Few products have had the lasting cultural and commercial impact of the Gillette safety razor. Invented at the turn of the 20th century, the Gillette razor revolutionized personal grooming and transformed an industry through innovative design and marketing. What began as a novel idea for a safer, more convenient shaving method has become both a household staple and a beloved collectible for enthusiasts worldwide.
Origins: The Need for a Better Shave
In the late 1800s, shaving was a cumbersome and often dangerous ritual. Men typically used straight razors—also known as “cut-throat” razors—that required skill, time, and frequent sharpening on a leather strop. These razors were expensive to maintain and risky to use.
Enter King Camp Gillette, a traveling salesman with a keen eye for invention and an entrepreneurial spirit. Gillette believed there was a better way—a safer, more convenient shaving tool that could be used at home by anyone, without the dangers or maintenance required by traditional razors.
The Breakthrough: Gillette’s Patent
Gillette’s idea was revolutionary: a razor handle that held a thin, disposable blade. The blade would be sharp out of the package, used a few times, and then discarded. This eliminated the need for sharpening and dramatically improved safety.
On November 15, 1904, King C. Gillette, along with engineer William Nickerson, was granted U.S. Patent No. 775,134 for the “Safety Razor.” This patent described a razor with a handle and a detachable head that clamped a disposable blade in place. The key innovation was the thin, double-edged steel blade that could be mass-produced cheaply and thrown away when dull.
The design was simple but effective, and it soon gained attention for its practicality.
The Business Model: Give Away the Razor, Sell the Blades
Gillette’s success wasn’t just in engineering—it was also in marketing. The Gillette company quickly realized that profits would not come from the razor itself, but from the continual sale of blades. This strategy is now famously known as the “razor and blades” business model: sell the razor handle at a low cost (or even at a loss), and make money from the recurring need for blades.
This model created a dependable revenue stream and ensured customer loyalty. Once a man owned a Gillette razor, he needed Gillette blades to keep using it. By 1910, Gillette was selling millions of blades annually.
One of the most brilliant moves came during World War I. In 1918, the U.S. government issued Gillette razors to American soldiers—around 3.5 million sets. When those soldiers returned home, they were already loyal customers, having used the Gillette razor throughout their service.
The Evolution of the Gillette Razor
From the 1903 original to modern iterations, Gillette continually improved and updated its razors. Here are a few notable developments:
- 1903: The first Gillette razors hit the market. Fewer than 100 were sold that year, but blade sales hit 168,000.
- 1904: Patent granted; Gillette begins production in earnest.
- 1921: Introduction of the “New Improved” razor, which featured a more refined head design.
- 1930s-1940s: The Gillette Tech razor launched, which would become one of the most ubiquitous safety razors of all time.
- 1950s: Introduction of the Gillette Super Speed, which added a twist-to-open (TTO) mechanism for easier blade changes.
- 1955: The Gillette Adjustable debuted, allowing users to adjust the aggressiveness of the shave.
- 1970s: Cartridge razors such as the Trac II began replacing safety razors, although DE (double edge) razors remained popular among enthusiasts.
Marketing and Branding: The Face of Modern Shaving
King Gillette wasn’t just an inventor—he was a branding genius. His face appeared on packaging, giving the product a personal touch and helping build consumer trust. Ads promoted the convenience, cleanliness, and modernity of the Gillette razor, often contrasting it with old-fashioned straight razors.
By mid-century, Gillette was a global household name. The company even became involved in other industries, including electronics and sports sponsorships (such as the Gillette Cavalcade of Sports radio/TV program).
Razor Collecting: A Passionate Subculture
While cartridge razors and electric shavers dominate today’s market, the classic Gillette safety razor has found new life among collectors and traditional shaving enthusiasts.
Vintage Gillette razors are prized for their craftsmanship, durability, and nostalgia. Collectors hunt for specific models, rare variants, and razors with unique markings or limited-edition packaging.
Some of the most sought-after models include:
- Gillette Double Ring (1903–1904) – the original release; extremely rare and valuable.
- Gillette Aristocrat (1930s–1950s) – elegant gold-plated razors often packaged in velvet-lined cases.
- Toggle Adjustable (1956–1960) – a rarer and mechanically unique model with a toggle switch opening.
- Fatboy Adjustable (1958–1961) – a robust adjustable razor with a cult following.
Dating Gillette Razors
A major appeal for collectors is being able to precisely date their razors. Gillette made this relatively easy by stamping date codes onto their razors starting in 1951. These consist of a letter and a number—e.g., “E2” indicates the second quarter of 1959.
Earlier razors can be dated by their patent numbers, design features, or packaging. Several guides and online databases help collectors determine the age and model of their razors.
Resources for Collectors
For those interested in learning more or starting a collection, here are a few valuable resources:
- The Gillette Date Code Chart – Razor Emporium’s guide to dating Gillette razors by code.
- Badger & Blade – A community forum for traditional shaving with many Gillette collectors.
- Shave My Face – Another active community of collectors and wet shaving enthusiasts.
- Mr. Razor (Archived Site) – A personal collection and image database with hundreds of Gillette models.
Gillette’s Legacy
Today, Gillette is still a major player in the shaving industry, though its focus has shifted to modern multi-blade cartridge systems like the Mach3 and Fusion lines. Nevertheless, vintage Gillette safety razors continue to thrive in a niche but passionate market of collectors, wet shavers, and traditionalists.
King Camp Gillette’s invention did more than change how men shave—it introduced a business model that’s now a standard across countless industries, from printers to gaming consoles. His razors, once everyday objects, are now prized artifacts—evidence of a time when ingenuity, clever marketing, and mass production came together to shape modern grooming.
Most of my collection displayed on bookshelf:
