Goodwill Razors

My understanding that a Gillette New with odd patent numbers ie. 1633739 makes them a Goodwill razor. How did this term come about?

My understanding that a Gillette New with odd patent numbers ie. 1633739 makes them a Goodwill razor. How did this term come about?

Brad, I always thought that a Goodwill was Gillette's version of a Frankenrazor.  That is, somewhere between the Old Type and the NEW, Gillette just mixed and matched to use up old parts.  I have no idea if this is true or not but here are photos of my Old Type and my 1931 Gillette #164 Reverse Stud Goodwill.  As you can see, the head plates are different but with the same arc while the base plates are just about identical.  Looking at them side on, it is hard to tell where one ends and the other begins. Therefore, I would say that my Goodwill is closer to an Old Type than a NEW.  Others could be different.  By the way, they each give similar excellent shaving results.


Gillette Old Type (rear view)


Gillette Old Type (front view)


Gillette Goodwill (rear view)


Gillette Goodwill (front view)


Goodwill and Old Type (width)


Goodwill and Old Type (length)

I have a Gillette new open comb, with the oddball serial number on the base plate. I guess it has the wrong base plate.

Thank you Freddy for the info.

I have a Gillette new open comb, with the oddball serial number on the base plate. I guess it has the wrong base plate.

Thank you Freddy for the info.

Not necessarily, Brad.  If I am correct (and I do not know if I am), it was my understanding that several pieces from the NEW and the Old Type, with a few different ideas thrown in (like the reverse stud) were used to make razors under the Goodwill name.  They were not like the Slim, for example, which was purpose built, so there are several different versions of the Goodwill.  

If someone has more accurate information then I hope they post here.

Goodwills all used some variation of diamond studs on the baseplate. In order to keep patent rights they moved to the diamond openings in blades and then gave away the razors.. At least that's how I remember the story going.

Goodwills all used some variation of diamond studs on the baseplate.  In order to keep patent rights they moved to the diamond openings in blades and then gave away the razors.. At least that's how I remember the story going.

I think this is correct.  It had to do with a patent struggle with Probak I believe.  Gillette ended up merging with Probak after it looked like they were going to lose the patent battle.

Karl