One eBay shopper restored a 1959 Gillette "Fatboy" safety razor and is now reminding others how some everyday essentials used to be built very differently.
Here's what to know
The shopper shared their story to Reddit's r/BuyItForLife community. In the thread, the owner explained that they bought the 1959 razor and its case on eBay before later sending it to Razor Emporium for servicing.
As the original poster put it: "This is my '59 Fatboy… It's made of nickel plated brass, so as long as you don't drop them and bend a safety bar they'll well outlive me and probably my kids."
In a later comment, the owner confirmed that the razor was still working properly and that the service was mainly for appearance, including a brighter finish and some restored black paint on the dial.
Commenters shared their delight with the product that had already lasted generations.
One user wrote: "I still have mine! No joke, it was my grandparent's."
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A second commenter added that they have and "still use [their] grandfather's 1947 Gillette."
A third user expressed their jealousy over the purchase, writing: "You found a fatboy for $1.95? Great find! Those usually go for >$100. I've been team Vintage Gillette for most of my adult life and often share these awesome tools as gifts."
The conversation also turned into a broader comparison with current shaving products.
One commenter described modern cartridge refills as "basically a subscription service at this point" and noted that double-edge blades can cost around 8 cents each, while an eight-pack of Gillette razor heads costs $30.
More background
A metal razor that can be cleaned and used across generations creates far less trash than a steady stream of disposable plastic cartridges and packaging. It also highlights the appeal of buying secondhand, whether through eBay, estate sales, or thrift shops.
Secondhand shopping can save people real money on everyday necessities while also opening the door to rare, high-quality items that would cost much more, or be impossible to find, new.
That is especially true of older products made from brass, steel, solid wood, and other long-lasting materials.
Another Reddit user who uses a double-edge razor every day wrote: "To be honest, I feel worse about the environmental waste than the financial inefficiency of it."
Where can I learn more?
If this vintage find has you thinking about your own shaving routine, these articles explain why more shoppers are ditching disposables for metal razors that cut waste and recurring costs.
• One shaver said switching to a straight razor cut waste and ongoing costs.
• A longtime user said Leaf's favorite high-quality razor upgraded shaving and should last forever.
• Redditors keep showing off decades-old metal razors that still look almost pristine.
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