Gillette Black Beauty Long Handle Razor (109), Excellent Original Condition, Nickel, Tumble Finish (read below)
Gillette Black Beauty
The Gillette "Black Beauty" (formally the Super Adjustable) is a highly respected vintage double-edge safety razor produced from the late 1960s to the 1980s. Renowned for its adjustable dial (1-9) and long, sleek handle, it provides a highly customizable, comfortable, and classic wet-shaving experience.
Overview
The Black Beauty is the ultimate iteration of Gillette's adjustable line, succeeding the Fatboy and the Slim models. It is distinct for its elegant black-painted or anodized aluminum handle and butterfly door mechanism. It comes in two primary variants: the Super 109 (a longer 109mm handle) and the Super 84 (a shorter 84mm handle). This razor is known to deliver great shaves and is one of the last DE razors to be made by Gillette.
- 1-to-9 Adjustment Dial: Twisting the dial changes the blade gap, allowing you to fine-tune the aggressiveness of your shave. Smaller numbers (1-3) are milder and better for sensitive skin, while higher numbers (7-9) provide more blade exposure for coarse beards.
- Butterfly Doors: Features a classic twist-to-open (TTO) mechanism in the head, allowing for incredibly fast and safe blade changes.
- Handle Design: The longer handle (especially on the 109) feels incredibly natural for shavers who transitioned from modern, long-handled cartridge razors.
Wet shavers generally find the Black Beauty to be a remarkably smooth shaver. Because you can adjust the blade gap on the fly, it is exceptionally versatile.
- Many enthusiasts recommend starting on a setting of 3 for your first pass to gauge how your skin reacts.
- Due to the razor's weight distribution, using a very light touch is vital. Let the weight of the razor head do the work to avoid nicks or irritation.
- The butterfly doors are secured with an authentic "quarter turn lock" at the end of the handle twist, which locks the blade tightly in place.
Nickel Tumble Finish Quality & Characteristics
Vintage Gillette factory nickel-tumble finishes provide a durable, utilitarian semi-shiny micro imperfection look rather than a perfect mirror shine.
- Aesthetic & Feel: The original factory nickel finish is applied over solid brass components. It typically features small, uniform micro marks from the manufacturing tumbling process, resulting in a matte or semi-gloss finish.
- Durability: Nickel is hard and offers excellent protection against rust for the underlying brass. However, it is prone to wearing thin over decades of use, exposing the underlying base metal (which causes a yellow/brassy tone).
- Modern Refinishing: Many specialty restoration services offer nickel replating (often called "Factory Nickel Revamp"). While these revamp finishes look stunning and clean, wet shavers generally agree they reduce the piece's value as a historic collectible