Gillette Wilkinson sword blades

What's the story with these blades? To those of us in the UK these two names dominate and are in competion with each other in the cartridge market, it seems like an unlikely partnership for them.

Anyone know?
There is quite a back story to Wilkinson Sword in the UK. It was a very old company, making firearms from 1772 and later swords, shears etc. Prior to 1962 blades were made of carbon steel and were usually discarded after a day or two because they rusted.

In 1962 Wilkinson Sword began their production of very high quality sharp stainless steel razor blades from factories in Acton and Chelsea, The effect on the market was revolutionary, Users now switched to Wilkinson Sword and used a blade a week. Gillette responded, reluctantly with stainless steel blades of their own. They had already developed a stainless blade but had not introduced it because they would sell less blades, they even held patents.

The disruption to the market led to an 86% reduction in blade sales in the UK and much of the market switched to Wilkinson Sword who had engaged in ferocious marketing on TV and print. My father switched to Wilkies and never went back.

This led to the development of cartridge razors as Gillete tried to claw back lost revenue. Gillette closed the UK Gillette factory on The Great West Road London in 2000.
 
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