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Some shavers love the Gillette Fat Boy (or 195 to give it its correct title), some shavers love the later Slim Adjustable - and here I count myself as one of them.
Others feel the balance of the 1970's and 1980's Super Adjustable (or Black Beauty as its sometimes known) is far superior.
So let me compare the three we have here - the 1960's Slim, the 1970's Super and the 1980's longer handled Super.
For me the 1960s (1962 in the picture) Slim offers almost perfect balance between handle and head. So far I have yet to have a poor shave with the Slim regardless of blade used. The razor does not seem biased towards either the head or the handle with both being roughly equal in weight. The twist to open mechanism is at the base of the handle and the adjuster mechanism altering blade exposure is located at the top with gradients 1-9 with 9 offering the highest degree of blade exposure.
The 1970's Super Adjustable (S1 in the picture from 1972) is an altogether different beast, construction differs in the use of a lighter black anodised aluminium handle - though keeping the set up of the TTO mechanism at the base of the handle and adjuster at the top. Because of the handles lighter construction the razor appears very head heavy and as a result requires far less pressure to do the job. For this reason the early Supers have a following
The 1980's Super Adjustable is different again, this one is a 1986 long handle version, but either through cost or as some attempt to redress the balance with regards the head heavy set up of the previous Super, the construction of the head differs significantly by means of a lighter base plate. Myself Im not a big fan of the longer handle, but it does sit well in the hand. The difference in balance is obvious and this harkens back to the 1960's design in being quite even in its weight distribution and as a result the shaver does have to use his judgement when it comes for applying pressure during the shave.
The Acid Test!
Any review and test is going to be subjective - my skin, the blades I use, my lathering technique and my shaving technique will differ from yours.
All three razors were loaded with a Gillette Thai Thin blade (new, not the same one!) and all three were used for 2 consecutive days for a 2 pass and touch up shave.
The Slim:
2 days and 2 very predictable shaves with the razor set on Number 4, no nicks, no roughness and no razor burn. The razor handles well around the face and gets to those awkward bits without any issues.
The 1972 Super Adjustable:
2 days, 2 shaves, set on number 4 - the first one saw a couple of nicks probably from being a little bit over zealous with the pressure I was applying - I backed off the razor to number 3 and carried on for day 2. The result was a pleasant close shave again the razor handles well around the face and gets to the awkward bits without any issues. With time it would be easy to get used to this and shave as rapidly as i do with the Slim. It has in fact found its way into my travel kit. Being an S1 its unlikely to ever get sold or passed on and will probably end up being buried with me.
The 1986 Super Adjustable:
2 days again and 2 shaves starting at number 3 - slightly less enjoyable. The razor due to its length feels bulky in my hand, yet weight wise it feels lighter than the Slim. More pressure is needed when applying to my face than the 1972 version, and dare I say more than the Slim. Yet despite the size of the handle the razor feels at home on my face, finds the awkward bits. I had to increase the setting through 4 and to 5 to achieve the same close shave as I got with a 3 on the 1972 variant, and at 5 I felt blade exposure was a little too harsh.
To conclude - the 1960's slim is still my go-to razor. The 1972 variant with its heavy head with time could take its place as the shave is different and the weight in the head to my mind makes for a close shave with less effort. The plastic head version however will be getting passed on as its not my cup of tea.
Others feel the balance of the 1970's and 1980's Super Adjustable (or Black Beauty as its sometimes known) is far superior.
So let me compare the three we have here - the 1960's Slim, the 1970's Super and the 1980's longer handled Super.
For me the 1960s (1962 in the picture) Slim offers almost perfect balance between handle and head. So far I have yet to have a poor shave with the Slim regardless of blade used. The razor does not seem biased towards either the head or the handle with both being roughly equal in weight. The twist to open mechanism is at the base of the handle and the adjuster mechanism altering blade exposure is located at the top with gradients 1-9 with 9 offering the highest degree of blade exposure.
The 1970's Super Adjustable (S1 in the picture from 1972) is an altogether different beast, construction differs in the use of a lighter black anodised aluminium handle - though keeping the set up of the TTO mechanism at the base of the handle and adjuster at the top. Because of the handles lighter construction the razor appears very head heavy and as a result requires far less pressure to do the job. For this reason the early Supers have a following
The 1980's Super Adjustable is different again, this one is a 1986 long handle version, but either through cost or as some attempt to redress the balance with regards the head heavy set up of the previous Super, the construction of the head differs significantly by means of a lighter base plate. Myself Im not a big fan of the longer handle, but it does sit well in the hand. The difference in balance is obvious and this harkens back to the 1960's design in being quite even in its weight distribution and as a result the shaver does have to use his judgement when it comes for applying pressure during the shave.
The Acid Test!
Any review and test is going to be subjective - my skin, the blades I use, my lathering technique and my shaving technique will differ from yours.
All three razors were loaded with a Gillette Thai Thin blade (new, not the same one!) and all three were used for 2 consecutive days for a 2 pass and touch up shave.
The Slim:
2 days and 2 very predictable shaves with the razor set on Number 4, no nicks, no roughness and no razor burn. The razor handles well around the face and gets to those awkward bits without any issues.
The 1972 Super Adjustable:
2 days, 2 shaves, set on number 4 - the first one saw a couple of nicks probably from being a little bit over zealous with the pressure I was applying - I backed off the razor to number 3 and carried on for day 2. The result was a pleasant close shave again the razor handles well around the face and gets to the awkward bits without any issues. With time it would be easy to get used to this and shave as rapidly as i do with the Slim. It has in fact found its way into my travel kit. Being an S1 its unlikely to ever get sold or passed on and will probably end up being buried with me.
The 1986 Super Adjustable:
2 days again and 2 shaves starting at number 3 - slightly less enjoyable. The razor due to its length feels bulky in my hand, yet weight wise it feels lighter than the Slim. More pressure is needed when applying to my face than the 1972 version, and dare I say more than the Slim. Yet despite the size of the handle the razor feels at home on my face, finds the awkward bits. I had to increase the setting through 4 and to 5 to achieve the same close shave as I got with a 3 on the 1972 variant, and at 5 I felt blade exposure was a little too harsh.
To conclude - the 1960's slim is still my go-to razor. The 1972 variant with its heavy head with time could take its place as the shave is different and the weight in the head to my mind makes for a close shave with less effort. The plastic head version however will be getting passed on as its not my cup of tea.
