Mystery Gillette Fatboy - 1957??

[Greenpike]

Hi all

This is my first proper post to the forum. Hoping it's all okay and you guys can help me out.

Just before Xmas I won a "vintage Gillette adjustable" on eBay that clearly was a famous Fatboy from a guy in Melbourne. Thinking it was a chance to pick one up cheap because the seller didn't mention the famous moniker I put a sneaky auction sniper bid in and won it for $57 + $8 postage. Wow. I was stoked!!

It arrived today and I'm just as stoked. It's in great condition for its age, the adjustments all seem to work etc etc... but it has a date code of C2. That would be 1957? Everywhere online is telling me that they only started being made in 1958. It should definitely have a D code on there. Do I have the first Fatboy ever made and am a millionaire? Or is there a more logical explanation?

I'm going to try to attach pictures to see what you guys think... any help would be gratefully appreciated. Could they have recycled a backplate?

 

[nsavage]

I think it is supposed to be a "g" mate.

 

[Greenpike]

Ahahaha. Of course. Though it really, really doesn't look like a G.

 

[Mark1966]

Great first 'proper' post @Greenpike

Yes, it would be a 'G' - the stamping can be a little uneven but if you twist it around in the light you will probably see the mark. There is also a difference in the design of the early Fatboys compared with the later ones, see here for details and examples. This should confirm you have a 'G' year - or you have a MAJOR score

 

[stillshunter]

...or you have a MAJOR score

Which would need to be surrendered to the National Gillette Museum

 

[borked]

Which would need to be surrendered to the National Gillette Museum

For a substantial donation and replacement Fatboy, naturally.

 

[stillshunter]

For a substantial donation and replacement Fatboy, naturally.

naturally! A G3 in fact...