Gifted a Gillette Adjustable!

So, about a week ago I was kindly gifted an vintage Gillette Adjustable(which sadly I don't know the exact year of make), from a manager at the hotel that I work at.  This was her father's razor and she has had it as a show piece as part of a small decorative display she has had for ages.  Knowing that I have an interest in this hobby and knowing that I take great care of what I own/am in charge of(and that her son would never use it), she passed it it down to me.

To which of course I was completely surprised and humbled at receiving! 

It is in great shape, as the pics will show it was in a need of a good cleaning up but all it took was some hot soap and water and a stiff toothbrush and a few minutes in my ultrasonic cleaner that I usually use for my airbrush and it was all shiny again : I have since used it and it's work perfectly, and the adjustments on it work without flaw and I can feel a difference between the settings.  I find the 1 is way too mild for my heavy beard, while 9 might be better saved for a day when I skip a few more days than normal between shaves : I settled on 5 for now, that seems to work well for me






Bonus pic!  After all those years of sitting in one place, there was actually a blade loaded this entire time!!! :O  So, for all you Canadians out there, this one is for us!


Didn't know blades were ever made in Canada, but, well, here is one!  If anyone knows about these, please do share I'd love to know more!  I've done a bit of research, and still am, but info seems to be conflicting and there is still a Minora brand out there by Gillette that's sullying my search efforts... that and my lackluster searching ability

Shawn, your beautiful adjustable (and it looks like a Slim rather than a Fat Boy or Super Adjustable) dates from the second quarter of 1966.  In your fourth picture, one can clearly see an L and a 2.  The L represents the date, in this case 1966, and the number represents the quarter of the year it was made so those numbers are always either 1, 2, 3, or 4.  To check out other codes, look here: http://www.razorarchive.com/gillette-date-codes.  Congratulations on a fine razor and a beautiful cleanup job.

Shawn, your beautiful adjustable (and it looks like a Slim rather than a Fat Boy or Super Adjustable) dates from the second quarter of 1966.  In your fourth picture, one can clearly see an L and a 2.  The L represents the date, in this case 1966, and the number represents the quarter of the year it was made so those numbers are always either 1, 2, 3, or 4.  To check out other codes, look here: http://www.razorarchive.com/gillette-date-codes.  Congratulations on a fine razor and a beautiful cleanup job.

Wow, thanks so much, Freddy! :   That's awesome to know, as I don't think she knows when it was made either, so I think she'll be interested to find this out!

And thanks, the clean up was actually rather easy, a lot of that gunk I could scrape off with my finger nail, so it wasn't on there very hard

I actually think the Slim is a better razor than the Fatboy. Nice gift!

I actually think the Slim is a better razor than the Fatboy. Nice gift!

I agree wholeheartedly, Brian. To be honest, I don't care for the head on the Fat Boy as I find it more difficult to get a decent shaving angle with it.

The Fatboy has a thicker head. Not by much but it's enough to be noticeable.

I find the same thing with Gillette razors after '21. Pre '21 the caps are thinner and noticeably so; at least for me. That makes them much easier for me to use. The only Gillettes I'll use today are pre '21. The rest are in mothballs.

Beautiful Slim. My Slim is my most used razor now.

That came up a treat - Shaving crud seems to preserve a razors shine so beautifully!

I actually think the Slim is a better razor than the Fatboy. Nice gift!

Haven't tried the Fatboy, but I have a Blue Tip and I'm trying to work out which one I like better.  That said, I think I'll end up liking them both for different reasons : And thanks

Beautiful Slim. My Slim is my most used razor now.

Thank! : I can understand that sentiment, now that I have I have used it a few times I can see this returning in my regular rotation.

That came up a treat - Shaving crud seems to preserve a razors shine so beautifully!

Seems like!  lol

I recently picked up a Slim at a local flea market for $5 in the same condition. Took it home, hit it with a toothbrush and the ultrasonic as well and while mine isn't in the same great condition as yours it still shaves great. I started out midway on the dial with my first use the other day and I think I'll step it up a little to find the sweet spot. Great razors, I just love finding them and putting them to good use.