Hellas
Blade Whisperer
So, lets open a thread for the legendary Gillette Adjustables.
To my knowledge the first Adjustable by Gillette came on the market in 1958 and was produced until the 4th quarter of 1961. The model name of Gillette was "Gillette 195 Adjustable Razor", but only affectionately called "Fatboy" by all, because its handle is shorter and thicker than that of its successor, the "Slim".
As all Gillette Adjustables it is a one-piece razor with twist-to-open ("TTO" / "Butterfly") - head and adjusting ring for adjusting the blade distance from the bar and thus the aggressiveness of 1-9. In contrast to some other razors, not only the distance between the blade and the bar but also the angle of the blade itself changes by adjustment, since the blade is bent slightly differently by adjustment.
For me, both the Fatboy and the Slim are quite mild and predictable journeymen, who are a bit as "aggressive" as a Mühle R89 at level 3 and reach the "aggressiveness" of a Merkur Progress at level 2.5 at level 5 and you can slowly get to the bigger levels, whereas it never reaches the aggressiveness of a R41 even at 9. By the way, one of the most blade-tolerant razor I know. There is no (good) blade that works for me in other razors and not in Fatboy. Also for me one of the most beautiful safety razors ever made.
When adjusting - especially from smaller to larger steps - please always make sure to loosen the butterfly head with the lower wheel slightly by turning it to the left so that the mechanics do not get damaged.
For further information about the Gillette Adjustables I can only recommend the page of Glenn Conti:
So here are my two Fatboys An F-4 from the 4th quarter 1960 and a G-1 from the first quarter 1961:
To my knowledge the first Adjustable by Gillette came on the market in 1958 and was produced until the 4th quarter of 1961. The model name of Gillette was "Gillette 195 Adjustable Razor", but only affectionately called "Fatboy" by all, because its handle is shorter and thicker than that of its successor, the "Slim".
As all Gillette Adjustables it is a one-piece razor with twist-to-open ("TTO" / "Butterfly") - head and adjusting ring for adjusting the blade distance from the bar and thus the aggressiveness of 1-9. In contrast to some other razors, not only the distance between the blade and the bar but also the angle of the blade itself changes by adjustment, since the blade is bent slightly differently by adjustment.
For me, both the Fatboy and the Slim are quite mild and predictable journeymen, who are a bit as "aggressive" as a Mühle R89 at level 3 and reach the "aggressiveness" of a Merkur Progress at level 2.5 at level 5 and you can slowly get to the bigger levels, whereas it never reaches the aggressiveness of a R41 even at 9. By the way, one of the most blade-tolerant razor I know. There is no (good) blade that works for me in other razors and not in Fatboy. Also for me one of the most beautiful safety razors ever made.
When adjusting - especially from smaller to larger steps - please always make sure to loosen the butterfly head with the lower wheel slightly by turning it to the left so that the mechanics do not get damaged.
For further information about the Gillette Adjustables I can only recommend the page of Glenn Conti:
So here are my two Fatboys An F-4 from the 4th quarter 1960 and a G-1 from the first quarter 1961:
I find the Slim one of the very most beautiful DE’s ever made!
