Post by drumzalot on Aug 19, 2014 21:29:58 GMT -6
Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird ... It's a plane ... It's the Superman razor! Amongst the slew of single edge razors manufactured the Superman is quite a rarity, I believe that even the word rare is an understatement. This is the only adjustable single edge razor (not including injectors) that I know of.
Origins Of The Superman Razor
The Superman razor was not inspired by nor is it related to the iconic comic book hero. In fact, the razor predates the super hero by over two decades. The use of the Superman name is purely a coincidence. The Superman was invented by William C. Finney who filed the patent application on March 20, 1908. The patent was finally granted on Jan 21, 1913.
It appears that the original incarnation of the Superman was “The Finney.” The Finney is (except for the name) the exact same razor as the Superman. In 1930 William Finney sold the patent to H.C. Hart (H.C. Hart Manufacturing Company).
The Superman Case
The case that I received is in poor condition. I have only seen one other case for the Superman and it did not resemble my version. The case is made of cardboard with a flower pattern on the exterior and felt lining in the interior.
The Superman Single Edge Razor
My worries that the Superman would be a light fragile budget razor disappeared quickly. Though the head was engineered with a thin frame it does not feel flimsy nor cheaply made. The head is similar to a Burhnam SE except it is much thicker more sturdier and rugged. The handle is hollow (but thick) to accommodate the head's long threaded stem.
Dismantling The Superman
Below is the three piece Superman shown completely dismantled.
Razor Blade Compatibility
The Superman can accommodate a modern single edge razor though it's original blades are proprietary. I don't own an original Superman blade but I do have a picture of one (below) to compare the differences. I believe that the original blade might make a difference in how the razor performs, I will explain about the difference in more details later in the review.
Loading A Blade Into The Superman
Adjusting The Dial Settings
Adjusting the level of mildness or aggressiveness is very simple (more details pictured below). The adjustment action is quite tough and sturdy compared to other adjustable razors. There are no audible clicks nor groove increments to help guide the adjustment settings with the Superman.
The maximum achievable blade gap (below). Continued dialing beyond the most aggressive setting will loosen the dial which will cause both the dial and head to detach.
The Shave
The most difficult razors for me to review are adjustable types since there isn't a set blade gap. Trying to dial an adjustable to various settings in just one shave can't give the razor a just review. I set the Superman to the most mild setting then moderately aggressive to maximum aggression for the review. I did the traditional three passes while adjusting the Superman sporadically to the settings mentioned.
The most mild setting (Clark Kent mode ) gives an effective shave but it is far too mild. I had to press down with pressure in order for the razor to be effective. With the combination of added pressure and too much stubble being left behind I bumped up the aggressive setting. In a moderately aggressive setting the shave is effective but does not feel aggressive.
There was no need to press down and it cleared more stubble in the moderate setting. I did not feel any aggression in this setting in neither of the three passes. On to the most aggressive setting or what I like to call Luthor Mode! I actually did a few swipes with the blade gap fully opened going ATG even on the upper lip.
It's hard to believe but the razor is not as brutal as it seems. I did not get cut with the blade gap fully opened nor was it notably uncomfortable, what I did attain was some razor burn. The Superman on Luthor mode is indeed like shaving with a blade on a stick and surprisingly it did not feel uncomfortable.
The Good The Bad & The Summary
I will start with the bad. I believe the razor's guard should have been designed perfectly straight it is not, see the picture below for better details. The few Superman razors that I have seen have bowed guards at the center.
I did get nicked once going WTG on the neck. I am not sure if this was due to me pushing down on the most mild setting or if it was due to the curvature of the blade. Due to the not so perfectly flat blade you will feel a stinging sensation on and off during the shave.
On to the good, the Superman is absolutely not a cheaply made razor. It looks and feels like a top quality razor. The adjustable feature works flawlessly. You can select the amount of aggression that you want without any form of number setting limitations. The razor is easy to tear down put back together and clean. If you drop it I doubt it will break or bend because it is quite thick and heavy.
If you want an adjustable SE razor that is not an injector then the Superman is it. It looks aggressive but it is not even on the maximum blade gap setting. In general, the razor leans more to the mild side on all settings. I don't think it's the best razor ever made in fact I would rate it (on my first shave) as an average shaver. Due to it's SE adjustable feature rarity and uniqueness it does make a great addition to any razor collection.
Origins Of The Superman Razor
The Superman razor was not inspired by nor is it related to the iconic comic book hero. In fact, the razor predates the super hero by over two decades. The use of the Superman name is purely a coincidence. The Superman was invented by William C. Finney who filed the patent application on March 20, 1908. The patent was finally granted on Jan 21, 1913.
It appears that the original incarnation of the Superman was “The Finney.” The Finney is (except for the name) the exact same razor as the Superman. In 1930 William Finney sold the patent to H.C. Hart (H.C. Hart Manufacturing Company).
The Superman Case
The case that I received is in poor condition. I have only seen one other case for the Superman and it did not resemble my version. The case is made of cardboard with a flower pattern on the exterior and felt lining in the interior.
The Superman Single Edge Razor
My worries that the Superman would be a light fragile budget razor disappeared quickly. Though the head was engineered with a thin frame it does not feel flimsy nor cheaply made. The head is similar to a Burhnam SE except it is much thicker more sturdier and rugged. The handle is hollow (but thick) to accommodate the head's long threaded stem.
Dismantling The Superman
Below is the three piece Superman shown completely dismantled.
Razor Blade Compatibility
The Superman can accommodate a modern single edge razor though it's original blades are proprietary. I don't own an original Superman blade but I do have a picture of one (below) to compare the differences. I believe that the original blade might make a difference in how the razor performs, I will explain about the difference in more details later in the review.
Loading A Blade Into The Superman
Adjusting The Dial Settings
Adjusting the level of mildness or aggressiveness is very simple (more details pictured below). The adjustment action is quite tough and sturdy compared to other adjustable razors. There are no audible clicks nor groove increments to help guide the adjustment settings with the Superman.
The maximum achievable blade gap (below). Continued dialing beyond the most aggressive setting will loosen the dial which will cause both the dial and head to detach.
The Shave
The most difficult razors for me to review are adjustable types since there isn't a set blade gap. Trying to dial an adjustable to various settings in just one shave can't give the razor a just review. I set the Superman to the most mild setting then moderately aggressive to maximum aggression for the review. I did the traditional three passes while adjusting the Superman sporadically to the settings mentioned.
The most mild setting (Clark Kent mode ) gives an effective shave but it is far too mild. I had to press down with pressure in order for the razor to be effective. With the combination of added pressure and too much stubble being left behind I bumped up the aggressive setting. In a moderately aggressive setting the shave is effective but does not feel aggressive.
There was no need to press down and it cleared more stubble in the moderate setting. I did not feel any aggression in this setting in neither of the three passes. On to the most aggressive setting or what I like to call Luthor Mode! I actually did a few swipes with the blade gap fully opened going ATG even on the upper lip.
It's hard to believe but the razor is not as brutal as it seems. I did not get cut with the blade gap fully opened nor was it notably uncomfortable, what I did attain was some razor burn. The Superman on Luthor mode is indeed like shaving with a blade on a stick and surprisingly it did not feel uncomfortable.
The Good The Bad & The Summary
I will start with the bad. I believe the razor's guard should have been designed perfectly straight it is not, see the picture below for better details. The few Superman razors that I have seen have bowed guards at the center.
I did get nicked once going WTG on the neck. I am not sure if this was due to me pushing down on the most mild setting or if it was due to the curvature of the blade. Due to the not so perfectly flat blade you will feel a stinging sensation on and off during the shave.
On to the good, the Superman is absolutely not a cheaply made razor. It looks and feels like a top quality razor. The adjustable feature works flawlessly. You can select the amount of aggression that you want without any form of number setting limitations. The razor is easy to tear down put back together and clean. If you drop it I doubt it will break or bend because it is quite thick and heavy.
If you want an adjustable SE razor that is not an injector then the Superman is it. It looks aggressive but it is not even on the maximum blade gap setting. In general, the razor leans more to the mild side on all settings. I don't think it's the best razor ever made in fact I would rate it (on my first shave) as an average shaver. Due to it's SE adjustable feature rarity and uniqueness it does make a great addition to any razor collection.