GILLETTE RAZORS: MODELS & DATE CODES
GILLETTE OLD TYPE: 1903 - 1920
1903 - MODEL 100
SERIAL NO: none
"Double Ring" handle thin cap/guard
1904 - MODEL 100
SERIAL NO: 1-25424 ("Pat. appl. for")
SERIAL NO: 25425-45424 ("Pat. Nov. 15.04" (USA))
1905 - MODEL 100
SERIAL NO: 45425-370424 ("Pat. Mar.7.05" (Canada)) Single Ring Handle Introduced
1906 - MODELS 100/102
SERIAL NO: 370425-770424
Blades note: King Gillette's picture on blade wrappers
1907 - MODEL 102
SERIAL NO: 770425-A195424
1908 - MODEL 102
SERIAL NO: A195425-A675857
"Diamond & Arrow" logo, Pocket Edition with solid fancy handles & matching cases
1909 - MODEL 102
SERIAL NO: A675858-B222220
1910 - MODEL 102
SERIAL NO: B222221-B697600
Aristocrat Model introduced
1911 - MODEL 102
SERIAL NO: B697601-C80508
Blades note: 3 digit code: 1=year, 2/3=week
1912 - MODEL 102
SERIAL NO: C80509-C260238
1913 - MODEL 102
SERIAL NO: C260239-C407806
1914 - MODEL 102
SERIAL NO: C407807-C578360
Bulldog handle introduced
1915 - MODEL 102
SERIAL NO: C578361-C911806
Milady Decollete short handle (long neck)
1916 - MODEL 102
SERIAL NO: C911807-D516474
1917 - MODEL 102
SERIAL NO: D516475-E449207
Hollow Handle Pocket Edition
1918 - MODEL 102
SERIAL NO: E449208-J7344 plus F/G/H (no I) J Series all U.S. military
1919 - MODEL 102
SERIAL NO: J7345-K927216 J Series all U.S. military
Big Fellow introduced
1920 - MODEL 102
SERIAL NO: K927217-N459887
Blades note: Diamond and Arrow reduced to 7/8" wide
GILLETTE NEW IMPROVED: 1921 - 1929
1921 - MODELS 102, 102A, 106
102 SERIAL NO: N459887-P679777
102A/106 SERIAL NO: 1A-863912A (USA) V=Spain, W=France, Y=Britain, Z=Canada
102A: "Old Style" Thick cap/guard
106: New Improved / heavy flat guard
1922 - MODELS 102A/106
SERIAL NO: 863913A-336676B
Old Style still seen with no serial #
1923 - MODELS 102A, 106
SERIAL NO: 336677B-391575B
1924 - MODELS 102A, 106
SERIAL NO: 391576B-485927B
1925 - MODELS 102A, 106
SERIAL NO: 485928B-602049B
1926 - MODELS 102A, 106
SERIAL NO: 602050B-770070B
1927 - MODELS 102A, 106
SERIAL NO: 770071B-902611B Serial numbers end Oct. 17
1928 - MODELS 102A, 106, 126
SERIAL NO: 1C-94800C Serial numbers start Aug. 28
Model 126 = Model 106 / narrow shoulders
Blades note: Last year for 3-hole blades
1929 - MODELS 102A, 126, 134
SERIAL NO: 94801C-241755C
Model 134 "long slot" test marketed
Blades note: "New" Gillette long slot blade
GILLETTE NEW
1930 - 1933
1930 - MODEL 134
DATE CODE: A-J 1/2/3/4 (letter=year, number=quarter of year)
Note: Only DeLuxe models were serial numbered, starting with 1-D
Model 134: New Gillette takes slotted blades
Blades note: "De Luxe" Kroman stainless steel blade was introduced/discontinued and the year letter/ number code was introduced
1931 - MODELS 134, 148, 154
DATE CODE: B 1/2/3/4 (letter=year, number=quarter of year)
Models 148/154 had short bar/two bar caps
Blades note: Blue blade (plain slot and diamonds) was introduced
1931 - MODELS 160, 162, 164, 170, 175
SERIAL NO: none
"Goodwill" types, Handles had ball end and new bar end. Blades note: 2x crosshatch
1932 - MODELS 134, 160
DATE CODE: C 1/2/3/4 (letter=year, number=quarter of year)
Models 160: standard Goodwill/solid cap
Blades note: 4x crosshatch
1933 - MODELS 134, 160
DATE CODE: D 1/2/3/4 (letter=year, number=quarter of year)
Blades notes: "New" blade discontinued, blade corners are notched
GILLETTE GEN. 1 TWIST TO OPEN (TTO)
1934 - 1938
1934 - MODELS 134, 160, TTO
DATE CODE: E 1/2/3/4 (letter=year, number=quarter of year)
Aristocrat One-Piece TTO with Bulldog handle and comb guard
Twist to open (TTO)
1935 - MODELS 134, 160, TTO
DATE CODE: F 1/2/3/4 (letter=year, number=quarter of year)
Twist to open (TTO)
1936 - MODELS 134, TTO
DATE CODE: G 1/2/3/4 (letter=year, number=quarter of year)
Twist to open (TTO)
1937 - MODELS 134, TTO
DATE CODE: H 1/2/3/4 (letter=year, number=quarter of year)
Sheraton TTO (gold, open comb)
Twist to open (TTO)
1938 - MODELS 134, TTO
DATE CODE: I 1/2/3/4 (letter=year, number=quarter of year)
Senator TTO (nickel, open comb)
Twist to open (TTO)
Blades note: Thin blade introduced in Red/ Black wrapper
GILLETTE TECH
1939 - 1946
1939 - MODELS 134, TTO, TECH
DATE CODE: J 1/2/3/4 (letter=year, number=quarter of year)
Tech is introduced with triangle guard slots
Twist to open (TTO)
1940 - MODELS 134, TTO, TECH
DATE CODE: K - U 1/2/3/4 (letter=year, number=quarter of year)
Regent Tech TTO
Twist to open (TTO)
1941 - MODELS 134, TTO, TECH
DATE CODE: L 1/2/3/4 (letter=year, number=quarter of year)
Milord TTO (bar guard version of the Sheraton)
Twist to open (TTO)
1942 - MODEL TECH
DATE CODE: M 1/2/3/4 (letter=year, number=quarter of year)
War production only
Blades note: Blade tick marks denote Side I / Side II
1943 - MODEL TECH
DATE CODE: N 1/2/3/4 (letter=year, number=quarter of year)
War production only
Blades note: Limited civilian production
1944 - MODEL TECH
DATE CODE: O 1/2/3/4 (letter=year, number=quarter of year)
War production only
Blades note: Camouflage blades for military use
1945 - MODEL TECH
DATE CODE: P 1/2/3/4 (letter=year, number=quarter of year)
War production primarily
1946 - MODELS TTO, TECH
DATE CODE: R 1/2/3/4 (letter=year, number=quarter of year)
Full civilian production resumes
Blades note: Thin blade, black and white wrapper with red print
GILLETTE GEN. 2 TWIST TO OPEN (TTO)
1947 - 1955
1947 - MODELS TTO, TECH
DATE CODE: S 1/2/3/4 (letter=year, number=quarter of year)
Super Speed replaces the Senator, called the Rocket in Canada and UK
Center bars get notched in July
1948 - MODELS TTO, TECH
DATE CODE: T 1/2/3/4 (letter=year, number=quarter of year)
"Improved" TTOs notched for blade dispenser
Blades note: Cream plastic blade dispenser
1949 - MODELS TTO, TECH
DATE CODE: U 1/2/3/4 (letter=year, number=quarter of year)
First plastic case: red and clear styrene
1950 - MODELS TTO, TECH
DATE CODE: V - E 1/2/3/4 (letter=year, number=quarter of year)
Blades note: Blue plastic blade dispenser
1951 - MODELS TTO, TECH
DATE CODE: W 1/2/3/4 (letter=year, number=quarter of year)
1952 - MODELS TTO, TECH
DATE CODE: X 1/2/3/4 (letter=year, number=quarter of year)
1953 - MODELS TTO, TECH
DATE CODE: Y 1/2/3/4 (letter=year, number=quarter of year)
Executive with heavy rhodium handle
1954 - MODELS TTO, TECH
DATE CODE: Z 1/2/3/4 (letter=year, number=quarter of year)
Colored TTO knobs for blade gap (e.g., the Super Speed Trio - red tip, blue tip, silver tip)
1955 - MODELS TTO, TECH
DATE CODE: A 1/2/3/4 (letter=year, number=quarter of year)
GILLETTE GEN. 1 ADJUSTABLE
1956 - 1964
1956 - MODELS ADJUST, TTO, TECH
DATE CODE: B
Limited Release of the Toggle
1957 - MODELS ADJUST, TTO, TECH
DATE CODE: C
1958 - MODELS ADJUST, TTO, TECH
DATE CODE: D
"Adjustable" Dial TTO. THE TV Special this year only. Limited nickel toggle run.
1959 - MODELS ADJUST, TTO, TECH
DATE CODE: E
Adjustable TTO: short thick handle
1960 - MODELS ADJUST, TTO, TECH
DATE CODE: F - O
Toggle Adjustable produced
1961 - MODELS ADJUST, TTO, TECH
DATE CODE: G
1962 - MODELS ADJUST, TTO, TECH
DATE CODE: H
Men's Adjustable gets long thin handle
1963 - MODELS ADJUST, TTO, TECH
DATE CODE: I
Lady Gillette TTO introduced
Blades note: Stainless Steel Blade
1964 - MODELS ADJUST, TTO, TECH
DATE CODE: J
Tech notched guard ends
GILLETTE GEN. 1 CARTRIDGE
1965 - 1968
1965 - MODELS TTO, TECH, TECHMATIC
DATE CODE: K
"Techmatic" Band Blade Razor introduced
Blades note: Super Stainless Steel Blade, Techmatic Band Cartridges
1966 - MODELS TTO, TECH, TECHMATIC
DATE CODE: L
1967 - MODELS TTO, TECH, TECHMATIC
DATE CODE: M
1968 - MODELS TTO, KNACK, TECH, TECHMATIC
DATE CODE: N
Knack (SlimTwist in UK & Canada) with knob under head. "Orbiter 4000" electric Band razor introduced
Blades note: Plus DE Blade. Super Stainless Injector Blade
GILLETTE GEN. 2 ADJUSTABLE
1969 - 1970
1969 - MODELS TTO, KNACK, TECH, TECHMATIC
DATE CODE: O
TTO black handles (long and short)
"Super Adjustable" introduced
1970 - MODELS TTO, KNACK, TECH
DATE CODE: P - Z
Blades note: Platinum-Plus DE Blade
GILLETTE GEN. 2 CARTRIDGE
1971 - 1980's
1971 - MODELS TTO, KNACK, TECH, TRAC II
DATE CODE: R
"Trac II" introduced
Blades note: Trac II slide-on cartridge introduced
1972 - MODELS TTO, DE, TECH, TRAC II
DATE CODE: S
1973 - MODELS TTO, DE, TECH, TRAC II
DATE CODE: T
Trac II introduced as "G II" outside North America. Tech production ends in US
Blades note: "Twinjector" twinned injector blades introduced
1974 - MODELS TTO, DE, TRAC II
DATE CODE: U
1975 - MODELS DE, TRAC II, DISPO
DATE CODE: V
"Daisy" disposable for ladies introduced
1976 - MODELS DE, TRAC II, DISPO
DATE CODE: W
"Good News" disposable for men introduced
1977 - MODELS DE, TRAC II, DISPO, ATRA
DATE CODE: X
"Atra" introduced
Blades note: Atra clip-on pivoting cartridge introduced
1978 - MODELS DE, TRAC II, DISPO, ATRA
DATE CODE: Y
"Atra for women" introduced
1979 - MODELS DE, TRAC II, DISPO, ATRA
DATE CODE: Z
1980s - MODELS DE, TRAC II, DISPO, ATRA
DATE CODE: A - J
"Swivel" disposable introduced in 1980
SOURCES: "Safety Razor Reference Guide" by Robert K. Waits, "The Complete Gillette Collector's Handbook" and "Collector's Guide to American Razor Blades" by Phillip L. Krumholz, in addition to other sources from the wet shaving community
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