Pre-WWII Gillette Tech:
The gold plating on this one is mostly gone, so the top cap no longer bears the Gillette logo on its upper surface. |
Thick, durable metal used for the base plate. |
Post-WWII Techs:
Happy Tech shaving!
Topics related to traditional wet shaving, which is ecologically friendly (very little waste to discard), less expensive than using canned foam and multi-bladed throw-away cartridges and razors, and a fun and interesting way to turn shaving from a chore into a pleasurable daily ritual.
The gold plating on this one is mostly gone, so the top cap no longer bears the Gillette logo on its upper surface. |
Thick, durable metal used for the base plate. |
There were open comb versions as well ;) Some made under other brands like Minora and Nacet.
ReplyDeleteCheck out post 12 and 14. http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/194878-Open-comb-Tech
DeleteSame design and profile, just with the open comb. I have one and it shaves almost exactly like the closed comb, it just feels a little bit different of the face because of the comb.
I have looked several times at this thread in its entirety. I believe that these "factory" open-comb, so-called Techs are company-issued Frankenrazors as one of the contributors suggested -- perhaps done as a win-win solution for the company to both distribute a limited-edition special-release razor and at the same time to sell un-paired open-comb base plates.
DeleteI, personally, believe that it is incorrect to refer to any open-comb razor as a Tech. This is because the primary, patented characteristic of a Gillette Tech razor is the stamped-metal, *solid-safety-bar* design.
As far as the other brands go -- the Minora, Nacet, et al -- I don't know their genesis and evolution. Perhaps Gillette licensed them to manufacture and sell the equivalent of the factory-special Frankenrazors; perhaps they were divisions of Gillette using what today we might call the Proctor & Gamble strategy, which is to own competing brands to capture more overall market share. I just don't know about that.
DeleteI must stick with my statement above, however, that the primary distinguishing characteristic of a Gillette Tech razor is the stamped-metal base plate with solid safety guards.
Sorry, but it's my nature to be a bit pedantic about such things. ;-)
Great mild razor when paired for me with a Feather blade. Just picked up a nice black plastic handled one last week.
ReplyDeleteNice to get the black-plastic-handled specimen for your collection!
DeleteYes, they are mild, but not the most mild; I would say they are just right -- at least for my sensitive mug.
Never would have picked up on that curved baseplate; thanks, now I have to buy another razor!
ReplyDeleteHa ha, sorry about that. ;-) It's and interesting variation if one is a collector. However, I would suggest that both designs adequately press the blade into the top cap so that the blade assumes the curvature of the top-cap underside.
DeleteIt might be an interesting experiment to use the '65 top cap with the c.'46-50 base plate, which would quickly show whether the under-side curvature of the different-era top caps are the same. (One can't go the other way because the '65 base plate doesn't have the requisite slots to accommodate the center bar of the late-'40s top cap.
Spooky: it's like someone is reading this blog, and trying to make me superstitious. I dropped by the antique store where I found my NEW LC, and there was a single razor in stock, for $10: Z3 gold ball end Tech, featuring the curved baseplate, in a valet set!
DeleteSome of the squibb brushless cream is gone, the toothbrush and nail file are absent...but two Blue blades are untouched... no scuffing around the screw. I think it's not been used!
Uh, okay... hey, I think I really need a Aristocrat...
Delete