The Answer Man

Mopar Mark said:
1. Yes, of course there is R&D money for DE, although smaller in percentage than S/E. Saying that if the idea is proven to be good, with return on investment within the timeline, then money for R&D is always available. In an ideal world it would be great if the R&D ideas could be shared or applied to both products, but unlikely to happen. During my time in charge of DE, we were always actively developing ideas in the group

2. I'll let Gillette tell you that or I'll allow the customer to decide
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Thank you for all this insight - it's genuinely fascinating.

If I may pose a question - it's been mentioned on a different thread that production in plants (PPI in this particular case) is set up to deliver a particular product in mass (Gillette Platinums for example) and is then subsequently set up for the next product. This is why we we see the gradual introduction of changes such as packaging or print to laser etched branding etc. Is this the case across all (or most) plants? Also, does this mean that the difficulty in obtaining some blades is potentially temporary as their availability will be improve after a future production run (I'm thinking Polsilvers and the like here)?
 
Boycie83 said:
Thank you for all this insight - it's genuinely fascinating.

If I may pose a question - it's been mentioned on a different thread that production in plants (PPI in this particular case) is set up to deliver a particular product in mass (Gillette Platinums for example) and is then subsequently set up for the next product. This is why we we see the gradual introduction of changes such as packaging or print to laser etched branding etc. Is this the case across all (or most) plants? Also, does this mean that the difficulty in obtaining some blades is potentially temporary as their availability will be improve after a future production run (I'm thinking Polsilvers and the like here)?
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Manufacturing & Planners discuss the yearly Blade Production forecasts, covering areas such as; Products requirements, Volume v Equipment, Staffing/ Shifts, Maintenance, Flexibility, Promos, etc, this is also balanced across current inventory/Global inventory, Sales to date/forecasted. historical data...

it's important relationship between Planning & Manf to minimise equipment change overs, balance the loading, as in not good to work 24/7, overtime, etc for a couple of months, then a quiet period, etc, etc

in an ideal world, the planning & production requirements wouldn't change & every thing would run smooth & targets achieved. Sales would meet their forecasts, Distribution ensures Products available on the shelf , etc.etc but never that simple....
 
Missoni said:
Are you able to say what DE blades you admire in terms of the manufacturing process, coatings used and the QC?' what is Gillette's most technically advanced blade?. On another forum there is a thread which shows various blade edges under magnification and I was surprised that Feather and KAI blades had smooth edges with consistent application of the coatings; in comparison, the many other blades which were photographed under magnification had blade edges that looked like a moon scape and the coatings looked like they had been splashed on.
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@Missoni
Did you ever see this thread from B&B? It has pictures of blade edges under the microscope. The edge of the Feather blade in question doesn't look as smooth as some other ones.
 
donnie_arko said:
@Missoni
Did you ever see this thread from B&B? It has pictures of blade edges under the microscope. The edge of the Feather blade in question doesn't look as smooth as some other ones.
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I did not see the ones over at B&B but will check them out. I was referring to Squire's blade reviews over at SMF from 2008. He appears to be impartial, in that he does not work in the razor blade industry, let alone a particular blade manufacturer; further his reviews are well respected. He rated the Polsiver, 7oC Yellow and English Wilkinson highly but not as highly as Feather.

This is his description of the Feather blade's characteristics "This is a blade of the highest quality that has the most unusual edge I have yet examined. The grind from the table is a long, graceful slope that merges imperceptibly with the hone. I looked this over carefully, rejected several other photos, and I believe I think I have concluded that there is a barely visible third hone down to the final edge. It's not apparent at first look because the whole edge finishing process is so smoothly done that one is struck by the obviously quality without realizing why. It could be true that this little bugger has a tiny super sharp edge that when worn down slightly causes the blade to reach the end of its useful span. This is the blade of blades. It's sharpness and smoothness is unmatched by any other brand. It's so good it makes even a mild razor shine. It costs more than other blades because it's worth it."

I found his blade reviews to be spot on. And the pictures he uploaded of the various blades under review, speak volumes. I use Feather, 7oC Yellow and Shark SS regularly and find their characteristics exactly as described by Squire. That said, with Gillette having so many branded blades, I do wonder if their "best" blades have changed over time or the manufacturing process and characteristics of a particular branded blade has been improved in the recent past. Also there is quite a few posts over the years on various forums that have questioned the consistency of sharpness with regard to Gillette blades (particularly their carts and especially when a new model is released).
 
Mopar Mark said:
1. Yes, of course there is R&D money for DE, although smaller in percentage than S/E. Saying that if the idea is proven to be good, with return on investment within the timeline, then money for R&D is always available. In an ideal world it would be great if the R&D ideas could be shared or applied to both products, but unlikely to happen. During my time in charge of DE, we were always actively developing ideas in the group

2. I'll let Gillette tell you that or I'll allow the customer to decide
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Thanks for the info and for taking the time to write the fascinating responses.

RE Point 2, I said to Bogeyman in another thread I think we're in the golden era for blades, with technology, QC and other factors and due to being able to purchase blades intended for a multitude of different markets/nations there's never been a better time to buy blades and I'd say with the right razor all of the contemporary Gillette blades I have used (which is a good proportion) can produce exceptional results with the right razor and technique.

One small question, on the forums there seems to be a lot of enthusiasm with a few blades from yesteryear - USA made Spoilers, the Swede, maybe the UK made Super Silvers too. Have Gillette effectively 'relaunched' these blades under different guises? It's been suggested by a few the PPI 7 Green is the new Spoiler, but I am not sure if I am making that up! There was another report that the PPI Gillette 7 O'Clock Super Platinum Blue was relaunched as the Gillette Silver Blue - is this true?
 
Missoni said:
I "This is a blade of the highest quality that has the most unusual edge I have yet examined.
The grind from the table is a long, graceful slope that merges imperceptibly with the hone.
I looked this over carefully, rejected several other photos, and I believe I think I have concluded that there is a barely visible third hone down to the final edge.
It's not apparent at first look because the whole edge finishing process is so smoothly done that one is struck by the obviously quality without realizing why.
It could be true that this little bugger has a tiny super sharp edge that when worn down slightly causes the blade to reach the end of its useful span.

This is the blade of blades. It's sharpness and smoothness is unmatched by any other brand. It's so good it makes even a mild razor shine. It costs more than other blades because it's worth it."
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Without looking at the blade, it's hard to say. It may possibly be a stropped blade, which gives a nice Gothic arch to the tip & visually it looks good.

Really depends on their equipment set up as to how this was sharpened. There are many options, Band grinding, honing & Off line band strops, these two options work on individual blades, as opposed to constant blade strip.
 
I'm going to apologize right now (I am Canadian after all) for an off-topic post...

With a username like @Mopar Mark, I think you'll understand. My daughter owns a 2017 Dodge Challenger Hellcat, 6 speed manual. 700+ horsepower (on pump gas!). It's a beast. 24 mpg highway. However, at full throttle, it drains a full tank of fuel in 12 minutes. It will smoke the tires at 100km+ simply by flooring the pedal. The supercharger scream and exhaust note at redline is a symphony. Yeah, she's a gearhead. Rides a Buell XB12R too.
 
We FINALLY get a person in the know who is giving us fantastic info and a Canadian wants to talk about cars??!!

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Mopar Mark, why is it that the Gillette Wilkinson Sword as made in Shanghai shaves so much better than the same blade as made by Gillette in India IMO and those of countless others? :unsure:

Also, if you would share................what do you shave with?
 
Bogeyman said:
Mopar Mark, why is it that the Gillette Wilkinson Sword as made in Shanghai shaves so much better than the same blade as made by Gillette in India IMO and those of countless others? :unsure:

Also, if you would share................what do you shave with?
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From a Process, Equipment & Quality perspective, Shanghai & India are identical, so there should not be any disparity between each others blades.

I switch between Fusion & Mach III
 
We often read about blades from decades ago, such as the Gillette spoiler, which people say are unsurpassed. I've not used them myself, but it always seemed strange to me that manufacturing from the 1970s and 1980s could produce something better than the most modern equipment, unless perhaps it was due to some sort of cost saving.

How has manufacturing changed since the 1980s, and would those changes account for older blades becoming so legendary (or is that just internet hype, do you think)?
 
wintoid said:
We often read about blades from decades ago, such as the Gillette spoiler, which people say are unsurpassed. I've not used them myself, but it always seemed strange to me that manufacturing from the 1970s and 1980s could produce something better than the most modern equipment, unless perhaps it was due to some sort of cost saving.

How has manufacturing changed since the 1980s, and would those changes account for older blades becoming so legendary (or is that just internet hype, do you think)?
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As one who started shaving around 1960, I can't help feeling that “better” blades (a subjective judgement if ever there was one) may be more in the looking back of old codgers such as myself, rather than a true evaluation. When I was in my teens travelling to work on those cold winter mornings it was unremarkable to see guys with scraps of bloodstained toilet paper, or dods of cotton wool hanging onto their face as a result of daily shaving encounters. It wasn't entirely due to the need to stretch the longevity of blades either, as a new blade was often as responsible for the ritual bloodletting as a dull old scraper.
i well remember popping into the barber in Saracen St. to buy one Wilkinson Sword blade, quite a luxury item in those days. Our choice being pretty much limited to Gillette 7 o'clock or Wilkinsons. Compared to the veritable cornucopia of inexpensive, high quality blades on offer nowadays I feel we are blessed beyond belief with what is available.
Trust one who was there, these legendary blades have been hallowed by the mists of memory.

JohnnyO. o/.
 
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