#1
(This post was last modified: 08-28-2016, 10:44 PM by brothers.)
I bought this one through ebay from a gent in Luxembourg a few years ago without knowing what I could expect, and it's a great shaver. I stumbled onto a wonderful razor. This is the Patent Pending model that weighs 75.7g. I am mostly seeing other Rockets that are only 71g. I am under the impression this one came out around 1953-54? Hoping someone with a full understanding of these razors can tell me a bit more about the origins and history of this one. I am also interested in maybe getting an Aristocrat 58 (?) that would be the heavier model, to match my Rocket if there is such a thing.

Edit: I've done some searching today, and here is a link to an SMF thread from a while back that possibly identifies my razor as an HD 500 or a Double Ring. I haven't found any reference to the differences in weight (mine is 75.7g). I also found a reference to a #59, but haven't had an opportunity to research in that direction.
http://www.shavemyface.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=17297
Best Regards,

Gary
#2
The Gillette Rockets are excellent razors. They differ from their American cousins by the manner in which they close and as well in how the head is fastened to the handle. The English Gillette TTO razors used a crimping tool to fasten them. Therein lies their only defect in that if the head comes loose they are far more difficult to repair than an American Super-Speed. Some believe as well that the English Gillette razors were made a little better, or at least finished better. That is in the eye of the beholder IMO.

Know also that "decrypting" the model nomenclature of British Gillette razors is akin to Linear B Greek.  Confused  The British seem to have a fetish for complex numbering systems that oft times involves confusing usage of #, MK, *, etc.  Rolleyes  Wink
Secretary Ramsey put his foot into it yesterday . . . in the course of his remarks he said that California “needs water and better society.”  “So does h-ll,” yelled someone in the crowd.  
#3

Hobbyist
Ottawa, Canada
The Rocket HD 500 is a wonderful razor - heavy, well-built, and solid. Certainly one of my favourites among the Gillette TTO line. The #58 comes in two varieties - one made of brass, and one made of aluminium (somewhat more rare I believe). If you find the Brass model, it's essentially the same razor as the HD 500, but with a different, more elegant barber-pole knurling. The Aluminum model is the same design, but obviously weighs less.

All in all - the rockets are great razors. I prefer them to their American counterparts (the Superspeeds), because they feel more solidly built to me. Also, I like the way the mechanism works - looks prettier Smile

User 1429 likes this post
#4

Shaven in the Past
(This post was last modified: 08-29-2016, 05:28 PM by preidy.)
I have the HD 500 53/54 verison also. It's my smoothest shaver just a nick ahead of my DE89 and NEW SC. I''m a big fan of the Rocket's. I also have a 1949, a Regular, Blue, Red and Rhodium Flair Tip models in addition to a Parat. I love them all and agree that they are a notch ahead of their US counterparts in built and shave quality.
#5
As I continue to use it daily, I'm becoming quite attached to the way it performs. Build and shave quality are outstanding even 60 years of service.
Best Regards,

Gary
#6
brothers , is your razor just like the one pictured further down in that thread you posted?


Users browsing this thread: