*MYSTERY SOLVED!* Previously unknown Gillette injector?
- IAmTheJody
- Posts: 213
- Joined: Fri Oct 15, 2010 12:04 pm
- Location: Mississippi - The Magnolia State
*MYSTERY SOLVED!* Previously unknown Gillette injector?
Hi all. I snagged this on eBay and wanted to see if anyone here has any info...
This is the Gillette Contra. And it is an injector.
There is literally no information I can find on the internet anywhere and none of the more "hardcore" collectors I know have a clue and have ever seen or heard of this thing.
I was able to find trademark info for Gillette and Contra, but that's it. No old magazine adverts, no other listings anywhere, no information, no history, not even anyone on any of the shaving forums who have bought or sold one.
I have a theory that since the seller is in Massachusetts and since Massachusetts is Gillette's home, this razor was either a prototype or a extremely limited test market unit that Gillette decided not to "go with". Also notice the white X on the blade dispenser. I also notice it's aesthetics resemblance to the band-razor Gillette Techmatic.
The trademark is from 1967. Gillette did not come out with an actual injector razor until 1973, called the Twinjector and which is the one and only injector from Gillette that most of us all know and know what it looks like - nothing close to resembling this Contra.
Here is the Contra trademark information:
On Monday, April 03, 1967, a U.S. federal trademark registration was filed for CONTRA by The Gillette Company, BOSTON, MA 02106. The USPTO has given the CONTRA trademark serial number of 72268122. The current federal status of this trademark filing is EXPIRED. The correspondent listed for CONTRA is PHILIP COLMAN of PRUDENTIAL TOWER BLDG., 37TH FLOOR, BOSTON, MASS. 02199 . The CONTRA trademark is filed in the category of Yarns and Threads . The description provided to the USPTO for CONTRA is RAZORS AND RAZOR BLADES.
And this is interesting, from the instructions:
The Gillette "Contra" Blade Razor is the latest achievement of world renowned Gillette research. It is based on an entirely new principle of shaving. It's a double edge blade with a difference. The two stainless steel edges face each other. While one edge cuts the whiskers, the other edge sets them up.
And here it is. Do you know anything about this one?
This is the Gillette Contra. And it is an injector.
There is literally no information I can find on the internet anywhere and none of the more "hardcore" collectors I know have a clue and have ever seen or heard of this thing.
I was able to find trademark info for Gillette and Contra, but that's it. No old magazine adverts, no other listings anywhere, no information, no history, not even anyone on any of the shaving forums who have bought or sold one.
I have a theory that since the seller is in Massachusetts and since Massachusetts is Gillette's home, this razor was either a prototype or a extremely limited test market unit that Gillette decided not to "go with". Also notice the white X on the blade dispenser. I also notice it's aesthetics resemblance to the band-razor Gillette Techmatic.
The trademark is from 1967. Gillette did not come out with an actual injector razor until 1973, called the Twinjector and which is the one and only injector from Gillette that most of us all know and know what it looks like - nothing close to resembling this Contra.
Here is the Contra trademark information:
On Monday, April 03, 1967, a U.S. federal trademark registration was filed for CONTRA by The Gillette Company, BOSTON, MA 02106. The USPTO has given the CONTRA trademark serial number of 72268122. The current federal status of this trademark filing is EXPIRED. The correspondent listed for CONTRA is PHILIP COLMAN of PRUDENTIAL TOWER BLDG., 37TH FLOOR, BOSTON, MASS. 02199 . The CONTRA trademark is filed in the category of Yarns and Threads . The description provided to the USPTO for CONTRA is RAZORS AND RAZOR BLADES.
And this is interesting, from the instructions:
The Gillette "Contra" Blade Razor is the latest achievement of world renowned Gillette research. It is based on an entirely new principle of shaving. It's a double edge blade with a difference. The two stainless steel edges face each other. While one edge cuts the whiskers, the other edge sets them up.
And here it is. Do you know anything about this one?
Last edited by IAmTheJody on Thu Jun 21, 2012 5:49 pm, edited 4 times in total.
Very interesting
I've never seen a Gillette injector razor like that. It is certainly very stylish. Hopefully there is someone else out there who can provide us with some history of this design.
nelson
nelson
I've never seen it before, and I don't remember seeing a patent document for it, or seeing it in Phil Krumholz's Gillette guide. It has a prototype or test market look to it, and I would guess that it's pretty rare and valuable.
I'll search for a patent document. They filed for a trademark on "Contra" in 1967, so that narrows it down. The patents should all be older than the ones for the Trac II.
I'll search for a patent document. They filed for a trademark on "Contra" in 1967, so that narrows it down. The patents should all be older than the ones for the Trac II.
- IAmTheJody
- Posts: 213
- Joined: Fri Oct 15, 2010 12:04 pm
- Location: Mississippi - The Magnolia State
Yeah, I just realized what I have been referring to as patent info, is actually trademark info. Doh!Pauldog wrote:I've never seen it before, and I don't remember seeing a patent document for it, or seeing it in Phil Krumholz's Gillette guide. It has a prototype or test market look to it, and I would guess that it's pretty rare and valuable.
I'll search for a patent document. They filed for a trademark on "Contra" in 1967, so that narrows it down. The patents should all be older than the ones for the Trac II.
- IAmTheJody
- Posts: 213
- Joined: Fri Oct 15, 2010 12:04 pm
- Location: Mississippi - The Magnolia State
From reading the description, I imagine that the blades are as narrow as an injector blade, but shaped like a DE- inside out- with the sharp edges on the interior and and dull edges on the exterior.
If so it almost seems like a good idea, but I can see why it didn't make it to market.
If so it almost seems like a good idea, but I can see why it didn't make it to market.
--
I am Chris #6. No relation to Nikki.
I am Chris #6. No relation to Nikki.
- IAmTheJody
- Posts: 213
- Joined: Fri Oct 15, 2010 12:04 pm
- Location: Mississippi - The Magnolia State
It arrived today in the mail. I was hoping to find a date code on the razor, case, blade dispenser... somewhere. But nothing. No markings at all, anywhere, except for the white X on the blade dispenser.
The blade edges do indeed face each other which is very unique and an interesting concept.
I'll post more pics showing much better detail, later.
The blade edges do indeed face each other which is very unique and an interesting concept.
I'll post more pics showing much better detail, later.
Even with Pauldog's description and some marks I must be a visual learner because I can't imagine what it means when they say the edges are facing each other. I'm one of those guys that need lots of drawings or pictures.
Gary
SOTD 99%: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, soaps & creams, synthetic / badger brushes, Colonial General razor, Kai & Schick blades, straight razors any time, Superior 70 aftershave splash + menthol + 444
SOTD 99%: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, soaps & creams, synthetic / badger brushes, Colonial General razor, Kai & Schick blades, straight razors any time, Superior 70 aftershave splash + menthol + 444
- IAmTheJody
- Posts: 213
- Joined: Fri Oct 15, 2010 12:04 pm
- Location: Mississippi - The Magnolia State
Here's a picture I took today of the head with the blade injected. I brightened and enhanced it so it could be seen better. Interestingly, it is a single bladebrothers wrote:Even with Pauldog's description and some marks I must be a visual learner because I can't imagine what it means when they say the edges are facing each other. I'm one of those guys that need lots of drawings or pictures.
Squire, after studying the way the blade looks, maybe you've hit upon the real intended use for this razor. The blade would in theory cut on the up stroke and also on the down stroke, if a guy wanted to keep the head of the razor in contact with the skin at all times, he could move the razor up and down and cut whiskers 100% of the time. Like a potato peeler, which it appears was the inspiration for this design. The name is the giveaway, contra means against or in opposition to, so this one was intended to cut while moving both ways.Squire wrote:Gary that's not something I want to think about. Sounds like Dr. Dolittle's push me-pull you animal.
Edit: see the photo that's posted immediately after this post. The red flyer in the case shows arrows pointing both left and right, indicating that was the intent. A new way to shave: too bad it didn't catch on!
Last edited by brothers on Tue Jun 05, 2012 5:06 am, edited 1 time in total.
Gary
SOTD 99%: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, soaps & creams, synthetic / badger brushes, Colonial General razor, Kai & Schick blades, straight razors any time, Superior 70 aftershave splash + menthol + 444
SOTD 99%: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, soaps & creams, synthetic / badger brushes, Colonial General razor, Kai & Schick blades, straight razors any time, Superior 70 aftershave splash + menthol + 444