Before switching to DE shaving, I had only ever used a Trac II. I had no complaint whatsoever with the shave. My problem was with the constant clogging of the blades with stubble. (I have a pretty coarse and heavy beard.) When we remodeled our bathroom I reluctantly realized that I needed to give up the Trac II before I ended up chipping the new countertop trying to unclog the blades. That's when I made the switch to double edge razors. If I'm being honest, I probably prefer the Trac II in terms of comfort, although admittedly it did not shave quite as close as a DE. But were it not for the clogging issue, I would certainly still be using a Trac II.
Hi, dn41144.:) Thanks for the straightforward comments.:) I was surprised by the Trac II system and shave.:) From testing various cartridge systems, I've learned that three blades or less is probably best for me. And the handle really made it nostalgic and a nice connection to my dad.:) But, yeah, I'll shave with it again.:)
You might want to look into the Leaf razor, it's supposedly an in-between of a safety razor and a cartridge razor. It has a pivoting head and uses double edge blades snapped in half, and you can use up to three at the same time (or only one, if you prefer it that way). I've never tried it myself so I can't speak to how much it clogs up, but I'd definitely look into it if I were you.
@@captainkuijt Thanks for the suggestion, but the Leaf would not be a good choice for me as I despise razors with pivoting heads. It's kind of a moot issue at this point anyway since I've discovered my "forever razor" in the Merkur 39C, which shaves me much closer than the Track II and with at least as much comfort. The 39C is just a perfect fit for me.
Nice video. The Trac II was the first razor I started shaving with in 1976-77 as a teenager. Then I got an Atra razor and used that too for like 30 yrs until I started using the disposables. I now shave with a DE razor but I do miss the old days of the Trac II and Atra. I may get the Gillette PII version of the Trac II from India just for the heck of it.
rank, it's a neat razor and delives a good shave. Different form a DE, obviously, but a nice change of pace. I'm happy that I have this one especially due it being my dad's.
That's the problem with ginaric (Personna) cartridges. They also fit the Atra. That bump in the middle is to activate Atras pivoting spring. They work on Gillette Trac II because of the U bar design. And, are very good quality cartridges. Gillette 7 O'Clock P-II from India will fit your handle and doesn't have tha annoying lube strip.
Have Tabac shave soap in the milk glass jar AND the PAA Atomic Rocket brush. I've been dying to get my hands on a vintage Gillette Trac II razor, especially one with a metal handle.
First, you're going to love tabach. I love that soap. It's a sentimental favorite of mine. Second, Phoenix shaving makes some outstanding shaving brushes. They do their research and bring back these great brush designs and update them just a bit. I've seen the vintage Trac II handles on eBay. I don't think they were asking a lot of money for them either. So that might be a good starting point. Hope that helps.
@@MarkSzorady Oh I've had Tabac in my lineup for a few years now. In fact, I have the soap, cream in a tube (not as good since the reformulation), balm, aftershave lotion, bath soap, bath gel, deodorant stick, and hair tonic. I hope to get my hands on the hair cream at some point.
I used a badger hair brush for 25 years sith soap cakes. When the price of those went through the roof, started using Barbasol in a can. I think the safety razor was only 50 cents when I stated shaving in 1962; I notice they are now $30 a WalMart.
When i got to boot camp, they took my de razor from mr, razor blades could be dangerous. One of the drill instructors after i did fifty pushups handed me a trac two razor & ordered me to pay him for the razor & blades plus his time. Never saw my razor again, still have the trac2.
I'm a Trac II junkie lol, it was my first razor. I have several different handles including everything from the first year in a presentation box all the way to the Indian PII. Don't have the Conk version yet...Thanks
@@bigw1552 Hey! Wait a minute! I googled that image and I think I have one of those among my dad's shaving things.:) Pretty sure I saw one.:) I''m gong to double check.:) Thanks!
Most of those "Trac 2" and "Atra" are made by Personna/Edgewell. I ran into the same problem the Atra locks work fine, but the Trac 2 slide has the same issue. Trac2/Atra those two are the most common designs you see for most Disposable razors now a days with twin blades. Apart from the Schick ST2's
My father bought gillette mach 2 plus cartridges at an estate sale and was wondering what handle they would fit. I have a whole bin of various handles.
Good shave Mark!!! I never shaved with the Trac ll. I've heard that cartridge razor wise, it's a good shave. Personally from the cartridge shaver world, I have the Sensor Gold Handle and the Reed and Barton Silver plated Atra. The Atra is the one cartridge I do use the most often and it shaves great when I need it to, and it looks great doing it too. I may have to get one of those Trac ll razors and give it a spin, and see how it shaves. Have a great weekend!!!!
Hi, NY Diesel in Fl.:) I discovered (I think) that the reason why this handle didn't work on the Col conk blades was due to the solid head it has. From what I can see from photos on the internet, some Trac II handles have a channel cut into the head. So, I'm assuming that this channel would then allow the Col. Conk blades to be used. I just wanted to mention this to you should you decide to pick up a Trac II handle. You may want to make sure which one it is, solid or channel. Again, this is my best guess...I need to do some more investigating. And, it was a good shave.:)
Mark Szorady hi Mark, no, the Trac II (or GII in Europe) does have a fixed hat. The main advantage of the successor (Atra or Contour) is that it does have a pivoting hat. But the blades are essentially the same as far as performance goes. ;)
Mark Szorady I am assuming that you were trying to use the blades for the Atra with the Trac II. That is why you can not fully put them in. For me, peak Gillette in terms of cartridge razors, is the Mach3. 3 blades seems to be some sweet spot. But the new 5 or 6 bladed monsters, no, thank you 😂.
@@thomasa.243 Agree. I'm pretty much in the same camp.:) Three blades or less.:) I don't have any Atra blades. Just the Gillette Trac II and Col Conk.:) BTW, Mach 3 gave me a nice head shave.:)
It is known that the universal handle of this Trac II was ODM made by the Taiwanese company Evernice in the 1970s～1980s, and Avon, Col Conk and Old Spice used to sell the razor under their own brands.
Hi Mark- Great shave and razor review; thank you! A nice retro razor. I hope you have a great weekend ahead. Be safe and be well and best regards, as always!
I just hack an handle for it from a plastic one : dremel + flat steel piece + nail glue + baking soda ...et voila , it inserts easily , holds strongly. Thanks for your video.
Just curious, since you don't remember ever using a Trac II and you were surprised by how well it shaved, what kind of razor did you use when you first started shaving?
But you could have used the Personna blades that work for track2 and atra you already had. $20 for gillette is steep. I guess the price of using a sentimental piece. I just cannot spend that $, even to use my first razor, an original atra aluminium...I think Y year. I also started w a Trac2 from dad, but never liked the non pivoting head and by now mom tossed it. Lucky she kept the Atra (well that one I hid in one box) and she kept the Old spice mug but tossed the soap......(she bins everything). Glad you enjoy Dad's razors! It's a special feeling.
Hi, talega1. As I mentoed to another viewr above, I've been investigating why the Gillette blades fit the razor and the Col Conk did not. I discovered (I think) that the reason why this handle didn't work on the Col Conk blades was due to the solid head it has. From what I can see from photos on the internet, some Trac II handles have a channel cut into the head. So, I'm assuming that this channel would then allow the Col. Conk blades to be used. Now, are the Personna and Atra blads the same as the Col conk? if so , then this solid head won't work. it requires a closer look. yes, the blades I used are expensive. But, I doubt I'l burn through them anytime soon.:) I'll use them on occasion.:)
@@MarkSzorady I use the Personna from amazon, they work for Atra and Track 2. I don't have a track any more....did not like the fixed head. Yes the Track2 looked different to yours
Could the blades be compatible with a pivoting razor head like the Gillette Atra? I'm asking because my very first wet shave razor was a Shick twin cartridge pivoting head razor and the cartridges that you have look similar....I think Shick made their razors compatible with both Trac ll and Atra blades in one handle and this was back around 1981 or 1982.
I believe so! I have that Atra handle, again, among late father's shaving gear. I the Col Conk cartridge's work and as well as the Gillette Trac II. I need to dig it out and confirm.
Anthony, as a follow up, I found an Atra razor handle. It's in pretty good shave..) Again, this was among my late father' shaving gear. Anyhow, it works wonderfully well with the Col Conk cartridges. Snaps in perfectly and is very secure. However, it does not work with the Gillette Trac II cartridge I use in this video. HTH.:)
@@MarkSzorady i thought the fixed head was not the best but now after using it quite a few times i think the fixed head is a great feature. Do you prefer morning or evening shaves?
@@exec9292 I prefer morning shaves, I'm fine with evening shaves...I especially enjoy evening head shaves. But actually, if I have a couple of days of beard growth, ANY time is great time to have a shave. It feels great to shave that beard off.:)
hi mark just want to tell you how much I like your videos the Gillette trac 11 razor was one of the best shaving razors that and the Gillette aura if I could get one of them I would use it daly I use a Gillette fusion razor that I rally do not like I even hate the dam thing well keep up the great videos god bless your fan
Hi, love this jazz its cool and sexey nunna, I'm very glad to hear you enjoyed the video.:) the razor was fun to to use. I'll have to give it a go again. A nice change of pace and fits in fairly well as I prefer to use cartridge razors with three or fewer blades. I've used the five, six and seven bladed carts, but this one, with it's double blades, has that vintage vibe. Thanks for the kind words about my videos.:)
That shave brings back memories, unfortunately not a pleasant one as I did not get on well with Trac II 35 years ago, I actually went back to Electric shaver after that experience many years ago. I may be able to work with it now as now I'm older and wiser Wet shaver, but at $20 for 10 blades? things have not changed much from Gillette with their overpriced cartridges.
Hi, JustUncleL. Yes, like you, I didn't understand the proper prep to do the wet shave back in the day. But, so glad I learned it and came back to the wet shave.:) Look at all the great gear we can use!:)
My all-time favourite blades! BBS and absolutely no irritation or razor burn, even when used daily. Might be the chromium coating. The best were made in USA. They say change every 7 days- nonsense. A blade will go 30 two-pass shaves easily. Slight deterioration when they went to MX. The Personna as a substitute are a rough ride. The truth hurts, but misleading info. hurts far more. You get what you pay for.
Adrian, well it is an option and perhaps YMMV may apply here. However you may not be far off based on point of manufacture. Thanks for the thoughtful comments.
@@MarkSzorady hi Mark, I just ordered the Colonel Conk ones from Amazon. I will simply file down that centre nib with a tiny jeweller's file. Thanks for your input!
@@MarkSzorady Eureka! The Colonel Conk blades have arrived from Amazon and they are a perfect fit for my 1975 Gillette Trac II USA handle! Almost 50 years with this razor. Perhaps I will get it chromed or nickeled. Many thanks to you, Mark, and your shave video highlighting the Trac II.
@@MarkSzorady Hi Mark, I must report back that the Colonel Conk blades are not in the same league as the Gillette Trac II. Used a very high-end shave soap too. Edwin Jagger. Those Trac II's get an uber-close shave. BBS/glass-like, a nd with only two passes- WTG and ATG. We've an old saying up here: "cheap pays twice.". Have a great day!
Before switching to DE shaving, I had only ever used a Trac II. I had no complaint whatsoever with the shave. My problem was with the constant clogging of the blades with stubble. (I have a pretty coarse and heavy beard.) When we remodeled our bathroom I reluctantly realized that I needed to give up the Trac II before I ended up chipping the new countertop trying to unclog the blades. That's when I made the switch to double edge razors. If I'm being honest, I probably prefer the Trac II in terms of comfort, although admittedly it did not shave quite as close as a DE. But were it not for the clogging issue, I would certainly still be using a Trac II.
Hi, dn41144.:) Thanks for the straightforward comments.:) I was surprised by the Trac II system and shave.:) From testing various cartridge systems, I've learned that three blades or less is probably best for me. And the handle really made it nostalgic and a nice connection to my dad.:) But, yeah, I'll shave with it again.:)
You might want to look into the Leaf razor, it's supposedly an in-between of a safety razor and a cartridge razor. It has a pivoting head and uses double edge blades snapped in half, and you can use up to three at the same time (or only one, if you prefer it that way). I've never tried it myself so I can't speak to how much it clogs up, but I'd definitely look into it if I were you.
@@captainkuijt Thanks for the suggestion, but the Leaf would not be a good choice for me as I despise razors with pivoting heads. It's kind of a moot issue at this point anyway since I've discovered my "forever razor" in the Merkur 39C, which shaves me much closer than the Track II and with at least as much comfort. The 39C is just a perfect fit for me.
Nice video. The Trac II was the first razor I started shaving with in 1976-77 as a teenager. Then I got an Atra razor and used that too for like 30 yrs until I started using the disposables. I now shave with a DE razor but I do miss the old days of the Trac II and Atra. I may get the Gillette PII version of the Trac II from India just for the heck of it.
rank, it's a neat razor and delives a good shave. Different form a DE, obviously, but a nice change of pace. I'm happy that I have this one especially due it being my dad's.
Very cool!! I love old razors.... I always check antique shops to find old shaving stuff!
That's the problem with ginaric (Personna) cartridges. They also fit the Atra. That bump in the middle is to activate Atras pivoting spring. They work on Gillette Trac II because of the U bar design. And, are very good quality cartridges. Gillette 7 O'Clock P-II from India will fit your handle and doesn't have tha annoying lube strip.
Have Tabac shave soap in the milk glass jar AND the PAA Atomic Rocket brush. I've been dying to get my hands on a vintage Gillette Trac II razor, especially one with a metal handle.
First, you're going to love tabach. I love that soap. It's a sentimental favorite of mine. Second, Phoenix shaving makes some outstanding shaving brushes. They do their research and bring back these great brush designs and update them just a bit. I've seen the vintage Trac II handles on eBay. I don't think they were asking a lot of money for them either. So that might be a good starting point. Hope that helps.
@@MarkSzorady Oh I've had Tabac in my lineup for a few years now. In fact, I have the soap, cream in a tube (not as good since the reformulation), balm, aftershave lotion, bath soap, bath gel, deodorant stick, and hair tonic. I hope to get my hands on the hair cream at some point.
@@TheWilkReport Nice!
I used a badger hair brush for 25 years sith soap cakes. When the price of those went through the roof, started using Barbasol in a can. I think the safety razor was only 50 cents when I stated shaving in 1962; I notice they are now $30 a WalMart.
When i got to boot camp, they took my de razor from mr, razor blades could be dangerous. One of the drill instructors after i did fifty pushups handed me a trac two razor & ordered me to pay him for the razor & blades plus his time. Never saw my razor again, still have the trac2.
I still have my handle. First blade /handle Ingot back when I was 12-13yo.
Daniel, it's really neat to hear this and glad you still have this handle.
Hi Mark, every now and then I alternate with the DE, GII or CONTOUR razors and I find it very fun to do it. A hug and good week. 👋👋🇮🇹
Ursus, great routine.:) As another UA-camr says, "Make it your shave." :)
The vintage 2 blade carts are fantastic!
Great video. I would have loved to see you use a can of Barbasol with this shave. Maybe one day you can do a shave with Barbasol, I love it.
Hi, Tim.:) Great idea!:) I can pick up a can for cheap too, locally.:) Thanks!:) That'd be a neat, retro shave of sorts.:)
I'm a Trac II junkie lol, it was my first razor. I have several different handles including everything from the first year in a presentation box all the way to the Indian PII. Don't have the Conk version yet...Thanks
My pleasure, Warren.:) Sounds like some great, great vintage shaving gear.:)
I almost forgot the Bump Fighter possibly the best Trac II handle
@@bigw1552 Hey! Wait a minute! I googled that image and I think I have one of those among my dad's shaving things.:) Pretty sure I saw one.:) I''m gong to double check.:) Thanks!
@@MarkSzorady I shaved with it this morning, used old stock of CVS branded carts gel strips dried up though
@@bigw1552 I found the handle. A picture of it came up when I did a google search for "bump fighter" it appears to be a vintage Atra handle. The same?
Most of those "Trac 2" and "Atra" are made by Personna/Edgewell. I ran into the same problem the Atra locks work fine, but the Trac 2 slide has the same issue. Trac2/Atra those two are the most common designs you see for most Disposable razors now a days with twin blades. Apart from the Schick ST2's
Thank you very much, B-MAN! I appreciate the confirmation on the problem I had and the background info on who makes the carts.:)
My father bought gillette mach 2 plus cartridges at an estate sale and was wondering what handle they would fit. I have a whole bin of various handles.
Good shave Mark!!! I never shaved with the Trac ll. I've heard that cartridge razor wise, it's a good shave. Personally from the cartridge shaver world, I have the Sensor Gold Handle and the Reed and Barton Silver plated Atra. The Atra is the one cartridge I do use the most often and it shaves great when I need it to, and it looks great doing it too. I may have to get one of those Trac ll razors and give it a spin, and see how it shaves. Have a great weekend!!!!
Hi, NY Diesel in Fl.:) I discovered (I think) that the reason why this handle didn't work on the Col conk blades was due to the solid head it has. From what I can see from photos on the internet, some Trac II handles have a channel cut into the head. So, I'm assuming that this channel would then allow the Col. Conk blades to be used. I just wanted to mention this to you should you decide to pick up a Trac II handle. You may want to make sure which one it is, solid or channel. Again, this is my best guess...I need to do some more investigating. And, it was a good shave.:)
Mark Szorady hi Mark, no, the Trac II (or GII in Europe) does have a fixed hat. The main advantage of the successor (Atra or Contour) is that it does have a pivoting hat. But the blades are essentially the same as far as performance goes. ;)
@@thomasa.243 Thank you for the clarification.:) Appreciated.:)
Mark Szorady I am assuming that you were trying to use the blades for the Atra with the Trac II. That is why you can not fully put them in. For me, peak Gillette in terms of cartridge razors, is the Mach3. 3 blades seems to be some sweet spot. But the new 5 or 6 bladed monsters, no, thank you 😂.
@@thomasa.243 Agree. I'm pretty much in the same camp.:) Three blades or less.:) I don't have any Atra blades. Just the Gillette Trac II and Col Conk.:) BTW, Mach 3 gave me a nice head shave.:)
It is known that the universal handle of this Trac II was ODM made by the Taiwanese company Evernice in the 1970s～1980s, and Avon, Col Conk and Old Spice used to sell the razor under their own brands.
Hi, 邱舜平. Thanks very much for the additional history about this handle.
Hi Mark- Great shave and razor review; thank you! A nice retro razor. I hope you have a great weekend ahead. Be safe and be well and best regards, as always!
Thank you very much, Mike!:) Glad you enjoyed the video review.:) Stay safe.:)
Makes a good carry-on travel razor.
Trac II was my first razor. Or rather, it's the razor I stole from my Dad when he moved onto a different razor.
I just hack an handle for it from a plastic one : dremel + flat steel piece + nail glue + baking soda ...et voila , it inserts easily , holds strongly. Thanks for your video.
Eloi, very neat! And glad you enjoyed the video.:)
Just curious, since you don't remember ever using a Trac II and you were surprised by how well it shaved, what kind of razor did you use when you first started shaving?
Gary, it's not a overly long answer, but one I'd like to use on a MMMB.:) If you don't mind waiting, I'd like to use this.
@@MarkSzorady Sure, no problem.
But you could have used the Personna blades that work for track2 and atra you already had. $20 for gillette is steep. I guess the price of using a sentimental piece. I just cannot spend that $, even to use my first razor, an original atra aluminium...I think Y year. I also started w a Trac2 from dad, but never liked the non pivoting head and by now mom tossed it. Lucky she kept the Atra (well that one I hid in one box) and she kept the Old spice mug but tossed the soap......(she bins everything). Glad you enjoy Dad's razors! It's a special feeling.
Hi, talega1. As I mentoed to another viewr above, I've been investigating why the Gillette blades fit the razor and the Col Conk did not. I discovered (I think) that the reason why this handle didn't work on the Col Conk blades was due to the solid head it has. From what I can see from photos on the internet, some Trac II handles have a channel cut into the head. So, I'm assuming that this channel would then allow the Col. Conk blades to be used. Now, are the Personna and Atra blads the same as the Col conk? if so , then this solid head won't work. it requires a closer look. yes, the blades I used are expensive. But, I doubt I'l burn through them anytime soon.:) I'll use them on occasion.:)
@@MarkSzorady I use the Personna from amazon, they work for Atra and Track 2. I don't have a track any more....did not like the fixed head. Yes the Track2 looked different to yours
Could the blades be compatible with a pivoting razor head like the Gillette Atra?
I'm asking because my very first wet shave razor was a Shick twin cartridge pivoting head razor and the cartridges that you have look similar....I think Shick made their razors compatible with both Trac ll and Atra blades in one handle and this was back around 1981 or 1982.
I believe so! I have that Atra handle, again, among late father's shaving gear. I the Col Conk cartridge's work and as well as the Gillette Trac II. I need to dig it out and confirm.
Anthony, as a follow up, I found an Atra razor handle. It's in pretty good shave..) Again, this was among my late father' shaving gear. Anyhow, it works wonderfully well with the Col Conk cartridges. Snaps in perfectly and is very secure. However, it does not work with the Gillette Trac II cartridge I use in this video. HTH.:)
Persona sells 100 blades for like 15 bucks on Amazon
Hey Mark how are you? I’m sure this is gonna be an amazing video.
Thanks very much, Samuel!:) Hope you enjoy it.:) It's kinda special to me due to this handle belonging to dad.:)
That’s truly amazing and special. It was a great video.
This is a great razor. Only better is the mach 3
Hi, exec9292. A nice shave and I also like that this razor handles yet another connection to my late father.
@@MarkSzorady i thought the fixed head was not the best but now after using it quite a few times i think the fixed head is a great feature. Do you prefer morning or evening shaves?
@@exec9292 I prefer morning shaves, I'm fine with evening shaves...I especially enjoy evening head shaves. But actually, if I have a couple of days of beard growth, ANY time is great time to have a shave. It feels great to shave that beard off.:)
A very special video. Thank you sir.
Thanks, Rommel Alcobendas.:) I really appreciate the kind words.:)
hi mark just want to tell you how much I like your videos the Gillette trac 11 razor was one of the best shaving razors that and the Gillette aura if I could get one of them I would use it daly I use a Gillette fusion razor that I rally do not like I even hate the dam thing well keep up the great videos god bless your fan
Hi, love this jazz its cool and sexey nunna, I'm very glad to hear you enjoyed the video.:) the razor was fun to to use. I'll have to give it a go again. A nice change of pace and fits in fairly well as I prefer to use cartridge razors with three or fewer blades. I've used the five, six and seven bladed carts, but this one, with it's double blades, has that vintage vibe. Thanks for the kind words about my videos.:)
That shave brings back memories, unfortunately not a pleasant one as I did not get on well with Trac II 35 years ago, I actually went back to Electric shaver after that experience many years ago. I may be able to work with it now as now I'm older and wiser Wet shaver, but at $20 for 10 blades? things have not changed much from Gillette with their overpriced cartridges.
Hi, JustUncleL. Yes, like you, I didn't understand the proper prep to do the wet shave back in the day. But, so glad I learned it and came back to the wet shave.:) Look at all the great gear we can use!:)
Hi, Wath's up Man??
My all-time favourite blades! BBS and absolutely no irritation or razor burn, even when used daily. Might be the chromium coating. The best were made in USA. They say change every 7 days- nonsense. A blade will go 30 two-pass shaves easily. Slight deterioration when they went to MX. The Personna as a substitute are a rough ride. The truth hurts, but misleading info. hurts far more. You get what you pay for.
Adrian, well it is an option and perhaps YMMV may apply here. However you may not be far off based on point of manufacture. Thanks for the thoughtful comments.
@@MarkSzorady hi Mark, I just ordered the Colonel Conk ones from Amazon. I will simply file down that centre nib with a tiny jeweller's file. Thanks for your input!
@@adrian_V99 my pleasure.
@@MarkSzorady Eureka! The Colonel Conk blades have arrived from Amazon and they are a perfect fit for my 1975 Gillette Trac II USA handle! Almost 50 years with this razor. Perhaps I will get it chromed or nickeled. Many thanks to you, Mark, and your shave video highlighting the Trac II.
@@MarkSzorady Hi Mark, I must report back that the Colonel Conk blades are not in the same league as the Gillette Trac II. Used a very high-end shave soap too. Edwin Jagger. Those Trac II's get an uber-close shave. BBS/glass-like, a nd with only two passes- WTG and ATG. We've an old saying up here: "cheap pays twice.". Have a great day!
if greg popavich was to go bald this what he will look like!
no hairs what are u shaving
I'm fair-skinned.:)
@@MarkSzorady great good for u
@@omarshahzadkhan1033 Here's a video with about five days growth: ua-cam.com/video/cN6JSLV15tw/v-deo.html