Wilkinson Sword Blades - Codes and Designs

Hi chaps. Looks like this thread is a bit stagnant, I'll try and get some pics up soon to contribute. Is there any chance people can update the photos earlier in the thread to links that do work, if they have the photos still? They sound great, would love to see them!
 
I bought some from Sean's barber box last year and have been so impressed I kept an eye out for more... Picked these up the other day:

DSC00925.jpg


Modern packaging yet no barcode suggests early to mid 80's production to me.

DSC00929.jpg


DSC00933.jpg


DSC00937.jpg


Unfortunately despite being cellophane wrapped moisture appears to have got in there somehow. That said, its only the first blade that's affected... Does it look like rust to you or could someone at the factory have cut their finger?! :D

DSC00939.jpg


DSC00944.jpg
 
I'm 100% certain that is not blood from a cut. In my opinion it is body corrosion & was often a big problem when producing blades in high humidity seasons. Sometimes in high humidity periods the blade was passivated (Phospate) to help reduce body corrosion.

Humidity in production areas is greatly reduced when the working environment is being conditioned. Planning would ensure that large orders were covered in Pre & Post Humidty season.

In addition the finished Blades are dipped in an Afterspray oil to help keep body corrosion at bay. Finally the inner wrapper or only wrapper for single wrapped blades contains sodium benzoate to help reduce corrosion.
 
Interesting information there, thanks for posting that. I don't think that was a production issue with these particular blades as there were tiny bits of mould fluff/spores on the card insert. I think they were therefore exposed to moist conditions at some point in their life, the cellophane wrapper isn't airtight.

The only blades affected were the ones at the front of the pack and the rear (if affected at all), so it goes to show that the sodium benzoate impregnated wrapper certainly did the track. The un-affected blades in the pack are superb!
 
I can't edit my original first post but have recently read on a rival forum with citations that the stainless blades were actually first launched in 1956. They were not coated and were very tuggy and draggy (something I can attest to as I did try one years back); in consequence they were Teflon coated in 1961.
 
In today's acquisitions one of the blade packs (which outwardly did not appear unusual) had an advertising card for a competition with a closing date in 1974.
PXL_20230204_122123214.jpgPXL_20230204_122214043.jpgScreenshot_20230204-122450.png
Screenshot_20230204-122420.png


Why does Monaco translate as Munich?
 
Chowart said:
do you know what version of Wilkinson it is
Click to expand...

They don't look too dissimilar to some Indian 'Wilkinson Sword' blades I have in my possession; albeit made by Gillette.

I paid a fiver for them on eBay, but haven't dared to try them yet as I found a review saying they were awful

A potentially important question. What's on the back of the plastic blade tucks, if anything?

20230506_225845.jpg

20230506_225941.jpg

20230506_230055.jpg
 
Last edited:
SeanC said:
They don't look too dissimilar to some Indian 'Wilkinson Sword' blades I have in my possession; albeit made by Gillette.

I paid a fiver for them on eBay, but haven't dared to try them yet as I found a review saying they were awful

A potentially important question. What's on the back of the plastic blade tucks, if anything?

View attachment 105234

View attachment 105235

View attachment 105236
Click to expand...

Sean, give them a go. I used one a while back and I found it a decent blade from what I recall. I get on with Indian Gillettes though, I prefer them to MIC Gillettes but YMMV.
 
Last edited:
Yes it would be good to see what is written on those plastic dispensers (e.g. Made in England) and also what the front of them look like. Do they have the same design?
 
donnie_arko said:
Sean, give them a go. I used one a while back and I found it a decent blade from what I recall. I get on with Indian Gillettes though, I prefer them to MIC Gillettes but YMMV.
Click to expand...

In the end I was very pleasantly surprised. I generally don't get on with Indian made blades, rating 7 O'clock Blacks as average at best as an example, but these worked very well in my Blackland ERA
 
SeanC said:
In the end I was very pleasantly surprised. I generally don't get on with Indian made blades, rating 7 O'clock Blacks as average at best as an example, but these worked very well in my Blackland ERA
Click to expand...

Certainly sharp, but the smoothness fell away quite rapidly after the second shave.

Probably a decent blade to pack for a weekend away. Two and bin in summary
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom