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The Gillette Super Speed hasn’t been made new since the 1980s, so “best” here means best of the used and restored market, not a current-production comparison. The tip color on the twist-to-open knob marks the era: Black Tip (roughly 1946-1950s), Red Tip (1950s), and Flare Tip (1958-1964), plus a heavier British-made “Rocket” variant. Condition swings price more than model does — an untouched 70-year-old razor can run under $20, while the same razor fully restored and replated by a specialist runs 5-10x that. Prices below are real listings and sold ranges seen this year, not book values.
| # | Product | Price | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Black Tip Super Speed (1946-1950s) | $10-$30 for an unrestored example in decent condition | Amazon · eBay |
| 2 | Red Tip Super Speed (1950s) | $10-$55 depending on condition and origin | Amazon · eBay |
| 3 | Flare Tip Super Speed (1958-1964) | $20-$45 unrestored, $90+ professionally restored | Amazon · eBay |
| 4 | Blue Tip Super Speed / “Light” (1955-1960) | $60-$95 | Amazon · eBay |
| 5 | Milord (gold-plated Super Speed, 1947-1953) | $100-$150 | Amazon · eBay |
| 6 | British “Rocket” Super Speed (Made in England) | $60-$150 | Amazon · eBay |
| 7 | Professionally Restored / Replated Super Speed (any tip) | $90-$150 | Amazon |
| 8 | TV Special Super Speed (1954, 1958 boxed sets) | $100-$115 for original-condition sets | Amazon · eBay |
The picks, in detail
Black Tip Super Speed (1946-1950s)
The earliest and most common tip color on the resale market, and usually the cheapest entry point into a vintage Super Speed in shave-ready or near-shave-ready condition.
- Twist-to-open (TTO) three-piece head
- Black-painted tip on the winding knob, dating to the late 1940s/early 1950s production
- Butterfly-door blade loading
- Widely available on eBay in original, unrestored condition
- Cheapest tip color to find in usable condition
- Simple, reliable TTO mechanism with a huge repair/parts community
- Plating wear and pitting are common at this price point — inspect photos closely before buying
- Oldest of the three tip colors, so mechanical wear is more likely
Red Tip Super Speed (1950s)
The mid-production tip color, sitting between Black Tip and Flare Tip in both era and typical asking price, and one of the most commonly listed variants overall.
- Twist-to-open three-piece head
- Red-painted tip, 1950s date codes
- Available in both US-made and British-made versions
- Butterfly-door blade loading
- Widest selection of listings, so it’s easy to compare condition and price before buying
- Good middle-ground price for a razor in genuinely shave-ready condition
- Price spread is wide ($7 well-worn to near $60 for a clean example) — read condition descriptions carefully
- British-made and US-made versions differ slightly in weight and finish, so confirm which you’re buying
Flare Tip Super Speed (1958-1964)
The last and generally best-preserved tip color, since these are the newest of the three — and the one most commonly offered already professionally restored.
- Twist-to-open three-piece head
- Flared knob shape distinct from the earlier round Black/Red Tip knobs
- F, J, and L date-code years most common
- Frequently available factory-nickel or 24K-gold replated by specialty restorers
- Newest of the three tip eras, generally better surviving plating on unrestored examples
- Most commonly available already professionally restored and shave-ready
- Professionally restored examples cost significantly more than an unrestored find
- Raw/unrestored listings are less common than Black Tip or Red Tip
Blue Tip Super Speed / “Light” (1955-1960)
Gillette’s own mild-shave model within the Super Speed line — an aluminum-handled version with less blade exposure, officially marketed as the “Light,” and collected today as the Blue Tip.
- Twist-to-open three-piece head
- Aluminum handle, lighter than the steel-handled tips
- Reduced blade exposure for a milder shave
- 1955-1960 production, B/A/D date codes most common
- The mildest-shaving tip color in the standard Super Speed line, good for sensitive skin or a first-time DE shaver
- Distinct aluminum-handle feel sets it apart from the other tip colors
- Smaller, more specialized collector niche than Black/Red/Flare Tip, so listings are less plentiful
- Milder shave isn’t what everyone wants from a vintage DE razor
Milord (gold-plated Super Speed, 1947-1953)
Gillette’s premium in-house upgrade of the Super Speed — the same razor, but gold-plated and sold in a distinct, higher-end case, discontinued after about six years.
- Twist-to-open three-piece head, gold-plated finish
- Distinct presentation case from the standard Super Speed
- 1947-1953 production
- Mechanically identical to a standard-era Super Speed
- Genuinely different in-hand look and presentation from any standard-plating Super Speed
- Shorter production run makes it a more distinct collector piece
- Gold plating on a 70+ year old razor is often worn — inspect condition closely before buying
- Smaller, pricier niche than the standard tip-color razors
British “Rocket” Super Speed (Made in England)
A heavier, UK-made variant of the Super Speed sold as the “Rocket” locally, prized by collectors for a noticeably more substantial head and handle than the standard US Super Speed.
- Twist-to-open three-piece head, English manufacture
- Noticeably heavier than the standard US Super Speed
- Sold under “Rocket HD” and “Flare Tip Rocket” naming in the UK market
- Mid-1950s production
- Distinctly different in-hand feel from the standard US Super Speed — a real variant, not just a rebrand
- Sought after specifically for the extra heft
- Rarer in the US market, so shipping from UK/EU sellers is common
- Priced at a premium over an equivalent-condition standard US Super Speed
Professionally Restored / Replated Super Speed (any tip)
A raw vintage razor stripped, polished, and replated by a specialty restorer — either back to factory-correct nickel or upgraded to a 24K gold finish — for buyers who want shave-ready condition without doing the restoration themselves.
- Full disassembly, ultrasonic cleaning, and mechanical adjustment
- Factory-nickel or 24K-gold replate options
- Available across Black Tip, Red Tip, and Flare Tip base razors
- Sold ready to shave out of the box
- No restoration work or plating gamble on your end — it arrives shave-ready
- Gold-replate options give a genuinely different, more premium look than any original finish
- Costs several times more than sourcing and restoring a raw razor yourself
- You’re paying for a specific restorer’s workmanship, so reputation matters — buy from an established shop
TV Special Super Speed (1954, 1958 boxed sets)
A limited-run promotional edition tied to Gillette’s TV advertising and sports sponsorships of the era, sold in a distinct boxed set and specifically sought after by collectors for that packaging.
- Boxed set with original case and blade dispenser
- Z-series date codes (1954) or D-series date codes (1958)
- Flare Tip head on the 1958 version
- Limited promotional production run, not a standing catalog item
- Genuinely limited historical run, not just a repackaged standard razor
- Complete original sets (case plus blade dispenser) are more display-worthy than a loose razor
- Rarer than the standard tip colors, so it takes more patience to find one in good condition
- Case condition drives price as much as the razor itself does
Buying tips
- Tip color tells you the era, not the shave quality — Black Tip, Red Tip, Flare Tip, and Blue Tip all use the same core TTO mechanism, with Blue Tip built deliberately milder.
- Ask (or check listing photos) for whether a razor has been serviced — a stiff or gritty twist mechanism usually just needs disassembly and cleaning, not replacement.
- British-made “Rocket” variants are noticeably heavier in hand than the standard US Super Speed; if head weight matters to your shave, that’s worth the price premium.
- A new double-edge blade transforms an old razor more than plating condition does — budget for a sample pack of blades when buying any vintage DE razor.
- The Gillette Aristocrat is a different, heavier, more expensive razor line — not a Super Speed variant, despite sharing a similar TTO mechanism and era. Don’t confuse the two when shopping.
As an Amazon Associate and eBay Partner, toptenpick.com earns from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability are subject to change.