Super Speed 101

The Gillette Super Speed is probably the best-known of all the double-edge razors...quite possibly the best-known of any and all razors. Introduced in 1947, the Super Speed brought ease and convenience of shaving to millions of men (and, with the Lady Gillette, women) around the world. But there are many variations of this venerable face-scraper: '40s style, flare-tip, black-handled, colored-tip, even slight variations of the flare-tip handle. Here's a little primer on the differences, and what to look for (and beware of).

The 1941 Ranger Tech could, in my opinion, be considered the grandfather of the first Super Speed. It's most readily identified by the smooth band above the twist-to-open knob, where the patent date is printed, and the absence of end caps...

Odd brass head/nickel handle combination

...which were added to the father of the Super Speed, the 1946 Ranger Tech.

(Note: The patent info was removed from the smooth band and placed inside on the base plate in 1946, further aiding in proper identification.)

These two Ranger models are basically identical to the Super Speed released in 1947, but there is one more sure-fire identifier: in 1947, the base plate was creased at the oblong drain holes. As you can see on this Ranger head, there are no creases (circled areas):

The crease in the '47 base plate...

Also, in 1947, there *may* be a flat "shoulder" between the handle and the neck, unsure if that's true with ALL 1947s, and the elimination of the smooth band above the TTO knob...

(Gold-plated versions of the Super Speed were known as "Milord", and were produced in 1940 and 1946-53. Be wary of Super Speeds being offered as "rare 1946-47". The base plate is the key. And '47 models with the end caps removed being passed off as '41 Rangers. Look for that smooth band. Gillette had a habit of mixing old parts with new models to save money, so look for those hybrids, too.)

The center bar for the Rangers and '47 SS, over which the blade is loaded, was squared at each end with two protruding "ears" that helped keep the blade in place. In 1948, Gillette "notched" the center bar to introduce their new blade dispenser, touting a "hands off" approach to blade-loading, and the "ears" removed. Not only did they claim this was safer, but it sped up the loading process. The "notched" center bar can be seen here on this 1951 aluminum-handled black-tip...

...which also came in a steel-handled version (brass was in short supply due to World War II, and the Korean conflict was just beginning; brass was needed for shell casings). The smooth band at the top of the handle identifies the handle's material; the steel-handle is knurled all the way to the neck.

 1951 steel-handle black-tip, 1957 blue-tip

Wait a minute...what's that with the blue tip? Why, that's the blue-tip flare-tip! More on those later.

Up to this point, Gillette didn't identify Super Speeds with date codes; a letter (for the year) and 1-4 (designating the quarter of that year) began in the third quarter of 1950 ("V3", fairly rare). Also, in 1950, Gillette changed the wording stamped inside the base plate, under the center bar, from "PAT NOS ON PACKAGE" to "PAT NOS ON PKG". And the only difference between the 1948 and 1949 SS was the case. A red bottom/clear top styrene case replaced the simple cardboard box in 1949. The razors themselves are identical. (Note: The correct razor dispenser was a cream-colored plastic case.)

(Note: There are two variations of the "V" test code. One with the stampings right-side up, and one with the stamping upside-down. Why? Who knows?)

1950 V3

In 1954, the '40s style was replaced with the flare tip; however, the Z3 and Z4 models were special edition "TV Specials" (also released as a flare-tip in 1958). The flare-tip is just that:

The TTO knob was flared, evidently to give the user a better grip. And the flare-tips had their variants as well (notice the handle differences)...

1956, 1961, and 1973 Super Speeds

1958 "TV Special"

1956 red-tip

 Now, about those colored tips. Gillette produced three levels of aggressive Super Speeds: a black-tip '40s style (1951-52, and the only SS with a plastic TTO knob) with an average level of aggression, a blue flare-tip with a mild level (in single-ring and a twin-ring knob versions), and a red-tip with an aggressive level (both produced between 1955-60). There are also European versions of the Super Speeds known as "Rockets".

 HD500 "Rocket", made in England

Finally, in 1966, Gillette made its final change with the handle becoming a black resin-covered aluminum (two variations are known, knurled and waffle patterns)... 

...with production ending in 1988, and the introduction of cartridge-based razors, sounding what many thought was the death knell for double-edge razors.

But they are still very alive and well.