A Guessing Game
A Guessing Game
OK, can anyone figure out (or guess) what the little projections on the blade are for? No fair looking up the patent before making a guess here.
Re: A Guessing Game
The lettering in the picture reminds me of a B. Kliban cartoon. He was probably copying the appearance of similar material.
Re: A Guessing Game
Paul, that's a puzzle! I don't know how you manage to find these.
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
Re: A Guessing Game
I found it while looking for patents for the Gillette NEW razor, came up with an assumption about the projections, then read the patent and discovered that my assumption was wrong.
My search started by reading an old thread we were both in, where we and others were trying to figure out if you had a NEW razor or a "New Improved."
I also found some Gillette SE razor patents from around the same time.
My search started by reading an old thread we were both in, where we and others were trying to figure out if you had a NEW razor or a "New Improved."
I also found some Gillette SE razor patents from around the same time.
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Re: A Guessing Game
I was thinking alignment of some sort but that makes no sense. So I'm guessing they push the blade off of the bed of the razor to make it easier to grasp. Not that I ever thought that was a problem.
Brian
Maker of Kramperts Finest Bay Rum and Frostbite
Or find it here: Italian Barber, West Coast Shaving, Barclay Crocker, The Old Town Shaving Company at Stats, Maggard Razors; Leavitt & Peirce, Harvard Square
Maker of Kramperts Finest Bay Rum and Frostbite
Or find it here: Italian Barber, West Coast Shaving, Barclay Crocker, The Old Town Shaving Company at Stats, Maggard Razors; Leavitt & Peirce, Harvard Square
Re: A Guessing Game
No, they're not for alignment while you're shaving.
They do push the blade off the bed, but the reason doesn't have to do with making it easier to grasp it.
They do push the blade off the bed, but the reason doesn't have to do with making it easier to grasp it.
Re: A Guessing Game
Early leaf spring suspension for times when you take your razor off-road.
"Je n'ai pas besoin de cette hypothèse."
Pierre-Simon de Laplace
Pierre-Simon de Laplace
Re: A Guessing Game
Chris, you're right! (not)
And no, it's not to slant the blade.
I'll also eliminate my original guess - to have yet another patentable, exclusive thing to hold the blade in the razor, in addition to pins, slots, and all the other projections.
And no, it's not to slant the blade.
I'll also eliminate my original guess - to have yet another patentable, exclusive thing to hold the blade in the razor, in addition to pins, slots, and all the other projections.
Re: A Guessing Game
Mr. Gillette or whoever else may have owned Gillette in the 1930s probably had a department (one guy?) who was constantly developing designs fit for patent. Just as he also had a department (some other guy?) in charge of finding small companies they could either buy out or otherwise put out of business.
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
Re: A Guessing Game
Do you know about the merger between Gillette and Auto Strop?
Re: A Guessing Game
The history of the company is very interesting. Here's a good description I found: http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company- ... y-history/
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
Re: A Guessing Game
Should I reveal the answer? The replies seem to have petered out.
I'll give a hint - the feature is apparently an attempt to have some new patentable feature, but it doesn't have to do with how the blade is positioned while the blade is cutting your whiskers.
I'll give a hint - the feature is apparently an attempt to have some new patentable feature, but it doesn't have to do with how the blade is positioned while the blade is cutting your whiskers.
Re: A Guessing Game
Either everybody (all 2 of you! 3?) gave up or, more likely, lost interest. The projections suspend the blade in the middle when you loosen the head somewhat.
Why? is the question.
Why? is the question.
Re: A Guessing Game
It seemed like a good idea at the time I'm sure.
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
Re: A Guessing Game
It seems people used to loosen the razor head slightly for a more aggressive shave. Maybe this made that a bit more practicable before the advent of truly adjustable razors.
- Murray
- Murray
Re: A Guessing Game
Murray, you might be right, but the patent document doesn't mention that. Also, when you loosen the razor to make it more aggressive, you're turning it very little.
If you opened the razor enough to let the prongs suspend it between the top and bottom plates (or between the TTO doors and the bottom plate), I think the blade would be too loose to shave with.
If you opened the razor enough to let the prongs suspend it between the top and bottom plates (or between the TTO doors and the bottom plate), I think the blade would be too loose to shave with.
Re: A Guessing Game
The purpose of the prongs is to hold the blade in a way that makes it easy to rinse clean and then close up the razor again.
Re: A Guessing Game
Almost 90 years ago --- looks like the idea just didn't catch on. Makes me wonder what else is out there just gathering dust.
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