Member
Northern Arizona
I have a '34 Aristocrat and several late '40 and early '50s British made Aristocrats. I don't find any of them to be aggressive at all. These are all open comb Aristocrats. My experience with the '53 British Coronation set is the same, mild shaver. PM if you have specific questions.
Dan
“Forty-two,” said Deep Thought, with infinite majesty and calm.
“Forty-two,” said Deep Thought, with infinite majesty and calm.
Member
Ohio
(This post was last modified: 02-23-2017, 12:21 AM by bakerbarber. Edit Reason: Spelling )
I agree.
Every one but one I had replated and then sold has been milder than anything modern.
The thing I noticed is that there was not as much consistency either as I would expect. I've had a few open comb American aristocrats and a few Made in England ones. Every razor is unique. Hard to say whether being used for decades makes a difference. I just think they were assembled by hand and each one shaved a little bit more or less efficiently and aggressively.
The solid bar Aristocrats seem more consistent to me. The dates seem to go up with the consistency of the way they perform. Older models have more variation from individual razor.
I've used #15 razors that felt like they weren't doing anything but left me baby butt smooth. The Gillette Senator and Sheraton have that feel sort of. The '34 and '36 US Aristocrats can feel this way too but not always. I'd say they're a bit more efficient than the others and have a bit more blade feel and play. A little loose feeling when closed and not the tightest tolerances with modern blades.
The differences are usually subtle. The nicer you can find one the better I would say your chances are of getting one that shaves nicely. The more beat up and worn out they get the bigger the question mark gets regarding how they function.
The one I had replated was very mild before being refinished. Afterwards it was different. Aggressive might not be the best way to describe it. It went from feeling like a Merkur open comb to feeling more like a Fatip. Subtle to some but I noticed it and just couldn't use it all the time.
It's impossible to say matter of fact that one model is always going to be better or worse than another. It's a matter of taste to what you like the looks of and feels better in the hand. Then if you buy two or three of the same model razor they might all shave differently. No lie. Not like buying a three piece tech, new, or old type where they're fairly similar from razor to razor within the same model.
Anything before the 50's twist to open in my mind is like buying a shaving brush. They can look the same but perform different.
Every one but one I had replated and then sold has been milder than anything modern.
The thing I noticed is that there was not as much consistency either as I would expect. I've had a few open comb American aristocrats and a few Made in England ones. Every razor is unique. Hard to say whether being used for decades makes a difference. I just think they were assembled by hand and each one shaved a little bit more or less efficiently and aggressively.
The solid bar Aristocrats seem more consistent to me. The dates seem to go up with the consistency of the way they perform. Older models have more variation from individual razor.
I've used #15 razors that felt like they weren't doing anything but left me baby butt smooth. The Gillette Senator and Sheraton have that feel sort of. The '34 and '36 US Aristocrats can feel this way too but not always. I'd say they're a bit more efficient than the others and have a bit more blade feel and play. A little loose feeling when closed and not the tightest tolerances with modern blades.
The differences are usually subtle. The nicer you can find one the better I would say your chances are of getting one that shaves nicely. The more beat up and worn out they get the bigger the question mark gets regarding how they function.
The one I had replated was very mild before being refinished. Afterwards it was different. Aggressive might not be the best way to describe it. It went from feeling like a Merkur open comb to feeling more like a Fatip. Subtle to some but I noticed it and just couldn't use it all the time.
It's impossible to say matter of fact that one model is always going to be better or worse than another. It's a matter of taste to what you like the looks of and feels better in the hand. Then if you buy two or three of the same model razor they might all shave differently. No lie. Not like buying a three piece tech, new, or old type where they're fairly similar from razor to razor within the same model.
Anything before the 50's twist to open in my mind is like buying a shaving brush. They can look the same but perform different.
Shave yourself.
-Todd
-Todd
Member
Northern Arizona
These are the Gillette 1930's models I use regularly:
1) 1938 Aristocrat No. 20, Rh plated, 71g. Brit. Pat. #400.621, Made in England
2) 1938 British Aristocrat Deluxe 66 Set; Rh plated Razor; 73g
3) 1934 Gillette Aristocrat TTO Razor and Blade Bank/Rose-Gold
4) 1938 Gillette Senator – Gold
I probably could be pursuaded to loan one.
1) 1938 Aristocrat No. 20, Rh plated, 71g. Brit. Pat. #400.621, Made in England
2) 1938 British Aristocrat Deluxe 66 Set; Rh plated Razor; 73g
3) 1934 Gillette Aristocrat TTO Razor and Blade Bank/Rose-Gold
4) 1938 Gillette Senator – Gold
I probably could be pursuaded to loan one.
Dan
“Forty-two,” said Deep Thought, with infinite majesty and calm.
“Forty-two,” said Deep Thought, with infinite majesty and calm.
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