What's new

US Gillette Dating Information

This page documents what we know about Gillette safety razor serial numbers and date codes. Razors made in USA often left the factory with serial numbers or date codes, which can be used to establish their manufacturing dates. During certain periods some or all models were unmarked.

1903-1929 (serial numbers)

Production YearSerial NumbersModels ProducedNotes
1903n/aDouble Ring
(1903-1906)
For notes on the early company history, see Gillette Timeline.
19041‑45424Old Type
(1904-1929,
including
Single Ring,
Ball-End, etc.)
|
Serial numbers did not begin until midway through the year, and an estimated 55,000 were produced without serial numbers.
190545425‑370424
1906370425‑770424
1907770425‑999999
A1‑A195424
1908A195425‑A675857Diamond logo in use on blades by September, and perhaps on some razors and sets during or after Christmas.
1909A675858‑A999999
B1‑B222220
1910B222221‑B697600John J. Joyce buys out most of King Camp Gillette's stock. Gillette remains honorary president, but effectively retires.
1911B697601‑B999999
C1‑C80508
1912C80509‑C260238
1913C260239‑C407806
1914C407807‑C578360Nickerson invents an improved automatic honing machine, allowing increased blade production.
1915C578361‑C911806Launch of Milady Décolleté, first women's razor.
1916C911807‑C999999
D1‑D516474
Joyce retires to California, dies shortly afterward leaving controlling shares to John E. Aldred.
1917D516475‑D999999
E1‑E449207
Military SetsAldred reorganizes Gillette as a Delaware corporation. Annual sales exceed 1.1M razors.
1918E449208‑E999999
F1‑F999999
G1‑G999999
H1‑H999999
J1‑J7344
All J Series are WWI production. Annual sales near 5M razors in 1918. "I" was not used as a serial number prefix.
1919J7345‑J999999
K1‑K927216
1920K927217‑K999999
M1‑M999999
N1‑N459887
Annual sales exceed 2.1M razors in 1920. "L" was not used as a serial number prefix as it had already been used to stamp razors returned for repair.
1921N459887‑N999999
P1‑P679777
1A‑863912A
New Improved
(1921-1929,
including
Bostonian,
Big Fellow, etc.)
| "O" was not used as a serial number prefix. Original 1904 patents expire November 15, 1921. May launch of New Improved razor with new serial number format, starting with 1A. The Old Type continues as "Brownie" and various other sets, but without serial numbers. Annual sales exceed 4.2M razors.
1922863913A‑999999A
1B‑336676B
1923336677B‑391575B
1924391576B‑485927B
1925485928B‑602049B
1926602050B‑770070BGillette celebrates its 25th anniversary as a company. In Germany, competitor Roth-Buechner is purchased.
1927770071B‑902611BFrom Oct 18 1927 to Aug 27 1928, there were no serial numbers used.
19281C‑94800CSerial numbers resume. Nickerson retires. Gillette develops Kroman blades, and declines to purchase a new strip-based blade design offered by Henry J. Gaisman (Auto Strop).
192994801C‑241755CThe NEW
(1929-1940?)
| Auto Strop begins selling Probak razors and blades, using Gaisman's new design. The Probak reaches the market before Gillette launches the NEW in 1930.

1930-1949 (the "NDC" years)


In 1930 Gillette stopped using serial numbers on razors. So razors made from 1930-49 can be difficult to date precisely. However, blades made in those years were stamped with a date code: A for 1930, B for 1931, etc., plus 1-4 for the year quarter. So "A-1" means January-March 1930. In 1950 this system was expanded to include razors, too (see below). If a vintage razor is found with its original blades, the blade codes can be used to establish a rough date for the razor. This is not 100% accurate, since the blades may not be original or may have been made before or after the razor.


Production YearModels ProducedNotes
1930The NEW
(1929-1940?)
|
Gold plated Big Fellow intro'd as NEW Big Boy Deluxe. In this year only De Luxe models were numbered, starting with 1-D, and often the final D was omitted. Kroman blade introduced. Patent fight and merger with Auto Strop. Stock falls from over $100 to below $30.
1931GoodwillHenry J. Gaisman (Auto Stop) succeeds tainted management after financial scandals. Stock falls below $5. King Camp Gillette resigns as President.
1932Blue Blade introduced. Death of King Camp Gillette on July 9, 1932
1933
1934Gillette Aristocrat
1930s
The Aristocrat becomes the first Gillette TTO razor.
1935
1936
1937Sheraton
19383 Piece Tech
(1938-1979)
SenatorThin Blade introduced. Gaisman retires, succeeded by J.P. Spang, Jr. New emphasis on sports advertising.
1939"World Series Special" Tech.
1940Regent TechRegent Tech introduced as the first closed-comb TTO.
1941Aristocrat
(1941, 1946-1951)
Ranger TechMilord (1941, 1946-1953)"Cavalcade of Sports" theme introduced.
1942War Production Board orders dedicated military production for all razors and most blades.
1943
1944War Production Board lifts orders late in 1944.
1945
1946Aristocrat
(1941, 1946-1951)
Milord (1941, 1946-1953)Introduction of razor end caps.
194740s Style Super Speed
(1947-1954)
1948Introduction of notched post.
1949First plastic case: red/clear styrene

1950-1988 (letter codes)

The single-letter date codes are accompanied by a number, which corresponds to the quarter of the year. So 'O-1' means 1969, January-March. Date codes on blades (see above) also continued through this period.

YearcodeModels ProducedNotes
1950V3 Piece Tech
(1938-1979)
40s Style
Super Speed
(1947-1954)
Aristocrat
(1941,
1946-1951)
Milord
(1941,
1946-1953)
Razor Date Coding Begins with V-3
1951WBlack Tip
Super Speed
(1951-1952)
1952X
1953YPresident
1954ZFlare Tip
Super Speed
40s Style
Super Speed
TV Special
Z3 & Z4
1955ABlue Tip
and Red Tip
Super Speed
(1955-1960)
1956B
1957CToggle
(1957-1958,
1960)
Toggle Goes on
sale Christmas '57
1958D"Fat Boy"
Adjustable
50s Style
Super Speed
TV Special
1959E
1960FToggle
(1957-1958,
1960)
195 Adjustable
("bottom dial")
1961G"Slim"
Adjustable
Lady Gillette
1962H
1963I
1964J
1965K
1966LBlack Handle
Super Speed
The Knack
(1966-75)
1967M
1968NBlack Handle
Super
Adjustable
1969O
1970P
1971RSome razors produced
with Gillette code-Q.
Trac II introduced.
1972S
1973T
1974U
1975VAtra/Contour introduced.
Good News
disposable introduced.
1976W
1977XBlack Handle
Adjustable gets
plastic bottom plate
1978Y
1979Z
1980A
1981B
1982C
1983D
1984E
1985FAtra Plus/
Contour Plus
introduced,
first lube strips.
1986G
1987H
1988IOne of the last
batch of USA-made
DE razors.


This page has been seen 534,902 times.

Recent Activity

Icon Legend

  • Normal page
  • Color code

    • Content has new updates
    • Content has no updates

Share This Page

Top Bottom