they can ID it.

Nice razor! I'd guess 1930's Belmont New Deluxe. Serial number should ID actual year/ model. Good luck in your endeavors.

It looks like the razor my Grandfather used. Maybe it is from the late 1930s, early 1940's?

That is a very nice collectible. In good condition, complete, and with box.

Especially since it is from a family member.

I found these sites:
https://www.razoremporium.com/gillette-date-codes/
https://www.badgerandblade.com...e_Dating_Information

I don't see 4755L (shown in your last picture) listed in the codes. (Maybe that is not a serial number.)

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Eponym,

quote:

Originally posted by Poppi:
Nice razor! I'd guess 1930's Belmont New Deluxe. Serial number should ID actual year/ model. Good luck in your endeavors.

No, given the shape of the comb and other attributes, its looking more and more like its from the mid 1920's.

quote:

Originally posted by Eponym:
I found these sites:
https://www.razoremporium.com/gillette-date-codes/
https://www.badgerandblade.com...e_Dating_Information

I don't see 4755L (shown in your last picture) listed in the codes. (Maybe that is not a serial number.)

And therein lies my problem. I too checked those websites, but the serial number on the head doesn't cross reference. I found an additional reference etched around the base of the handle "Pat. Jan 13, 1920 USA". Though that doesn't tell me the exact year of manufacturer, it does fit it into the era I'd previously noted. Just kinda fun when you think about shaving with a 100 year old razor. But I'm wondering if it's worth any real money as a collectable, and maybe I should just put it on display and use something else.

As old as it it, the razor delivers a pretty darn nice shave with a Personna Red blade and Taylor of Old Bond Street shaving cream.

I suggest use it to shave the belly of a drunken monkey... (There may only be two of us who know that song/find this funny...)

quote:

Originally posted by Aglifter:
I suggest use it to shave the belly of a drunken monkey... (There may only be two of us who know that song/find this funny...)

sigmonkey - you gonna let them get away with that?

They get me drunk enough, I might be willing.

I ain't cheap, and I ain't easy, but I can be had...

As long as it is not with a rusty razor.

Way Hay and up she rises!

That is, I think, a Gillette New Belmont. Richwood (written inside the box) was a deluxe model. I think these are from the '30s, but I am not an expert, and the websites I looked at didn't have one like the one you have.

The charts I looked at don't have serial numbers that match the number. Gillette used serial numbers until early '31 and again after '51. There were no SNs in the period '31 to '51. But that doesn't look like a serial they ever used.

You start here:

Identifying Vintage Gillette DE Razors
And we learn your Gillette is a New Improved.

So we go here: New Improved

Circa 1923. Missing the razor box

Thank you cjevans! That is just outstanding. So its just short of 100 years old. Now if only I can find a razor blade box to go with it. I think I'm going to clean it up then shine it up, and use it as a display in my office.

Thanks again sir.